Historic SWANS distinction a 62-year family tradition
Destrehan High School senior Jacy Ashley Long was honored among seven teens Dec. 27 at the 26th Biennial Debutante Ball of SWANS Inc.
Formed in 1952, SWANS Inc. was founded as a group dedicated to assisting members of the community with special needs and the elderly, while cultivating the futures of its youth members. Long’s great, great aunt, Ethel Blue, was one of the group inaugural members.
“We have a long lineage of members of the SWAN as well as past debutantes,” said Jacy’s mother, Stacy Eugene Brown. “I felt very, very prideful of my daughter.”
Qualification for the debutante honor is a year-long process, according to Debra Edwards, president and ball chairperson for SWANS Inc. Potential debutantes must first be invited. Applicants must then go through monthly charming meetings, a series of contests, service projects and more. The Cotillion, at which Long was honored, was the culmination of these efforts.
Long was described as a four-year honor roll members at Destrehan High School, with aspirations of studying law at LSU.
In addition to the honor, Long and other debutantes also received citations from Sen. Mary Landrieu, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond.
Since its first debutante cotillion in 1957, SWANS Inc. has honor just over 460 women. Long’s mother, aunt, great-great aunt and four cousins have also been named SWANS debutantes.
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