A variation of that phrase may well be used to describe the successful student when she is introduced to society later this month during the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority's debutante ball at the Westin Crown Center.

Earlier this year, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a fraternal group founded in 1905 at Howard University, nominated Foster for the honor. After completing the application process and a round of interviews, the high school senior made the cut.

In doing so, Foster became one of only 20 young women in the Kansas City area to receive the invitation from the Mu Omega chapter of the sorority -- an honor reserved for the most distinguished young female scholars.

"The ladies are poised and articulate and exhibit high scholastic achievement and involvement in their school and community," said Martha Carpenter, the publicity chair for the debutante ball.

Bringing credentials including being an "A" student, a member of the school's dance team, involvement in National Honor Society, all of which are handled while juggling two jobs, helped Foster earn the recognition.

Through participation in the program each of the girls completes an entire season of leadership, etiquette and cultural enrichment programs that culminates with the Nov. 25 ball. Along the way the debutantes participated in a career fair, service projects, a parents' tea and organized a "seniors prom" to recognize senior citizens.

While Foster has forged the bonds of several friendships through participating in the program, she has gotten a lot more out of it. She said it helped her realize qualities about herself, gain confidence and realize areas in which she can improve.

The weeks leading up to the ball, where she will be joined by her parents and paired with an escort, have kept her busy. Even little things, like perfecting steps in the waltz, require attention to detail, she found.

Even though it takes hard work, both to be selected and to complete the season of activities, Foster said it will be worth it. In addition to helping make resumes stand out among the pack, the program offers its participants a chance to compete for scholarships. Since the balls began in 1951, more than 1,600 young ladies from Kansas City have shared more than $850,000 in scholarship dollars, Carpenter said.

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