The Truth Staff
During the Memorial Day weekend, Courtney Jones was crowned Miss Debutante 2024 by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc, Toledo Chapter, at their 56th annual Debutante Cotillion.
One weekend later, the honors continued for the Start High School senior as she was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the members of the Blue Gill Fishing Club.
Jones will be enrolling at Kent State University in the fall to major in fashion merchandising with a minor in marketing. Her longtime goal is to start her own clothing line.
At Start High School, Jones was involved in a multitude of activities. As a member of DECA, a global student group that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing and finance, Jones participated on the state level for the past two years.
She was a member of the African American Club, the varsity cheerleading squad (the captain this past year); the track and field team the last three years; the Homecoming Court and the NAACP Youth Club. Jones was one of a select handful of students who participated in this year’s inaugural Alpha Esquire Beautillion held by the Alpha Xi Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Along with her Miss Debutante 2024 honor, Courtney also won the talent contest and was named Miss Congeniality.
Courtney, an honor student, maintained a 3.5 grade point average at Start while also working two jobs at the Boys and Girls Clubs and ProMedica.
Sleep, apparently, was optional!
The Blue Gill Fishing Club was organized in 1992 by five community men, initially as a social club. Over the years, the Blue Gill has also evolved into a service club that raises funds for scholarships, to feed neighborhood youth and to assist community action organizations in their missions.