For generations, cotillion and beautillion programs in Black American communities have offered more than just a formal dance. Born in New Orleans in 1895, and grown through the Jim Crow era, these programs became powerful symbols of cultural pride, social refinement, scholarship, and community uplift. Young people focused on etiquette, career development, and leadership while raising funds for scholarships and civic causes.

Nosce Te Ipsum, meaning “know thyself,” carries on that legacy at Riverside Nashville SDA Church. This program joins students, families, and mentors in a structured, eight-month path of growth. Its curriculum covers five pillars:

• God‑knowledge

• Self‑knowledge

• Cultural‑knowledge

• Financial‑knowledge

• Educational‑knowledge

Over eight months, participants, Debutantes (young women) and Beaus (young men), engage in regular workshops, mentorship sessions, community service, and scholarship fundraising. Upon completion of all five knowledge areas, they are presented to the community at a formal cotillion gala, marking their transformation into conscious, confident young adults.