FLEMING ISLAND – Fleming Island High senior Jordan Cooley will participate in the Jack and Jill Beautillion in May.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc. works nationwide to provide leadership development opportunities, financial literacy, community service, educational, social, civic and recreational activities. A beautillion is a coming-out party for a young man, a male version of a cotillion. This year’s event will be held virtually and will feature seven young men who have prepared for seven months, doing various workshops and community service endeavors.

Cooley is one of the seven and looks forward to being a part of the event.

“I’m excited about it,” he said. “I think it’ll just be an entertaining time. We [the beaus] are all going into our manhood together.”

He also looks forward to the connections he will make and the preparation for his future.

Part of the event will be dancing the waltz with their belles, for which Cooley has practiced.

“We had rehearsals for the dance,” he said.

There have also been several workshops he has attended, which have helped to prepare the young men for both the event and going out into the world to achieve their dreams and contribute to society. The four workshops in which they participated were: keeping the faith in tumultuous times, wellness and working for Gen Z, situational awareness and sex, drugs and hip hop.

Cooley is an outstanding student at Fleming Island, currently completing Association of International Credential Evaluators and dual-enrollment courses. He has been the point guard on both the junior varsity and varsity basketball teams and competing in the 400-meter on the track team. Jordan also is a member of the Jacksonville Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. He had served as Nominating Chair, Parliamentarian, and Editor for the Jack and Jill of America, Jacksonville Chapter Teens. Jordan has volunteered at the Salvation Army in Clay County and volunteers at the annual JP Hall Charities Christmas Program, Helping Hands of North America and the Fleming Island Youth Basketball Camp. Cooley also enjoys painting in his spare time.

He intends to attend the University of South Florida on a merit scholarship to study architecture following graduation.

Throughout the years, the Beautillion has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, benefiting the Shannon Smith McCants Memorial Pharmacy Scholarship and the Leaders Emerging as Dreamers S.T.E.M. Scholarship.