Ms. Stephanie Kent

Ms. Stephanie Kent is a mother of two, holds a degree in psychology, and has taught both children and adults for the past six years. She and her husband are native Californians and have lived in San Diego for over a decade. Thus, she is very familiar and knows all too well how casual and relaxed manners can be here in California.

She has a long heritage in the State of California where her family has lived for almost a century. Ms. Kent's grandfather built numerous schools and churches in the area that is known as Los Angeles today. Interestingly enough, his work includes the famous Disneyland theme park.

Earlier in her life, she spent many summers back East visiting the other side of her heritage, an old colonial family from Virginia. During these years she was exposed to the more formal manners of the East Coast. While going to school in London, England, she lived by strict English etiquette as she attended formal dinners and affairs at least once a week. After college she spent an impressionable two weeks with Leticia Baldridge, a family friend, who was once Jackie Kennedy's social secretary, and is presently one of America's most formidable authorities on etiquette. A natural part of Ms. Kent's life today is attending various social engagements with her husband, a Scripps-UCSD scientist.

As you can see, she has many social and regional experiences to attribute her knowledge, and a proven ability to instruct. Not only does she know the expected manners from these regions (West Coast, East Coast, and Europe) she has also practiced them herself. Based on her deep understanding and experience of etiquette, she has designed a unique program that will teach the typically "casual Californian" what is truly necessary in today's world of manners.

Ms. Hannale Yrjola (er-yo-la) is the assistant instructor at California Junior Cotillion and is originally from Finland. She has a great deal of expertise and knowledge in the field of etiquette and manners. Mrs. Yrjola has had both the pleasure and experience of entertaining Swedish royalty. She is a tremendous asset to the program and everyone enjoys her warm and friendly demeanor and her beautiful Finnish accent.
Ms. Yrjola is presently on sabbatical this year due to her university studies.