08/06/2026
We are returning to where it all started.
When Refining Images began, youth development was at the heart of our work. We brought etiquette, confidence, leadership, and personal-development programs into schools, colleges, nonprofit organizations, and community spaces.
Now, we are returning to those roots with an expanded vision.
Formerly known as the Little Rock Excellence and Leadership Academy, L.E.L.A., our nonprofit organization has been renamed the Arkansas Academy of Etiquette and Excellence. The new name reflects both our broader reach and the depth of the work ahead.
Because this is about far more than the fork and knife.
Dining etiquette matters. Knowing how to make an introduction, enter a room, engage in conversation, and conduct oneself with confidence matters. But etiquette is only one part of preparing a young lady for life.
The Academy will also address identity, self-respect, emotional intelligence, communication, character, digital discernment, personal reputation, leadership, and the social pressures young women are navigating every day.
Registration is now open for our 2026–2027 academic-year cohort for girls ages 11–17.
Participants will meet on the first Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Each session will explore an area of our academic curriculum, including:
• Modern and cultural etiquette
• Confidence, identity, and self-respect
• Communication and social intelligence
• Digital etiquette and personal reputation
• Personal leadership and character
• Dining etiquette and personal presentation
The academic year will culminate with an Academy graduation, fashion show, and formal dining experience—a celebration of each participant’s growth, confidence, poise, and achievement.
Our opening session will be held Saturday, September 5, 2026:
The Art of Introductions: Confidence and First Impressions
Enrollment is limited. A one-time $75 enrollment fee supports curriculum resources, instructional materials, and program supplies.
This is etiquette with greater depth. Leadership grounded in character. Confidence built from the inside out.
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/240818852252054
Welcome to the Arkansas Academy of Etiquette and Excellence.