Q'orianka Kilcher - german world magazine

B
orn to a German mother and American
father on October 6, 1987 — the very day
President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation
for the first Annual “German-American
Day” — Stephanie Russell-Kraft seems to be
the personification of German-American
friendship and has enjoyed both sides of her
heritage ever since. She was now crowned
“Miss German-America” and will be the
queen of the upcoming 53rd Annual German-
American Steuben Parade on September 25,
2010 in New York City.
The German-American Committee of
Greater New York held their annual crowning
ceremony at the historic Liederkranz club on
New York´s Upper East Side in May. Five
young ladies had signed up to compete for the
title of “Miss German-America”.
The five candidates, 17 to 24 years of age,
were interviewed by a panel of judges who
grilled the candidates on all things German-
American. Stephanie Russell-Kraft named
caricaturist Charles Schulz as the German-
American who had impressed her the most. “I
love how he used the simple media of drawing
and very short phrases to affect people all
around the world”, she said.
The reigning “Miss German-America”
hopes to be able to do that, too. The 22-yearold
is working towards a career in writing.
Originally from Southern California, Stephanie
Russell-Kraft has moved to New York to
graduate from Columbia University. She is
planning to get her Masters Degree in Berlin.
Save the Date!
�
Steuben
Parade News:
Stephanie Russell-Kraft crowned
“Miss German-America”
On her Steuben Parade float, she will be joined
by two princesses: Laura Marie Bucher (23), a
restaurant manager from New Providence,
NJ, and by Lauren Alexandra Kuehn (19),
former “Platt-duetsche Princess” from the
German-American community in Franklin
Square, NY, who is now a German Major at the
College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts .
Two other contestants, Tasha Rothlis-berger
and Anne-Sophie Gerald, did not make the
court, but were named Steuben Parade
Ambassadors.
The Queen´s court is complemented by
three Junior Princesses: Sisters Nicole Grace
and Natalie Elise Dahlquist of Massapequa,
NY, and Kristiana Wolfe of Glendale, NY.
In addition, for only the second time in parade
history, a Junior General was selected. Jack
Kemperle of Connecticut will be wearing the
uniform of General von Steuben at many of the
German-American events this year. -gw/ps
September 25, 2010 >12noon >Fifth Avenue
Join the GREATEST GERMAN-AMERICAN PARADE!
The Steuben Parade will be held on Saturday, September 25th, 2010 at Noon on Fifth Avenue.
Hundreds of marching groups from all over the United States and Germany will line up around 68th
Street and march up to 86th Street before coming together at the Oktoberfest in Central Park.
Find out more on > www.GermanParadeNYC.org or www.gacgny.org.
HISTORY
Summer 2010 www.german-world.com 37