German-American day draws nearly 900

More than 850 students from 20 Maryland high schools attended Oct. 17 the College’s 12th annual German-American Day. Students participated in workshops about German culture, history and politics. They sampled German cheese, made their own marzipan sculptures, gingerbread hearts and paper silhouettes. They learned about Sigmund Freud and Mozart, and heard how one man survived the Holocaust.

German-American day, an ethnic holiday commemorating the achievements of German-Americans, has been formally observed in the U.S. since 1987. The day was sponsored by the embassies of Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, The American Association of Teachers of German, The Goethe Institut in Washington D.C., and the McDaniel department of Foreign Languages, admissions office, and bookstore.

Students learn folk dances from Austria and Switzerland.

High schoolers Jimmy Horn, Jon Lordani and Devon van Rossum play the mundharmonika.

Rubin Sztajer tells a rapt audience in McDaniel Lounge how he survived the Holocaust.

Tenth graders Kaitlyn Carpenter and Peter Kniesler participate in a German folk dance.

Ashley Whiteman makes a snowman sculpture with marzipan.