For the 17th time, the German-American Society Siegerland-
Wittgenstein e. V. has now awarded prizes for student projects with USA-related or transatlantic content.

The student theses could be from the subject English, but also with references to
other subjects such as history, social studies and politics. The subject papers were submitted with a corresponding recommendation via the school.

Following a fine tradition, the prizes were once again presented at a ceremony in the elegant rococo decor of the convent hall of Keppel Abbey. A novelty this year was the simultaneous awarding of two third prizes.

All the papers were written in English and summarized by the four award-winning students in the presence of the Chairman of the
German-American Society, Volker Schüttenhelm, and the jury member Peter Schlömer. The German-American Society had decided
to award two equal third places due to their equal quality. Emma Schüttenhelm and Tristan Andrews (both from the Gymnasium Am Löhrtor in Siegen), who were accompanied by their subject teachers Ms. Lorsbach and Ms. Hilgenberg, were delighted with this decision. While Emma Schüttenhelm’s work explored the question of what experiences emigrants from the Siegerland region had in the USA when trying to realize their personal claims to happiness, Tristan Andrews’ work attempted to classify the way in which Americans deal with their flag, which is omnipresent in comparison to Germany, between patriotism and nationalism.

The prize for second place was awarded to Leni Balzer from Städtisches Gymnasium Bad Laasphe (subject teacher: Ms. Hofheinz). In her work, she investigated the
effects of traumatizing war experiences on the mental state of US soldiers who have returned home. The reintegration of soldiers reintegration of soldiers into civilian life in US society was also a central aspect of her work.

The first prize went to Angelina Daub from the comprehensive school in Eiserfeld (subject teacher: Mr. Arnold). In her work, she investigated the question of how it was possible for the synthetic anaesthetic fentanyl has been causing a massive opioid epidemic in the USA since 2010. epidemic with an alarmingly high number of deaths due to overdose.
overdose.

The award ceremony, accompanied by music from Hans-Werner Schnur (piano), was
by the President of the Society, Volker Schüttenhelm, who also presented
President, Volker Schüttenhelm, who also read out greetings from the new US Consul in Düsseldorf, Preeti Shah. In addition to a cash prize, all four award winners received a valuable book about the USA.

The DAGSiWi aims to maintain and deepen the knowledge of the US by awarding prizes for the annual theses and the transatlantic
exchange, the DAGSiWi aims to foster and deepen cultural and social
and social relations between Germany and the USA.