Royalty Marie Bolin Chapter Queen 2011-2012    Our 2011-2012 Lincoln Czech Queen is Marie Bolin from Eagle, NE.  She is the daughter of Kevin & Diane Bolin.  She has five brothers and she is the only girl in the family.  Marie was crowned May 1 at our 42nd Annual Lincoln Czech Festival and competed in the 25th Annual Nebraska Czech Slovak Queen Pageant on June 18th in Clarkson,  NE. Marie choreographed a clogging routine to a polka for her talent at the State Pageant. The Lincoln Czechs are very proud of her and happy that she represented us in the pageant.  She has attended many parades and Czech activities since being crowned and will honor her title until May 2012. We wish her luck in her future endeavors. Future Ambitions:  She is attending UNL and will graduate in May 2012 with her B.S. in Nutrition and then she would like to complete her doctorate in optometry.  Then she would like to specialize in pediatric ocular care. She is very interested in helping children with vision related learning and attention disorders.  Many times a vision problem is also mirrored by a nutrition problem.  "I would like to focus on using vision therapy and my nutrition education to give my patients complete care and health education". Interesting Facts about her:  Marie enjoys sewing and quilting.  She received many awards in this area in 4H.  She also enjoys baking, especially with her grandma.  In High School she competed at State, Regional and National speech & debate competitions and now she assists with coaching and judging.  In college she is active in UNL's Pre-Optometry Club and Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society.  Family Heritage:  My Czech great-grandpa, Stanly Svitak of Howells, went to Czechoslovakia in 1931 to marry my great-grandma Marie Borsky, in an arranged marriage.  After they married they returned to Nebraska where my great-grandpa farmed the family farm.  Their youngest daughter, Mildred Choat my grandma, has taught me many of the traditional Czech recipes that were passed down as well as crocheting that she learned from her mom and grandma.  I wanted to be Czech Queen because it would be a great way for me to further explore my Czech heritage as well as share the unique things about my heritage that have been passed down to me.  I have always been fascinated by the costume that my grandma's Czech doll wears.  I am very interested in learning about all the various pieces of the traditional costume and make my own kroj.  Because Czech Republic is small I think it is many times forgotten or just briefly noted in history books so many people do not appreciate the culture.    Our 2011-12 Lincoln Czech Princess is 10 year old Katelynn Holliday from rural Lincoln, NE. Her parents are Lael & Jill Holliday.  She has 2 younger sisters, Josephine and Sidney. The reason she wanted to be Princess was she wanted to know more about the Czech culture. “My Babi, Sharon Holliday, is 100% Czech.  She teaches me a lot about the Czech culture.  We have baked many kolaches together and she has also driven me to Dwight Czech dance lessons.  When I danced at Dwight, I wanted to dance more and more.  Someday I would like to visit the Czech Republic where my ancestors came from.” Our 2010-11 Lincoln Czech Prince is 13 year old Kyle Kramer from Lincoln, NE.  His parents are Andrew & Becky Jo Kramer.  The reason he wanted to be Prince was he thought it would be great way to learn more about his ancestors. "I have only encountered a few opportunities to learn about my history, one in Lincoln and the rest at Wilber Czech Festival".   The Lincoln Czechs are very proud of them and how they have represented our chapter at many parades and events.  They will continue their reign until next May when they will crown the next Prince & Princess. Katelynn Holliday & Kyle Kramer Chapter Prince & Princess 2011-2012 Stefanie Vocasek Miss Czech- Slovak US Queen 2010-2011 with Lincoln Prince & Princess.