For Immediate Release: February
6, 2012
Press Contact: BVTC Public
Affairs, 401-724-2200
2012 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom
Princess Announced
Kara Fulginiti selected to
represent Rhode Island in national education and
cultural exchange program
The RI Cherry Blossom Festival
Committee is pleased to announce Kara Fulginiti as
the Rhode Island delegate in the National Conference
of State Societies’ Cherry Blossom Princess Program.
The Cherry Blossom Princess
Educational and Cultural Exchange Program is a
weeklong cultural and educational opportunity for
young women from across the U.S. and around the
world. Cherry Blossom Princesses participate in
educational, leadership and cultural activities as
they serve their nation and respective state, in a
“Washington Classroom,” by introducing the
princesses to many government, cultural, military,
business leaders and female role models who work in
the nation’s capitol.
Fulginiti will make a featured
appearance at the Rhode Island Cherry Blossom
Festival this spring after her week long exchange in
Washington D.C. during the centennial of when the
first cherry blossom trees were delivered and
planted in Washington, D.C.
"Rhode Island’s 2012 Cherry
Blossom Princess, Kara Fulginiti, comes to the
Festival as someone that will represent Central
Falls and Pawtucket and the state of Rhode Island
very well,” said Robert Billington, chairman of the
2012 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Festival. "We are
pleased she has accepted our invitation to represent
not only Rhode Island's Cherry Blossom Festival but
also as a Princess representing us in Washington
D.C. and possibly even on the world stage in Japan."
In the past decade, the
princesses have met with First Lady Laura Bush;
former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; Senator
Kay Bailey Hutchinson; Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes
Norton; Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; Naval Commander
Yvette Brownwhaller; Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught; Red
Cross President and CEO Dr. Bernadine Healey, among
others.
The U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen is
chosen by a random spin of a wheel of fortune by the
Japan Ambassador in Washington, D.C. The following
morning, the newly crowned U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen
and her Japan counterpart, along with the State,
Territory, and International Princesses are invited
to participate in the National Cherry Blossom
Parade® and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street
Festival.
Billington noted, "Her demeanor
and professionalism is exactly what the Selection
Committee, lead by Ewa Dzwierzynski, was looking
for. Ms Fulginiti will set the stage for all future
Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Festival Princesses to
follow. She will reign proudly making appearances at
public events and at the RI Festival itself May
18-20, 2012."
"We are thankful for the work
that Ms. Dzwierzynski, the reigning Mrs. Rhode
Island United States, put into the search committee
effort,” said Billington, “she will guide next
year's selection committee for the RI Cherry Blossom
Festival Princess as we are already seeing interest
being expressed for 2013."
Kara Fulginiti is a graduate of
Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. While at
the University she served as the president of the
Towson University Chapter of the Golden Key
International Honors Society. She also performed as
a dancer on the university’s Pom Squad, competing at
national competitions as well as men’s and women’s
basketball and football games. This past summer, she
taught English in children’s summer camps across
Italy. Kara plans to pursue her master’s degree in
speech language pathology in the coming fall.
This year’s annual Rhode Island
Cherry Blossom Festival is happening May 18-20, with
the theme of Celebrating the Revitalization of
Roosevelt Avenue in Central Falls & Pawtucket.
This annual celebration
highlights the area known as “the mill district”
adjacent to the historic Blackstone River in the two
cities, along with being a signature event of local
Asian cultural heritage.
Also, the 2012 Rhode Island
Cherry Blossom Festival will honor the 100th
anniversary year of the National Cherry Blossom
Festival, annually held in Washington, DC, which
honors the 1912 gift of 3000 cherry trees from Mayor
Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan.
For updates on the 2012 Rhode
Island Cherry Blossom Festival, visit the official
website at www.richerryblossomfestival.com or call
the BVTC at 401-724-2200.
