Girl Wins Contest on Rose Parade Float Design

An 11-year-old Gardena student was honored at a Carson restaurant Monday for designing the winning entry in a nationwide contest to create a float for the 1999 Pasadena Rose Parade.

Danielle Ratliff, a student at Maria Regina School, designed a float titled “Coming Together,” which depicts the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the people on both side joining hands. The topic of the contest was “My Favorite Historical Event or Hero of the 20th Century.”

The contest was sponsored by the International House of Pancakes and drew nearly 15,000 entries. As the grand prize winner, Ratliff will get to ride aboard the float she designed and will be able to attend the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl with whole family.