Holy Cross Alumna Awarded Fulbright to Teach in Italy

Kathryn Zingarelli, a member of the College of the Holy Cross class of 2007, has been awarded a Fulbright Grant to work as a teaching assistant in Italy.  She is one of five Fulbright recipients traveling to Italy—picked out of a pool of 92 applicants.

While at Holy Cross, Zingarelli was an English major with an Italian minor, who spent her junior year in Italy.  “When I traveled abroad I fell in love with the country, so I've always wanted to return,” she says.

Currently a special education aide, Zingarelli credits her work teaching Italian to juvenile offenders at the Robert F. Kennedy School in Worcester, as well as her professors at Holy Cross. “It was the guidance and kind words of Dr. Cashman in the office of graduate studies and my former professors Jonathan Mulrooney (English) and Susan Amatangelo (modern languages and literatures) whom I have to thank for all of this coming about.”

Once placed, she will be assisting in a classroom to teach English to Italian students. She will also be working on a project within the community, “hopefully for the same students in an after-school program,” she explains.

“Over the course of the next year I hope to take advantage of every opportunity available to me, soaking up the Italian language and culture as much as I can, and doing my best to help students in the classroom,” says Zingarelli. “I really hope to become a stronger educator through this experience, intending to continue working in education upon my return.”

She has been granted a deferral for Teach for America and hopes to become an active member when she returns to the U.S.

On campus, Zingarelli was a member of the College Democrats; Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD), the largest student-run community service organization on campus; and the Purple Key Society, a service organization which fosters school spirit.

She resides in Shrewsbury, Mass.

Fulbright Grants are made to U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries for a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Since the program’s inception in 1946, more than 250,000 participants — chosen for their leadership potential — have had the opportunity to observe each other’s political, economic and cultural institutions.

Zingarelli is one of four Holy Cross students to be awarded a Fulbright Grant this year.  Read more about the other recipients: James Brennan, Gerald Dickinson, and Benjamin Rayder.