"I wouldn't be able to afford graduate school without the award, so it really has opened a door for me," he says.
Cotrone is an English major with a minor in anthropology and a concentration in creative writing. He is currently applying to a number of Master of Fine Arts programs in creative writing, and plans to concentrate in fiction writing. "I would love to end up in a place that's both a literary hotspot and a hub of culture and activity," he says.
His career plans are grounded in reality. "I would love for fiction writing to be a serious part of my life, but I realize that it's not necessarily a viable career option, so I'm open to any avenue where words, communication and a little creativity play an important part," he says.
Cotrone's fiction has appeared in magazines such as Fifty-Two Stories (Harper Perennial), PANK, Paper Darts, Bluestem (formerly Karamu), Waccamaw, Necessary Fiction, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn. His essays and non-fiction have appeared in The Rumpus (then excerpted in The Atlantic's "Daily Dish"), Thought Catalog, New Plains Review, elimae and The Lit Pub. He founded the literary website Used Furniture Review, which houses the work of contemporary writers. At Holy Cross, Cotrone is involved in Alternate College Theatre, a student-run theater group.
"I so appreciate the generosity, patience, and support of English professors Stephanie Reents, Leah Hager Cohen and Leila Philip, who have served as mentors, coaches, inspirations and most importantly, teachers," he says.
Established in 1971, the Beinecke Scholarship Program provides scholarships for the graduate education of young men and women of exceptional promise.
Related Information:
Read some of Cotrone's work:
- Paper Darts, "Suggestions"
- Necessary Fiction, "My Brother the Painter"
- The Rumpus, "A Conversation With a Soldier" (excerpted by The Atlantic)
