Holy Cross Student Earns Grant to be North American Language and Culture Assistant in Spain

WORCESTER, Mass. – Kaityln Mearn, a senior at the College of the Holy Cross, has received a grant to be a North American Language and Culture Assistant in Spain. Mearn, a mathematics major from Milton, will work as an English language assistant teacher at a school in Leon during the 2007-08 academic year.

Following her experience in Spain, she hopes to study at the University of Kiev in Ukraine from 2008 to 2009, and plans on applying to graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. in comparative literature.

At Holy Cross, Mearn is co-chair of the Student Judicial Advisors, a member of the Residence Hall Caucus, cochair of the Club Volleyball team, and member of the women’s track team.

Grants for North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain are funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain. Approximately 1,000 grants are awarded each year. Assistants have the opportunity to learn about the Spanish language and culture and use their experience upon their return to the United States, thus helping to develop cultural understanding between the citizens of Spain and the United States. At the same time, the program provides Spanish students and teachers of English an opportunity to broaden and increase their knowledge of the English language and North American culture through interaction with native speakers.