Through a bequest of James J. Marshall, Jr, ’26 in memory of his parents, James J. Marshall and Ellen O'Connor Marshall, the College has established a fund to encourage the creative and intellectual involvement of students and faculty with the Worcester Community in order to enhance the quality of life in Worcester and build closer ties between the College and the community. Financial support is available on a competitive basis for service, research, and community-based learning projects that are of academic benefit to Holy Cross students and/or faculty and of benefit to the people of Worcester. Awards are typically in the range of $200-$500. Application deadlines for the 2024-2025 academic year are October 2nd, December 4th, February 26th, and April 9th.
Feel free to utilize this guide (DOC) to guide you in your application process. General questions about the fund and the selection process should be directed to Kya Roumimper Ascani. Questions pertaining to purchasing/reimbursement should be directed to Diane Girard. Kathryn Hauver is available for coaching and guidance as applications are being completed.
Questions about the application process and how a CBL student has utilized the funds to support her CBL site? Watch the J.D. Power Center's instagram story about how Jocelyn Buggy '22 used her Marshall funds to create welcoming baskets for the Worcester Alliance for Refugee Ministry. Read an interview with Marshall Grant recipient, Caitlin Pollard '17 and her experience applying for the Marshall Grant to support the expansion of the food pantry at AIDS Project Worcester.
**Special note: if you are thinking about developing a program that involves bringing minors (children under the age of 18) to campus, the Safety of Children in College Programs policy and procedures must be followed. Mattie is available to discuss and review this with Marshall Grant applicants as well.
2023-2024 Marshall Fund Recipients
- Prof. Susan Amatangelo (World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) was awarded funds to help put on an end-of-semester Festa di Natale, for the Circolo Italiano and her ITAL 301 students. At the event, Italian Circle members and Holy Cross students, faculty, and staff celebrated the holidays and enjoyed being in community where people of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities share in the joy of speaking Italian, sharing their stories, and learning about Italian culture.
- Prof. Rachelle Beaudoin (Visual Arts) was awarded funds to acquire software for her CBL studio art class, "New Media." This software will facilitate the completion of a Community-Based Learning Project in collaboration with the Worcester Public Schools Transitions program. Holy Cross students are utilizing this software to develop an interactive assistive technology device for the students enrolled in the WPS Transitions program.
- Catherine Cannamela ’24, Luke Letizia ’25, and Rachel Derocco ’25 were awarded funds to support spring activities with the Worcester Public Schools Transition Program and the participating Community-Based Learning students. Each week, WPS Transition students, young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, travel to Holy Cross where student volunteers with CBL join them in Hogan Campus Center for various activities, games, and meals. Catherine, Luke, and Rachel are the lead volunteers for the WPS Transition Program, through their role as CBL Interns.
- Prof. Lindsey Caola (Psychology) was awarded funds to support the research project her "Psychology of Adolescence" students are doing with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass and Metrowest. Prof. Caola's students will create and disperse surveys for the littles to take, as well as lead littles through focus groups. The data they collect and will present to BBBS at the end of the fall semester will help to inform BBBS' strategic plan.
- Angel Collazo ’26 was awarded funds to support the purchase of laptops for a Community-Based Learning project designed to improve technological literacy among residents at the Hector Reyes House in Worcester. The Hector Reyes House offers continuum of culturally-informed services for Latino males that focus on recovery from substance use. Angel is volunteering at Hector Reyes House through his CBL course, "Health, Culture, and Social Justice."
- Shane Fitzpatrick '25 was awarded funds to support the WPS Transition Program's participation in Holy Cross' annual holiday craft fair. WPS Transition Program and Holy Cross CBL students worked together all semester to create blankets and ornaments to sell at the fair. All proceeds support the Transition Program's great work! Shane first became connected to WPS Transition through their Montserrat and currently is one of the CBL Intern student coordinators of the program.
- Taylor Flynn ’27, Ryan Grundy ’27, Maria Pena Garcia ’27 and Elise Ekowicki ’27 were awarded funds to bolster a diaper drive for Green Island Neighborhood Center as part of their Community-Based Learning component within their Montserrat course, "Green Island."
- Emily Gualdino ’24, Lindsay Riordan ’25, Ginger Berry ’25, and John Zimmermann ’26, were awarded funds to help put on an end-of-semester film screening and celebration lunch for the community partners working with their SPAN 312 course, "Filmmaking in Spanish" (Regional Environmental Council, Shrewsbury Public Library, DoughBoyz, and Main IDEA Youth & Arts). SPAN 312 students are working in film crews this semester to create videos for these four community partners. The film screening will be an opportunity for the community partners to view the videos for the first time, as well as build community amongst each other and the SPAN 312 students.
- Kevin Johnson ’27, Molly Coghan ’27 , Aaron Kowalski ’27 , and Mattie McCann ’27 were awarded funds to bolster a supply drive they are putting on for students at the Nativity School in Worcester. The students are volunteering at Nativity through her Community-Based Learning Course, "A Faith that Does Justice."
- Molly Lombard ’24 was awarded funds to procure classroom supplies such as calculators and rulers for South High Community School in Worcester. These supplies will aid students with MCAS testing this spring. Molly is completing her student teaching at South High this semester.
- Ruth Lopez ’25, Jacqueline Bazazi ’26, Grace Philpott ’25, and Alexandra Bodnar ’24 were awarded funds to assist in acquiring art supplies for their Community-Based Learning Project at Clark Street Community School. These students are enrolled in the CBL course, "Latin American Art" and are spearheading the establishment of an after-school art club for Clark Street elementary students, aiming to inspire creativity and cultural appreciation through artistic endeavors.
- Prof. Amanda Luyster (Visual Arts & Medieval and Renaissance Studies) was awarded funds to support the celebration of the Community-Based Learning Project in her course, VAHI 399, titled the Global Medieval Museum. This initiative involves a partnership between the AP Art History students at Worcester Public Schools and the Worcester Art Museum (WAM). Professor Luyster's course closely collaborates with WAM to conduct research and develop a web resource aimed at showcasing the global connections inherent in WAM's medieval artifacts collection. This project is funded by Scholarship in Action.
- Jennifer Martinez Paz ’27 was awarded funds for the support of a spring activity for Community-Based Learning students and the residents at St. Mary Healthcare Center. The students will be putting on spring arts and craft events. Jennifer is volunteering with St. Mary through her Community-Based Learning Course, "A Faith that Does Justice."
- Jake O’Connor ’24 was awarded funds for the procurement of textbooks for a Latin American history elective at Burncoat High School in Worcester. This course is a high interest elective history and aligns with the diverse student body at Burncoat. The goal is to enhance College and Career readiness by offering a compelling elective that resonates with the students' cultural backgrounds and experiences. Jake is completing his student teaching at Burncoat this semester.
- Kyle Peterson ’24 was awarded funds to procure teacher kits with TI-84 Calculators for math department at Burncoat High School. Kyle is completing his student teaching at Burncoat this semester.
- Michelle Rife ’27 and Grace Cutney ’27 were awarded funds to support the facilitation of a field trip to Holy Cross for the elementary school students at Clark Street Community School in Worcester. Michelle and Grace are volunteering at Clark St. through their Community-Based Learning courses.
- Erica Schofield '25, Luke Letizia '25, Gwen Minogue '25, and Katie Stathoulopoulos '24 were awarded funds to help them put on a science demonstration at MA STEM Night, an MA STEM week event being held at the Boys and Girls Club in Worcester. The demonstration will be geared toward Worcester-area youth to help them get excited about science and to get connected with Holy Cross STEM majors. The students became involved with MA STEM Night through their involvement with the CBL Intern Program and XChrom.
- Sanaea Simmons ’24 was awarded funds for the procurement of backpacks for South High Community School. This project will aid in the discreet distribution of resources, such as food and toiletries, for the students as needed. Sanaea is student teaching at South High this semester.
- Azka Tanveer ‘24, Omar Afifi ‘24, Michael Lopez ‘25, Fernanda Perez-Alvarez ‘24, Diana Chavez Cruz ‘24, Danna Yadira Carrillo ‘24, Amanda Grace Wambui ‘25, Allison Dos Santos Soares ’25, and Alexis Soria ‘25 were awarded funds for the creation and distribution of care packages for Girls Inc Eureka program.
- Prof. Sarah Luria (Environmental Studies and English) was awarded funds to support the creation and print of a Zine for the Green Island Residents Group, Inc. Prof. Luria's Montserrant studies created the Zine as part of their CBL project.
- Prof. Rachelle Beaudoin (Visual Arts) was awarded funding to support her work on the Project: Voices: A Celebration of Authentic Identity at Burncoat Middle School.
- Isabel Sullivan '26 was awarded funds to support a field trip for Worcester East Middle School students to the Worcester Art Museum. Isabel is a TA for GREK 101, a Fall '23 CBL course that is working with the Worcester Art Museum docents to create a special WAM tour for Worcester East Middle schoolers related to ancient mythology. The GREK 101 students will design elements of the tour and accompany the Worcester East students when they visit the museum.
- Delaney Walch '24 was awarded funds to purchase art supplies for students at Summit Academy. Delaney is helping to run an arts program for the students and became connected to Summit through her role as a CBL Intern.
Read about additional past recipients in the Marshall Memorial Fund Archive.