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First FitzGerald scholar finishes with grace
By Jennifer Marcotte '05
In 2001, John Rugo '79 and his wife, Michele, gave a $500,000 gift to Holy Cross to establish the Rev. William FitzGerald, S.J., Merit Scholarship Fund; a four-year scholarship with preference given to students majoring in classics. Andrew Costanzo '05, a 2001 graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, was selected as the first recipient of the scholarship. Now four years later, after being a great contributor to the Holy Cross community, Costanzo will be graduated during the College's 159th Commencement exercises on May 27.
"I am grateful for the confidence that the classics department expressed in me by giving me the FitzGerald Scholarship. It put me in a position of leadership in the department, which has helped me gain a greater sense of what I can do," says Costanzo.
During his third year, the scholarship supported Costanzo as he studied abroad with the College Year Program in Athens and the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, the two best overseas programs available to classics majors. "Studying abroad provided me with the chance to see all the things that I had studied during my freshman and sophomore years. It was one of the most amazing years of my life and was crucial in defining the person I am today."
Throughout his career at Holy Cross, Costanzo has continually impressed the faculty of the classics department with his active participation in the classroom. He has also acquired an expert's proficiency in Greek and Latin, according to his professors, and has served as a role model to his peers, not only for his academic success, but also by his willingness to tutor other students and assist with department events.
Blaise Nagy, professor and acting chair of the classics department, said: "I cannot imagine a better citizen of the department than Andrew. At every turn, he volunteered to help even before he was asked, and he did so with the utmost grace and with a spirit of true generosity. Those of us who have been here a while cannot recall a better scholarship student than Andrew, and those of us who knew Father William FitzGerald, S.J., are particularly pleased that so worthy a person was the first recipient of a scholarship that was named in ‘Fitzy's' memory."
Costanzo has applied for a graduate fellowship in the Art History program at the Courtald Institute of Art in London, where he is hoping to begin his studies in the fall.