2002 Fall Semester Maurizio Vannicelli Award

Holy Cross Junior Honored for Her Thesis on Educational Reform

Mortorano's thesis, based in part on her work at the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, D.C., was an assessment of how structural factors in American society, particularly economic factors, have contributed to educational inequality. In examining this problem, she came to the conclusion that this systematic problem could not be remedied by educational reform from within, but ultimately would require more significant and extensive structural changes in society at large.

A sociology major from Fairfield, N.J., Mortorano has been an active member of the Holy Cross community for the past three years. One of the College's Dana Scholars, she is also a member of the Student Government Association and the women's rugby team. While at Holy Cross, Mortorano has been involved in numerous service projects including tutoring students in algebra at Burncoat High School in Worcester, Mass. and volunteering with eighth graders at Our Lady of the Angels Church, also in Worcester. Mortorano also participated in the Appalachia Spring Break Service Project in both 2001 and 2002.

The Vannicelli Prize is awarded each semester in honor of the late Holy Cross political science professor and Washington Program director, Maurizio Vannicelli, for the best research paper produced in the Washington Semester Away program. The recipient of the prize is accorded the opportunity to give a public lecture at the College on his or her thesis. In addition, the winner receives a bound copy of the thesis and is presented with a book award during Commencement exercises.