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   TRiangle Italian American Women's Club

McKenna's application for the Scholarship

 

I am an Italian American woman and a Senior at Panther Creek High School, and I would like to submit an application for your Mary De Bonis scolarship.  My name is McKenna Crawford, and while Crawford is clearly not an Italian surname, three out of my four grandparents and the majority of my extended family are Italian and have greatly influenced my life and interest in Italian culture.  When my great grandfather John Arcieri immigrated from Potenza, Italy in 1913 and started his family and life as a railroad worker, many long-lasting Italian traditions were created and passed down through several generations of Italian Americans in my family (including the wonderful creation of my family's "Pretti, Arcieri, Petrafeso & Co. Traditional Family Recipes" book, to be discussed further in my essay).  My life has definitely been impacted by the strong line of Italian women in my family that have taught me not only the vital skill of Italian cooking, but also how to persevere through life's many obstacles as a strong, independent woman.  I heard about this scholarship and many others through the counselors at my school, and I felt a connection to this one in particular and would like to apply and thank you for supporting all the young Italian American women in the area.

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Thank you so much for considering my application!  I have attached everything listed on the appliction my school provided, but if you need any further information, you can contact me at crawford.mckenna@gmail.com or (919) 665-8751.

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Sincerely,

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McKenna Crawford