The recipients of the Ozanam Scholarship are men and women who have shown their commitment to leading lives of service inspired by St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam. To be eligible for an Ozanam Scholarship, applicants must be actively engaged in the work of the Vincentian community as a former Vincentian Volunteer or similar role and be enrolled or accepted in a graduate or professional degree program at DePaul. Applicants must submit a resume, two letters of recommendation, and a narrative describing their commitment to justice and service in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam. Once accepted to the program, scholars must commit to eight weekly hours of service work to the wider Chicago community.
Tanya Batti
M.A. in Bilingual Bicultural Education with a certification in Elementary Education and an ESL Endorsement from the School of Education
Simple living, social justice, community and spirituality are the four guiding principles of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, tenets I try to live by each day. This year-long commitment allowed me the opportunity to work full-time for justice and peace as my community members and I were called to the mission of serving the poor directly. I had the privilege of serving the refugee population in Phoenix, Arizona, where I assisted individuals with life skills and job placement. This experience, along with having been raised in a trilingual, multigenerational home, led me to pursue a career in English as a Second Language and enroll in DePaul University’s Bilingual-Bicultural Education program (BBE). The BBE program at DePaul is teaching me to address the linguistic, academic, social, and cultural needs of second-language learners and to advocate for bilingual/bicultural education programs, a population and subject that I am very committed to.
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Lisa Monnot
Master of Nonprofit Management from the School of Public Service
Originally from Canton, Ohio I graduated from the University of Dayton in May 2008. In August 2008 I began the Amate House volunteer program, a young adult volunteer program with the Arch Diocese of Chicago. I began my volunteer work at Taller de José, a community resource center in the Little Village Community of Chicago that offers accompaniment to people in need, connecting people to services and services to people. Taller de José opened its doors to the community in September 2008, and I have been a part of it since then, contributing to the structure and development of the organization, which is a sponsored ministry of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Being a part of a new organization from the very beginning and seeing the needs of the clients from the first time the doors were open inspired me to pursue a Masters in Non Profit Management at DePaul so that I could continue to develop this ministry. I chose DePaul University because of its strong commitment to the Chicago community and its Vincentian values.
Krista Peterson
M.A. in Human Computer Interaction
I came to Chicago as part of Amate House, where my curiosity and desire for adventure lead me to become a full time volunteer. I had left the places I felt most at home in the world: Columbus, Ohio where I completed my BFA degree in advertising design and western Pennsylvania, where I grew up. My interest in a degree in Human Computer Interaction at DePaul is a result of teaching computer technology to my students at St. Agnes, my job placement as part of Amate House. It didn't take more than one class to realize that even our most advanced technology wasn't designed for students who learned two languages at once. It wasn't made for tiny five-year-old fingers, it didn't make typing papers intuitive, and it certainly didn't grab their attention or entice a desire for learning. I wanted my students to see that they could use computer technology to solve complex problems or ask intelligent questions. I wanted to give them power. I would pour over websites, trying to find one I was certain everyone could understand, the bare minimum requirement. I knew then that all my resources, experiences and education weren't enough to address the complex issues that plagued my students. I came to DePaul to pursue those interests, so that I will be able to share that knowledge with those who have the desire to learn, but are without the means. This past year, I have continued my work in Little Village as an Americorps VISTA volunteer, working for a nonprofit after-school program that gives youth discipline and leadership skills through the sport of boxing. It has been a great privilege to get to know so many young people who every day have taught me the value of respect, gratitude, and the importance of family. I chose DePaul because I wanted to serve my new home city with the support of those who understand my deep passion and commitment to helping others in order to better myself.