By Gianna Yerkes
This summer has been a busy one, but also incredibly memorable. At the end of May, I embarked on the National Italian American Foundation’s Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery, where I traveled to Rome, Milan, Genova, and neighboring towns with 23 other Italian American college students and explored the land of my ancestors. Being in Italy for the first time was truly life changing, and I jumped at every opportunity to practice my Italian with the locals, who appreciated my efforts. My favorite memories from the trip occurred over early morning runs watching quiet city streets come to life, long, leisurely dinners filled with fresh ingredients, and Italian Mass at our local churches. I think there is so much to be admired about the Italian lifestyle and pace at which they appreciate the company and beauty that surrounds them. I also recently started my summer internship with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, one of the largest in the country, in their Shared Services department. We specifically support smaller and more at-risk parishes and schools with their finance and business operations, and I’ve been working on creating a comprehensive Onboarding Checklist that our entire team can refer to when taking on a new site. I’m grateful to be learning from a passionate team, engaging in meaningful work, and developing my professional and technical skills in a faith-centered environment. When I head back home, I’ll be preparing to head back to Italy to study abroad this Fall at the University of Bologna, where I’ll be living with Italian students and undertaking an entire courseload in Italian. While admittedly I’m a bit nervous, I could not be more eager for the challenge and the adventures that await me, and with the support and generosity of this fellowship, I’ll have a financial weight lifted off my shoulders that my family and I are so grateful for. I’m excited to report back at the end of what’s sure to be an eventful semester!
My name is Gianna Yerkes, and I’m a rising junior at Georgetown University from Temecula, California, studying Business, Global Affairs, and Italian. I am incredibly grateful to be a Fall 2026 recipient of the Italian Language Foundation’s Alfred Catalanotto Fellowship.