Patterson Traveling Fellowship to Italy Grant

Patterson Traveling Fellowship to Italy Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Harvard University
Amount: Approximately US $5,000
Last Updated: February 07, 2026

Summary

The Patterson Traveling Fellowship to Italy honors John Thomas Patterson, encouraging Harvard students to explore Italy's rich culture. This fellowship, established in his memory, offers $5,000 to fund a transformative travel experience for students unfamiliar with Italy, emphasizing personal enrichment over academic projects. Selection criteria include curiosity about Italy, maturity, and limited travel experience. Preference is given to current Mather House residents. This opportunity aims to inspire a new generation to appreciate the beauty and value of Italian culture.

Overview

General Information The Patterson Fellowship is in memoriam to John Thomas Patterson, and is intended to inspire the Harvard community to share John’s love for travel and for Italy. John led bicycling tours through Europe; he also traveled with his friends. John brought them to museums, to historical sights, to restaurants, and inevitably his students and friends acquired his enthusiasm for the places they visited. John was a demanding tour guide, eager to teach others the value and beauty of another culture. Of all the places he went, he loved Italy best. As a law student and a graduate student in legal history, John was the head teaching fellow for several Harvard courses and a tutor in Mather House. A generation of undergraduates admired him for his intellect and his wisdom. John lived with AIDS for seven years and died on October 9, 1997. In 1998 his family and friends established this fellowship in his memory. The award is intended to introduce Italy to a student who has little familiarity with the country. Applicants should propose a trip that would be intellectually purposeful and personally enriching, but it need not contribute in any way to an academic project. The award is for travel that would not otherwise have happened, rather than for funding travel that the student would have undertaken anyway. Benefits One fellowship is awarded each year to fund summer or holiday travel to Italy. The award provides approximately $5,000, enough to cover a two or three-week visit. Selection criteria The fellowship will be awarded to a student who: demonstrates personal or intellectual curiosity about Italy;is resourceful, mature, and displays independence of mind; andhas not traveled extensively.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The competition is open to all Harvard first-years, sophomores, and juniors who are not Italian citizens and have not lived in Italy.