Katherine Xilotl-Portillo: 2024 Fund Founders Scholarship Recipient
Katherine Xilotl-Portillo is a 2024 recipient of a Founders Scholarship. Every year, Progreso Latino Fund awards two $3,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from New Haven Public Schools through the New Haven Scholarship Fund.
Katherine Xilotl-Portillo is a graduate of New Haven’s Metropolitan Business Academy and is studying to become a bilingual elementary teacher. A first-generation college student, Katherine decided that working in elementary education was the right career for her after shadowing teachers through a weekly program called, “Educators Rising.” Observing the classroom and interacting with the young students confirmed what she always knew about herself — she loves spending time with children. She has been a babysitter for many years, ever since her first job watching the daughter of her mother’s friend.
“Having that experience with children, helping them grow and having a special bond really makes me happy and is one of the most important things for me, “Xilotl-Portillo says. “It brings me that energy. Helping them, seeing them learn, interacting with them, it makes me happy inside.”
Xilotl-Portillo grew up in New Haven’s Westville neighborhood and will be studying Elementary Education – Bilingual at Southern Connecticut State University.
