University of Maryland track and field student-athlete and human development major Katie Altieri was recently named a Dr Pepper Go Teach Tuition Giveaway winner.
The College Football Playoff Foundation and Dr Pepper collaborate on an annual award to provide tuition assistance to deserving education majors across NCAA conference partners. Their institutions select student-athletes interested in pursuing teaching or coaching careers. Altieri, a senior, was awarded a $2,500 tuition stipend for her nomination.
The Go Teach project aims to provide athletic and academic departments with a platform and the tools needed to recruit qualified student-athletes into the teaching profession.
“It means a lot. It's just really cool that I was even nominated, and they thought of me,” Altieri said of earning the award. “It will help me a lot with the cost of grad school applications. It really adds up. I'm really grateful.”
According to a CBS News article published in 2023, college students majoring in education have declined significantly over the past five decades. However, both Altieri’s parents are educators at Susan E. Wagner High School on Staten Island, New York.
Her father — Marco — is an English teacher who coaches the girls' varsity and softball teams. Her mother — Dorothy — also teaches English. Furthermore, her uncle used to teach. Growing up in a family of educators allowed Altieri to understand the importance of their jobs.
“They make a direct impact on someone's life,” she said. “I always remember the good teachers that really helped me, even outside of school, checking up on me or rooting for me in track. … It could be one little moment, but you remember it, and it has an impact on you. I think being a teacher is a really fulfilling job to have.”
Even though teaching runs in the Altieri family, Katie began her journey at Maryland as a kinesiology major. She realized her passion for education after taking a few human development classes as electives.
She also credits the Maryland Made team for assisting her with her career transition. Altieri mentioned their career readiness program as one of the many opportunities that led her to where she is.
The track and field student-athlete is currently a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Gossett Fellows. She has also participated in Maryland Made’s Leadership Academy and Mentor Programs.
Altieri’s journey to finding a career path in education, paired with her background as a student-athlete, makes her someone who has already shown qualities that make a successful teacher, such as resilience and dedication.
“Aside from the time management and the leadership skills you get from being on a team, we're all working towards a common goal,” Altieri said. “When you're a teacher, you have a goal with your students, and you're working just to make sure they have the best experience they can and learn and make the most out of their time in school.”
Altieri’s nomination for the Dr Pepper Go Teach Tuition Giveaway will help her as she is currently applying to graduate school and is a student-athlete who is not on a full scholarship.
Due to Altieri’s selection, she will now be eligible to compete against other Go Teach recipients within the Big Ten conference. One awardee will receive a grand prize scholarship of $10,000. Altieri received a certificate commemorating her accomplishment with her teammates and coaches on November 11 at the Kehoe Track on Ludwig Field.
Altieri hopes to one day work in special education or school psychology, helping teachers and students with diverse learning needs.
