Ridgefield Resident, Hamilton College Student Alyssa Bonanno Spending Semester in Madrid

Alyssa Bonanno of Ridgefield is participating in Hamilton College's Academic Year in Madrid, Spain (HCAYS), for the 2019 fall semester. The program is directed by Hamilton Professor of Hispanic Studies Joana Sabadell-Nieto.

HCAYS, now in its 45^th session, offers small liberal arts-oriented classes and the opportunity to enroll directly in the Madrid University system. Participants must speak only Spanish at all times, both in and outside of class.

Through personal contact with the culture, language, ideals, and customs of another nation, participants step beyond the familiarity and comforts of their own environment to gain a new perspective on international affairs and a greater respect for and understanding of another people.

Bonanno, a junior majoring in neuroscience, is a graduate of Ridgefield High School.

Originally founded in 1793 as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy, Hamilton College offers an open curriculum that gives students the freedom to shape their own liberal arts education within a research- and writing-intensive framework. Hamilton enrolls 1,850 students from 49 states and 49 countries. Additional information about the college can be found at www.hamilton.edu.