Thirteen D.C. Metro Area Students Receive NIAF Scholarships

Thirteen university students who reside in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area have received National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Scholarships.  The students from Maryland are: Anthony Bagileo of Laurel; John Bruno of Bethesda; Daniel Evans of Germantown;Anthony Fiora of Westminser; Maria LaVerghetta of Columbia; Zoe Ottaviani of Silver Spring; Jamie Restivo of Baltimore; and Carlo St. Regis of Gaithersburg.

Students from Virginia include: Benjamin Gaiarin of Alexandria; Amy Grudier of Falls Church; Christina Iovino of McLean; and Francesca Orfila of Alexandria. One student from the nation’s capital is Robert Tramonte.

Since NIAF’s inception 40 years ago, the scholarship program has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to dozens of annual scholarships ranging in value from $2,000 to $12,000, each in the Italian language and culture, medicine, engineering, business, law, music, and other specialized fields.  Last year, the average scholarship to students in the United States was worth more than $6,000.

"Since 1975, NIAF has awarded millions of dollars in merit-based scholarships and cultural grants to undergraduate, graduate, post graduate, medical and law students from across the country. NIAF values the importance of education and the role it plays in helping deserving Italian American students build promising futures,” said Anita Bevacqua McBride, co-chair of the Foundation’s Education and Grants Committee.

Scholarship applicants must be a NIAF member or have a parent or guardian who is a member of the Foundation. Applicants must be enrolled in or entering an accredited college or university in the United States in the fall of 2016. Students must be of Italian descent, with at least one ancestor who has emigrated from Italy. Additionally, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.  NIAF scholarship recipients are selected based on academic merit and have an average GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 to apply.

Contributors to the NIAF scholarship program include individuals, corporations and organizations throughout the United States and Italy. 

Apply online for a 2016-2017 NIAF scholarship at www.niaf.org/scholarships.  Application deadline is March 1, 2016. NIAF scholarship winners will be notified May 2, 2016. 

For more information on establishing a NIAF scholarship, contact NIAF Director of Programs Gabriella Mileti at [email protected].

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., and dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans.   Visit www.niaf.org

NIAF SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. METRO AREA 

Maryland:


· Anthony Bagileo of Laurel, Md., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Bagileo attends Catholic University of America and is pursuing a degree in sociology and criminal justice.




· John Bruno of Bethesda, Md., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Bruno attends Washington College and is pursuing a degree in history.




· Daniel Evans of Germantown, Md., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Evans attends Lycoming College and is pursuing a degree in criminal justice with a minor in business.



Anthony Fiora of Westminser, Md., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Fiora attends the University of Maryland College Park and is pursuing a degree in criminology and criminal justice.




· Maria LaVerghetta of Columbia, Md., has received the NIAF Abruzzo Molise Heritage Society Matching Scholarship. LaVerghetta attends the University of Perugia for Foreigners and is pursuing a master’s degree in Italian Education.




· Zoe Ottaviani of Silver Spring, Md., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Ottaviani attends Washington and Lee University and is pursuing a degree in accounting and business.




· Jamie Restivo of Baltimore, Md., has received the Filomena J. Peloro. Restivo attends Towson University and is pursuing a master’s degree in physician assistant studies.




· Carlo St. Regis of Gaithersburg, Md., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. St. Regis attends the University of Maryland at College Park and is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.



Virginia:


· Benjamin Gaiarin of Alexandria, Va., has received the NIAF Jim Cantalupo Scholarship. Gaiarin attends Stanford University.




· Amy Grudier of Falls Church, Va., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Grudier attends Cedarville University and is pursuing a degree in nursing.




· Christina Iovino of McLean, Va.., has received the NIAF Abruzzo Molise Heritage Society Matching Scholarship. Iovino attends the University of Virginia and is pursuing a degree in foreign affairs and Italian.



· Francesca Orfila of Alexandria, Va., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Orfila attends The College of William and Mary and is pursuing a degree in anthropology and classical archaelogy.



District of Columbia:



· Robert Tramonte of Washington, D.C., has received the NIAF Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Tramonte attends The Catholic University of America and is pursuing a bachelor of science in accounting.