FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Natalie Wulderk
nwulderk@niaf.org
+1-202-939-3117

(Washington, D.C. – July 11, 2019) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is pleased to announce that the 2019-2020 NIAF on Campus Fellowship application is open now until September 13. The program is intended for future leaders who self-identify as active in the Italian American community through their choice of study, their participation in on-campus Italian Clubs, and their grassroot efforts. The ideal candidate is active in his or her college or university’s Italian or Italian American student-run organization. Each Student Fellow will have access to networking opportunities, and a ticket to NIAF’s 44th Anniversary Gala. The duration of the Fellowship is from Fall 2019 to Spring 2020.

“The NIAF on Campus Fellowship is one of the fastest growing of the Foundation’s flagship programs. From 2017-2018, the number of college campuses that had a NIAF on Campus Fellow increased more than 100 percent,” said NIAF Chair Gabriel A. Battista. “On behalf of NIAF, we are excited to see the program continue to expand in the coming year.”

“The program offers the unique opportunity to attend special events at the NIAF 44th Anniversary Gala Weekend and to meet with NIAF Board Members at the NIAF on Campus Conference,” said NIAF Chair Patricia de Stacy Harrison. “During the Conference, the Fellows share innovative ideas on how to promote Italian American culture through programming events on each respective college campus nationwide.”

To be considered for the NIAF on Campus Fellows program, a student must: be an Italian American college student who is active in Italian issues through a club or a language society; be a NIAF member; and be able to attend the NIAF Gala Weekend and participate in events. To apply, students must complete the Fellowship application and submit a letter of recommendation to niafoncampus@niaf.org from a moderator of their Italian Club, professor of Italian language or Italian/Italian American Studies, or department head.

“The chance to become a NIAF on Campus Fellow is an opportunity not to be missed. The program offers a way for students in Italian clubs across the country to connect and share ideas,” said NIAF Director of Scholarships, Grants and Youth Engagement Julia Streisfeld. “NIAF also provides a $1,000 grant to each Fellow’s college Italian club to put on two educational events annually. NIAF’s financial support helps Fellows put on events that can be more widely attended that can draw college students in who are unfamiliar with or want to learn more about Italian and Italian American culture.”

The program includes: roundtrip travel expenses (i.e. airfare or train fare) for the student to Washington, D.C.; a two-night hotel accommodation at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.; and free access to all NIAF Gala Weekend events, including the Saturday night 44th Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner.

Online Application Deadline: Friday, September 13, 2019 (11:59 PM EST)

Deadline to submit letters of recommendation to niafoncampus@niaf.org: Friday, September 13, 2019 (11:59 PM EST)*

Students notified via e-mail: Friday, September 20, 2019 (5:00 PM EST)

For more information on the application process, go to: https://bit.ly/2HBLEjU.

Questions, please contact niafoncampus@niaf.org.

*Please note that all applicants’ letters of recommendation must be sent directly by letter provider*

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and protecting the Italian American heritage and culture. To learn more about the Foundation and become a member, please visit www.niaf.org.