FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 7, 2013) Ten university students who reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area have received National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Scholarships. The students are Katie Anastasi of Rockville, Md. Mackenzie Burnett of Ellicott City, Md., Mattia D’Affuso of North Potomac, Md., Daniel Evans of Germantown, Md., Gabriella LaVerghetta and Nicholas Tsusaki of Columbia, Md., Natalie Eichner of Arlington, Va., Kosette Leperi and Karson Leperi of Falls Church, Va. and Ashley Pacitto of Dumfries, Va.

“NIAF has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships and grants across the country since its inception. NIAF’s leadership is extremely proud of the high caliber of students and their outstanding achievements,” said NIAF Chief Operating Officer John M. Viola

NIAF celebrates its 38th anniversary this year. The scholarship program has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to dozens of annual scholarships that range in value from $2,000 to $10,000 each in the humanities, medicine, business, engineering, music, Italian language and culture and other specialized fields.

Scholarship winners are selected based on academic merit and are academically outstanding, with an average GPA of 3.95. The average scholarship in the United States was more than $4,000.

In addition to NIAF’s scholarship program, this year NIAF donated funds for the Cooperativa Sociale Nazareno, a facility for disabled and mentally challenged individuals, ravaged by the recent Emilia Romagna earthquake in May 2012. NIAF also sent college students to Italy’s Campania and Lazio regions to participate in the Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery program, an educational and cultural initiative.

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

Apply online for a 2013-2014 NIAF scholarship at www.niaf.org/scholarships. Application deadline is March 1, 2013.

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 D.C. METRO AREA

• Katie Anastasi of Rockville, Md., has received the Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Anastasi attends Macalester College and is majoring in Latin American Studies.
• Mackenzie Burnett of Ellicott City, Md., has received the Maurizio A. Gianturco Scholarship. Burnett attends University of Maryland – College Park and is majoring in International Relations and Government and Politics with a minor in Italian Studies.
• Mattia D’Affuso of North Potomac, Md., has received the Abruzzo Molise Heritage Society Matching Scholarship. D’Affuso attends James Madison University and is majoring in Italian Language and Literature and Vocal Performance.
• Daniel Evans of Germantown, Md., has received the Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Evans attends Lycoming College and is majoring in Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C.
• Gabriella LaVerghetta of Columbia, Md., has received the Abruzzo Molise Heritage Society Matching Scholarship. LaVerghetta attends American University.
• Nicholas Tsusaki of Columbia, Md., has received the Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Tsusaki attends Georgetown University and is majoring in Comparative Studies with concentrations in Latin America and the Middle East.
• Natalie Eichner of Arlington, Va., has received the Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Eichner attends University of Virginia and is majoring in Kinesiology and Biology.
• Kosette Leperi of Falls Church, Va., has received the Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Leperi attends Boise State University and is majoring in Materials Science and Engineering.
• Karson Leperi of Falls Church, Va., has received the Lido Civic Club Matching Scholarship. Leperi attends University of South Carolina and is majoring in Chemical Engineering.
• Ashley Pacitto of Dumfries, Va., has received the Filomena Peloro Scholarship. Pacitto attends University of Virginia and is majoring in Biochemistry.