Front row, left to right: Megan Benevides, Rachael McWeeney, Center for Italian Culture Chairwoman Anna Mazzaferro, Scholarship Committee Chairwoman Anne Tardanico, Joana Dos Santos, Katie Gowell, and Matthew Tomasetti. Back row, left to right: Erik Weikert, Genna Sandler, Amanda Valcourt, Nicholas Asilo, Jeffrey Andree, and Sara Viola. |
Fitchburg, Mass.—The Center for Italian Culture at Fitchburg State College has awarded $12,000 in scholarships for students to pursue studies in Italian language and culture.
The scholarship winners were recognized at a reception held recently at the Newman Center on the Fitchburg State College campus.
“These are extraordinary students who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments, working to support their education while maintaining their high academic grades,” said scholarship committee chairwoman Anne Tardanico. “The majority of these students have been on the Dean’s List and many perform admirable community service.”
Scholarship recipients are: Jeffrey Andree of Peabody; Stephanie Aguilar of Fitchburg; Nicholas Asilo of Marlboro; Megan Benevides of Rockville, Conn.; Kate-Lynn Coraccio of Shirley; Joana Dos Santos of Fitchburg; Nathan Fiske of Fitchburg; Katrina Gigante of Clinton; Katie Gowell of Lunenburg; Rachael McWeeney of Shrewsbury; Genna Sandler of Billerica; Matthew Tomasetti of Holliston; Amanda Valcourt of Fitchburg; Sara Viola of Fitchburg; and Erik Weikert of Scituate.
Twelve students will use the scholarship money to study in Verona, Italy, as part of the college’s summer study abroad program; others will put the money toward tuition and fees. Verona, made famous as the home of Romeo and Juliet, is part of the Northern region of Italy and has a well-preserved artistic heritage, spanning the Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and Modern periods. Students who travel to Verona will study up to three faculty-taught courses: Food: The Mediterranean Connection, Photography in Italy, or Italian for Beginners. A program organizer will also coordinate movie nights, cooking classes, soccer games, and other cultural events.
The Center for Italian Culture at Fitchburg State College was established in 1999 by Amelia Gallucci-Cirio, class of 1938.
“Amelia’s history with Fitchburg State began in 1934 when she received a scholarship of $150, a considerable amount in 1934, and it enabled her to attend Fitchburg State,” said Center for Italian Culture Advisory Board President Anna Mazzaferro. “She has since returned that favor many times over.”
The CIC was established as one of the college’s community outreach programs to encourage the understanding and appreciation of all aspects of Italian language and culture, including ancient and contemporary studies, and the Italian experience in the New World. Several major gifts from Mrs. Gallucci-Cirio have been added to an endowment fund that provides annual income for the CenterStage cultural series and the center's Italian language and culture initiatives. |
