2024 Scholarship Recipients

Our Society held its annual Awards Luncheon on Sunday, May 5, 2024 and was proud to present scholarships to five outstanding university students who will be studying in Italy over the next year.  This event is a highlight of the year’s activities and would not be possible without the support of all who have contributed to our Scholarship Fund.  A special “thank you” goes to members of the Scholarship Committee and to our Board for their hard work and continued support to make this occasion memorable for all who attended.

Scholarships Awarded To:

Jocelyn Buenrostro was awarded the Giulio Marcantonio Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of the founder of our Society.  Jocelyn is a student at the University of Denver majoring in Italian and Sociology.  This summer she will study at the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence.  As she states in her application, “Studying abroad allows me not only to grow as a student learning Italian but also to be able to graduate early, help my family and start saving money for my Masters in Social Work.”

Pascale Correa-Bruzzese attends the University of Denver and is majoring in Italian and International Studies. She will be doing a year-long program at the University of Sant’Anna in Sorrento. She has selected this program because it has an internship component that offers students the opportunity to work with local non-governmental organizations.  Pascale’s internship of choice is one that works with the migrant community in Naples.  She writes in her essay, “I hope than an internship with this nonprofit will build upon my previous experiences working with immigrants in the United States and provide me with a more globalized perspective on immigration as a whole.” 

Daniel Ferraro is a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver majoring in Political Science and minoring in Italian.  He will be studying with Academic Programs International at the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence for the summer and in so doing will complete his Italian Minor.  Daniel began his study in our Society’s courses taught by Jim Brunetti.  After a summer program at the Middlebury Language School’s Italian immersive program, he declared a Minor at MSU. Daniel says of his future plans, “I plan to continue my studies in a graduate setting, with the long-term goal of possessing the ability to teach this beautiful language to others who find themselves in a situation like mine.” 

Pippa Graham, a student at the University of Denver majoring in psychology and minoring in Italian, will be studying at the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence for both the summer and fall terms.  Pippa says, “I love taking Italian at DU and being able to read and dissect Italian poetry, film and other media.  I believe that being in Italy and hearing Italian everyday will help me solidify my grammar skills and will further my appreciation of Italian culture.”

Rachael Nelson is currently completing a Major in Classics and Minors in Italian and Art History at the University of Colorado Boulder.   She will be studying at the Umbra Institute in Perugia for the fall semester.  Rachael states in her application, “My aim in studying Italian is not only to acquire linguistic proficiency but also to deepen my understanding of the culture directly descended from the civilization I study daily.  Understanding the way of life of the Italian people today can bring me one step closer to understanding the way of life of the ancient Romans and Etruscans, which I plan on making my life’s work.”