2025 Scholarship Recipients
Our Society held its annual Awards Luncheon on Sunday, May 4, 2025 and was proud to present scholarships to six 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:
Alyssa Byrne of the University of Colorado Boulder was awarded the Jason Modlich Memorial Scholarship to pursue her study of the violin at Orvieto Musica this summer in Orvieto, Italy. She states in her application, “Studying in Italy will not only help me to achieve my academic and artistic goals, but it will also help me to develop a deeper appreciation for Italian culture. The program at Orvieto Musica will allow ample opportunities to perform and to collaborate with others, helping with both my performance and my teaching goals. Additionally, being in an Italian town provides a unique setting to learn from Italians about the classical music tradition, which is been part of their culture for centuries, and a new way to approach it. Being in an Italian town and experiencing the language, traditions, and culture, could also give me a fresh perspective on my music.”
Kiley Traynor was awarded the Giulio Marcantonio Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of the founder of our Society. Kiley is a student at the University of Denver majoring in Italian and Psychology. This fall she will study at the Center for International Studies at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento. As she states in her application, “Since I was a young girl, there has been a magnetic pull in my life toward the art, language, culture, and people of Italy. Traveling to Italy has been a dream, learning the beautiful language has been an aspiration, and immersing myself in the culture has been a deep wish. At the University of Denver, my academic goals and personal dreams have slowly become reality.”
Gracie McClendon was awarded the Gianfranco Marcantonio Memorial Scholarship for her study in the spring semester of 2026 at the International Studies Abroad Florence Program of Business, Hospitality, Design and Liberal Arts. Gracie is a student at the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Italian. In support of her application, it was stated, “In addition to her academic abilities, Gracie has always shown a strong sense of social responsibility. She connects easily with people from different walks of life, and her ability to empathize with others will allow her to make meaningful contributions to the local community in Florence."
Sylvia Barnes was the recipient of a Dante Alighieri Society Scholarship to study at the Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan in the coming fall. She is a student at the University of Denver majoring in Italian and minoring in Psychology. Speaking to her seriousness of purpose for her study abroad experience, she writes: “It was very important to me to choose a program where I would not be surrounded by other Americans speaking English because I want to improve my Italian and speak with locals.”
Clarissa Diaz has been selected for a Dante Alighieri Society Scholarship to study at John Cabot University in Rome in the fall. She attends the University of Denver where she is a double major in English and Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience—with still time to study Italian! In her words, “Studying Italian at DU has furthered my interest in studying abroad in Italy, has prepared me to expand and develop my Italian through interaction with locals and has given me insight into the different communicative rules and norms that are unique to Italy.”
Kimberly Guevara was awarded a Dante Alighieri Society Scholarship to study in the fall in Florence at the Lorenzo de’ Medici International Institute. At the University of Denver, Kimberly has declared a double major in Economics and Public Policy with a minor in Leadership. Since childhood, Kimberly has been fascinated by the Italian language and culture. She writes, “My appreciation for Italy continued into adulthood. When I was selecting a university, the opportunity to learn Italian was my top priority. Since I could take Italian language courses alongside those in global economic affairs, I chose the University of Denver. By examining developed economies—Italy’s in particular—I am building a foundation to contribute to international diplomacy, and I am fulfilling my goal of becoming a Foreign Service Officer.”