FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 8, 2006) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will present nearly 100 scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year to students across the country. The NIAF has awarded $9 million in scholarships and grants since its inception in 1976. In 2006, more than $1.3 million in cultural and language grants and student scholarships were awarded by the Foundation.

The NIAF scholarship program celebrates its 32nd anniversary this year. It has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to more than 100 annual scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 each in the humanities, medicine, engineering, business, music, Italian language and culture, and other specialized fields. Last year, the average scholarship was worth more than $4,000.

“The NIAF award means much more to me than just easing the financial burden. I feel that this scholarship is the culmination of years of hard work and effort, as well as a profound interest in the Italian language and culture,” Paul Cavallaro, a 2006 NIAF scholarship recipient, said.

Applicants must either be of Italian descent, with at least one ancestor who has emigrated from Italy, or students of any ethnic background majoring or minoring in Italian language, Italian studies, Italian-American studies or a related field. NIAF scholarship recipients are selected based on academic merit, and students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to apply.

Contributors to the NIAF scholarship program include individuals, corporations, and organizations across the U.S. The NIAF will also consider matching scholarships with other organizations.

To establish a NIAF scholarship, contact Serena Cantoni, NIAF director of scholarships and grants, at 202/939-3111 or serena@niaf.org. To apply for a 2007-2008 NIAF scholarship, visit www.niaf.org/scholarships.

Application deadline: March 1, 2007. The NIAF is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., and dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Learn more about our programs and events by visiting www.niaf.org