FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elissa Ruffino, 202-939-3106, elissa@niaf.org

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Application Deadline is March 1, 2016, for 2016-2017 NIAF Scholarships at www.niaf.org/scholarships

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 3, 2016) Eight university students who reside in California have received National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Scholarships. The students are: Gian Paul Bergeron of Sausalito; Alexander Bologna of Rancho Palos Verdes; Tristan Curnow of Fallbrook; Max Galassi of Redondo Beach; Neal Huddon-Cossar of Novato; Michael Law of Glendale; Ashley Robertson of Pinole; and Alissa Wilson of San Martin.

Since NIAF’s inception 40 years ago, the scholarship program has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to dozens of annual scholarships ranging in value from $2,000 to $12,000, each in the Italian language and culture, medicine, engineering, business, law, music, and other specialized fields.  Last year, the average scholarship to students in the United States was worth more than $6,000.

“Since 1975, NIAF has awarded millions of dollars in merit-based scholarships and cultural grants to undergraduate, graduate, post graduate, medical and law students from across the country. NIAF values the importance of education and the role it plays in helping deserving Italian American students build promising futures,” said Anita Bevacqua McBride, co-chair of the Foundation’s Education and Grants Committee.

Scholarship applicants must be a NIAF member or have a parent or guardian who is a member of the Foundation. Applicants must be enrolled in or entering an accredited college or university in the United States in the fall of 2016. Students must be of Italian descent, with at least one ancestor who has emigrated from Italy. Additionally, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens. NIAF scholarship recipients are selected based on academic merit and have an average GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 to apply.

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

Apply online for a 2016-2017 NIAF scholarship at www.niaf.org/scholarships. Application deadline is March 1, 2016. NIAF scholarship winners will be notified May 2, 2016.

For more information on establishing a NIAF scholarship, contact NIAF Director of Programs Gabriella Mileti at gmileti@niaf.org.

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 IN CALIFORNIA

	Gian Paul Bergeron of Sausalito has received the NIAF Jack Valenti Scholarship. Bergeron attends Yale University and is pursuing a degree in American Studies with an emphasis in film and literature.
	Alexander Bologna of Rancho Palos Verdes has received the NIAF Jack Valenti Scholarship. Bologna attends the University of Southern California and is pursuing a degree in Cinematic Arts and Critical Studies.
	Tristan Curnow of Fallbrook has received the NIAF Jim Cantalupo Scholarship. Curnow attends Point Loma Nazarene University and is pursuing a degree in business management.
	Max Galassi of Redondo Beach has received the NIAF Jack Valenti Scholarship. Galassi currently attends Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and is pursuing a degree in film. Galassi was nationally recognized while in high school for his work in cinematography and directing, and has had films screened in film festivals in Connecticut, New York and Washington.
	Neal Huddon-Cossar of Novato has received the Norman R. Petterson Scholarship Fund. Huddon-Cossar attends John Cabot University and is pursuing a degree in international affairs with a minor in economics.
	Michael Law of Glendale has received the Filomena J. Peloro Scholarship. Law attends the University of California Los Angeles and is pursuing a degree in business economics.
	Ashley Robertson of Pinole has received the NIAF Jim Cantalupo Scholarship. Robertson attends the University of California Santa Barbara and is pursuing a degree in global and international studies and Italian studies.
	Alissa Wilson of San Martin has received the NIAF Jim Cantalupo Scholarship. Wilson attends Santa Clara University and is pursuing a degree in biology with a minor in Italian.