FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(WASHINGTON, DC – January 1, 2003) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will award more than 100 scholarships in the academic year 2003-2004. Since 1976, the NIAF has awarded nearly $6 million in scholarships and grants across the country.

The NIAF scholarship program celebrated its 27th anniversary in the year 2002. It has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to over 100 scholarships that range from $2,500 to $15,000 each in the humanities, medicine, engineering, business, music, Italian language and culture and other specialized fields.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic merit and are academically outstanding. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 to apply.

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

To establish a NIAF scholarship, contact Serena Cantoni, NIAF director of scholarships and grants, at 202/939-3111, e-mail: serena@niaf.org. To apply for a 2003 -04 NIAF scholarship, visit: www.niaf.org. The on-line application will be available in January 2003. Application deadline: April 30, 2003.