Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Each year, Italian American organizations award tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to worthy high school and college students. The following is a list of this year’s scholarship offerings and how to apply for them. Most scholarships have attendance and other requirements, so gather your application information early and study them carefully before applying. If your organization offers scholarships and they’re not listed here, contact us at info@franoi.com and we’ll add you to the website version of the listing right away and the print version next year. (Nota Bene: The sponsoring organizations are not responsible for any errors in this listing.)
American Italian Cultural Society — Two scholarships given to high school seniors based on a point system that takes into account grade-point average, work or extracurricular activities, membership or relationship to a member, volunteer activity with the society, and Italian ancestry. First place: $1,500 a year for four years. Second place: $750 a year for four years. A personal essay regarding career goals is required. Deadline: Postmarked by May 31. Presentation: Columbus Day Banquet in October. Attendance by recipients is highly encouraged. Visit americanitalian.org.
Amici Naperville Area Italian American Club — One $1,500 merit-based scholarship awarded to a qualifying high school senior of Italian descent who either attends a Naperville-area school or is related to an Amici member. Deadline: April 15. Presentation: General meeting in May. Recipients must be present. Visit amiciclub.org or contact Ellen Hines at ellenhines@comcast.net.
Arcolian Dental Arts Society – One scholarship to a third or fourth year dental student of Italian descent exhibiting exemplary effort and professionalism during the past years of their dental education. Deadline: Nov. 15. Presentation: Annual Christmas party. Contact arcoliandentalartssociety@gmail.com.
Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization — Several $3,000 scholarships awarded to high school seniors based on academic achievement and need. Deadline: June 1. Contact Frank Giudice at 630-941-4700, Jerry Saviano at 630-628-6867 ext. 222 or Fred Lonigro at 630-728-2311.
CI-AMA (Cegliesi Italo-American Association) — Several $2,000 scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate/graduate students of Italian descent who meet academic and character requirements. Deadline: Aug. 21. Presentation: Oct. 18. Visit ci-ama.org/scholarship.
Columbian Club Charitable Foundation — Multiple scholarships ranging from $2,500-$5,000 awarded to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate/graduate students of Italian descent who are permanent residents of the state of Illinois. Scholarships are available for accounting, art history, business, dentistry, engineering, finance, Italian studies, law, medicine, music education and other professional endeavors. Deadline: Oct. 31. Presentation: January 2027. Visit columbianclub.org.
Corsetti Scholarships — The Loreta and Silvio Corsetti Scholarship (Civil Engineering School, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Silvio and Loreta Corsetti scholarships (Business and Health Science schools, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), and Carmine Corsetti scholarships (Lewis University and Joliet Junior College) are available to students of Italian descent. Specify your ethnic background when you apply for financial aid at of these schools.
IANU St. Anthony Lodge — $2,000 grants to all eligible student members of the lodge who are enrolled full-time in a qualified undergraduate program. The student and parents must have purchased insurance products from the ISDA Financial Life Co. two years prior to application date. Contact Ralph Cantal at rcantal@earthlink.net.
Italian American Executives of Transportation — Scholarships awarded starting at $1,000 to high school graduates. Applicants must be a high school senior at the time of application. Awards are based on Illinois residency, academic achievement, community involvement and need. Italian ancestry is not necessary but a plus. Deadline: Aug. 31. Recipients must attend the IAET Awards Banquet on Nov. 21. Visit iaet-chicago.org or contact Bill Lowendick at 513-910-8894 or scholarship@iaet-chicago.org.
Italian Catholic Federation — Approximately 130 $400 scholarships awarded to high school students who are of Italian heritage and Catholic faith or are children of non-Italian ICF members. Applications are evaluated based on scholastic achievement, financial need, leadership roles, extracurricular activities and charitable efforts. Grants may be renewed for second, third and fourth terms for $600, $700 and $1,000, respectively. Deadline: April 10. Visit icf.org.
Italian Cultural Center — Several scholarships between $1,000 and $2,000 awarded to nonprofessional vocal students between the ages of 17 and 27 who are studying with qualified teachers or institutions. Deadline: Sept. 11. Competition and awards dinner: Sept. 18. Contact 708-345-5933 or info@casaitaliachicago.org.
Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans — One $2,000 John Fischetti Scholarship awarded to a student of Italian ancestry who is either a high school senior accepted into a college with the intent of establishing a major in journalism or communications, or an undergraduate student majoring in journalism or communications. Deadline: April 30. Presentation: Dante Award luncheon in May. Winners must attend the presentation. One $2,000 Jo Ann Serpico Scholarship and one $2,000 Marie Palello Scholarship presented to high school seniors and/or college students who are of 50% Italian extraction or more and demonstrate leadership, community service and high academic achievement. Deadline: Sept. 30. Presentation: Oct. 12. Winners must attend the presentation. Nick and Helena Patti Scholarship(s) and Frank J. Vigilante Scholarship(s). Number and dollar amounts to be determined. One $1,500 Joseph U. Bottalla Scholarship. Deadline for previous three: Nov. 1. Presentation for the previous three: JCCIA Christmas party. Visit jccia.com or contact 708-450-9050 or jcc@jccia.org.
Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans Women’s Division — Several $2,000 scholarships awarded to female graduating high school students of Italian ancestry. Deadline: April 5. Presentation: Scholarship dinner and fashion show on April 24. Winners must attend the presentation. Visit jccia.com or contact 708-450-9050 or jcc@jccia.com.
Justinian Society of Lawyers Endowment Fund — Multiple scholarships awarded to law school students based on academic ability and need. Deadline: Mid-October. Presentation: November. Visit justinianendowment.org/scholarships or contact Catherine Locallo at 312-332-7760 or clocallo@robbins-schwartz.com.
Justinian Society of Lawyers DuPage County Chapter — One scholarship awarded to a student of Italian ancestry in their second or third year of law school. Deadline: March 31. Presentation: Date to be determined. Recipients must attend the Installation Dinner to be presented with the scholarship. Visit dupagejustinians.com/scholarship.
National Italian American Foundation — Nearly 200 scholarships ranging between $2,500 and $12,000 based on various criteria and awarded to undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, medical and legal students. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.5 out of 4, have Italian ancestry, be either U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, and demonstrate a commitment to or interest in Italian culture and heritage. Students must also have an active NIAF membership or have a parent, guardian or grandparent who has a membership. Recipients are selected based on academic merit. Deadline: March 1. Visit niaf.org/scholarships.
The National Italian American Foundation and the National Christopher Columbus Association — Christopher Columbus Essay Contest for high school students of all backgrounds. The first-place winner will receive $1,200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to read his or her essay at the 2026 Columbus Day event in Washington, D.C. Deadline: March 15. Visit niaf.org/columbusessay.
Christine Frances Rocco Memorial Endowed Scholarship — One scholarship awarded to an Italian-American woman age 28 or older beginning or returning to college to study English, business or education at Benedictine University in Lisle. Contact 630-829-1805 or scholarships@ben.edu.
Sons and Daughters of Italy in America — One or more scholarships offered to local high school seniors based on academic achievement, community service and extracurricular activities, and one scholarship to a student entering a master’s program. Deadline: April 15. Presentation: June 2. Attendance by recipients is highly encouraged. Contact Lyn Scolaro at president@sadia-chicago.org or visit sadia-chicago.org.
Sons of Italy Foundation, Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin — Several $1,000 scholarships awarded to students of full or partial Italian ancestry graduating from high school. Award is based on financial need, scholastic record, and activities showing character and leadership. An essay and faculty recommendations are required. Deadline: May 20. Only written requests will be honored. Visit osia.uno.
Sons of Italy Foundation, Supreme Lodge — Ten to 18 merit-based scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 awarded to U.S. citizens or green-card holders of at least one-quarter Italian ancestry enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program, graduate program or a professional school at an accredited academic institution for the fall 2026 term. Deadline: Feb. 27. Presentation: May. Visit osdia.org/initiatives/scholarships.
UNICO National — Multiple undergraduate and graduate scholarships in medicine, nursing, science, fine arts, special education, therapy, engineering, computer science, literature, veterinary science, Italian studies, Catholic priesthood, natural sciences, general studies, and study abroad in Italy. Applications must be submitted online. Candidates must reside in the home state of a UNICO chapter unless otherwise indicated. Deadline: March 15. Contact Glenn Pettinato at glenn.pettinato@scranton.edu or visit unico.org.