20th Anniversary
National Education & Leadership
Awards Gala

This year the Sons of Italy Foundation celebrates the 20th Anniversary of its National Education and Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala. The night is your passport to Italy as we celebrate education, service, leadership and philanthropy while showcasing the very best of Italian America.

Honoring
 
Joseph Plumeri ~ Dr. Alfred Rotondaro ~
Michael Petruzzello ~ Steve Wynn

With Master of Ceremonies

Joe Mantegna
 
Also the 2008 Scholarship Winners:
 

CHRISTOPHER PALLAS

The Joseph L. Bracone Memorial Scholarship

Hometown:  Glastonbury, CT

School: London School of Economics

 

      National Merit Scholar

    Former campus minister and served in Peace Corps (Togo, West Africa)

      B.A. (with Honors) at Grinnell College (Iowa) with major in religious studies

      M.Sc. in public policy at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland

      Doctoral program at the London School of Economics

 

 

ANNA MANGIARDI-OXBROW

American University of Rome Scholarship

Hometown:  Schroon Lake, NY

School: American University of Rome

  • Majoring in communications in the visual media and minoring in international relations
  • Member of American University of Rome student government
  • Fund-raises for Reach Out Club, dedicated to helping less fortunate
  • Amateur photographer and singer

  

JEROME MICHAEL TULLO

Henry F. Salvatori Memorial Scholarship

Hometown:  Staten Island, NY

School: Harvard University, Cambridge MA

             Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

  • National Merit Scholarship finalist and an AP Scholar
  • Qualified to compete in the 2008 USA Olympic trials for sailing
  • Winner of scholastic Awards for creative writing and art work
  • Raised over $3,000.00 for the Casa Limiar Brazilian orphanage

 

 

ANTHONY FEDERICO CERRONE

Joseph & Elham Cicippio Scholarship

Hometown: Summit, NJ

School: University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, Philadelphia, PA

  • Senior Class President
  • Member of the Advisory Board and School Club Coordinator for "Operation Smile"
  • Founder of the Delbarton School GREEN WAVE GREEN environmental club
  • Member of the Varsity Soccer Team 

 

BENJAMIN T. DE MARCO

The Frank D. Privitera Family Scholarship

Hometown:  Marion, SC

School:  Duke University, Durham, NC

  • Valedictorian Class of 2008 Marion High School
  • National Merit Scholarship Commended Student
  • Received the Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship for leadership & service
  • Captain of Varsity Soccer and Cross-Country teams

 

MARIA FAILLA

The Sons of Italy Foundation Italian Language Scholarship

Hometown:  Scarsdale, NY

School:  Rice University, Houston, TX

  • Recipient of the Bel Canto Performance Award from the Bel Canto Institute in Florence, Italy
  • Top ten finalist in the Classical Singer Magazine National High School Voice Competition
  • Taken Master Classes with Mirella Freni in Rome, Italy and Simon Estes at the Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, MA
  • Sings the National Anthem at every Rice University home baseball game

 

DAVID JOSEPH FINOCCHIARO

Global Experiences Italian Language and Intern Scholarship

Hometown: Athens, GA

School:  University of Georgia, Athens, GA

  • Dual major in Finance and International Affairs
  • Dean's list for three semesters
  • Roosevelt Society member
  • Finance Society member

 

PAUL JOSEPH MARANO

2008 NELA & Joseph Plumeri Scholarship

Hometown:  Dix Hills, NY

School:  Brown University, Providence, RI

               Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

 

   Graduating First in class at Commack High School with a GPA of 105.09

    Perfect score of 2400 on the SAT examination

   International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate

   National Honor Society President

 

 

STEPHANIE KOTHEN

Sorrento Lingue Study Abroad Scholarship

Hometown: Tonawanda, NY

School: Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY

  • Segment Producer for the PBS program "Our Town" in Tonawanda, NY
  • Amateur radio operator since 2003
  • Assistant Communications Director for Western NY Mountain Bike Assoc.
  • Concert clarinetist

 

MICHAEL ANTHONY BAUMER

The Sons of Italy Foundation Scholarship

Hometown: Belleville, IL

School:  University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • Placed 2nd in the National American Assoc. of Physics Teachers Physics Bowl
  • Eagle Scout and avid backpacker
  • Volunteers weekly at Karen House, a women and children's shelter  and coordinates an ESL program at St. Cecelia's Catholic Elementary School
  • Volunteered at a nutrition center for children in Yoro, Honduras

Special Performance by:
Tony Bennett

The 20th Anniversary Celebration Includes:

  • Door prize of two round trip tickets to Italy
  • Passport to Italy Silent Auction. Start bidding online now: Click Here.
  • Chef Expo: A sampling of DC's finest Italian restaurants
  • Mary Ann Esposito signing Ciao Italia Slow and Easy

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008

Time: 6:45 p.m. Chef Expo & silent auction  & 8 p.m. dinner, awards, performance

Place: National Building Museum 401 F St., NW ~ Washington, DC

 
For more gala information Click Here.
 
Sons of Italy
219 E Street, NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20002