Scholarship Opportunities

• High School Scholarship

  • One time gift of *$3,000 to defray the cost of tuition, school supplies, uniform, etc for the student and their family. 

  • Whom it's for: Rising high school freshmen

    • Applicant will have completed 8th grade by the grant date.

  • Membership Status: The student's parent/guardian or grandparent must have been an active member of Lodge #272 for one full year before application date. 

    • Note: In order to apply for the College scholarship in 4 years, the applicant must join Sons & Daughters of Italy in America Capital City Lodge #272 at least one year before applying for the second scholarship. 

      • Click here to apply for membership. (Link in progress)

• College Scholarship

  • One time gift of *$3,000 to support the enrichment of and defray costs for college students and their families. 

  • Whom it's for: Rising college freshmen or trade school students 

    • Applicant will have graduated high school by the grant date.

  • Membership Status: The student and/or the student's parent/guardian or grandparent must have been an active member of Lodge #272 for one full year before application date. 

    • Note: If the applicant was a recipient of the High School Scholarship, s/he must be a member of Lodge #272 herself/himself in order to qualify for this second scholarship.

    • If this is the applicant's first scholarship, s/he may apply through her/his guardian's membership. 

• Continuing Education Booster

  • One time gift (amount determined by Scholarship Committee) to support the post-graduate success, establishment of a small business, Italian language studies, or other academic/military/trade goals as approved by the collaborative efforts of the Scholarship Committee and the Financial Committee. 

  • Whom it's for: High school graduates pursuing a military or career path in lieu of college, student-aged Lodge #272 members  (14 yo-25 yo) pursuing Italian language or cultural studies (here or abroad), graduate students majoring or minoring in a field that champions Italian heritage.

  • Membership Status: The applicant must have been an active member of Lodge #272 for one full year before application date. 

    • Note: The Booster is not granted through familial membership.

*Scholarship amounts may vary depending on recommendations to the Scholarship Committee by the president and/or Financial Committee. 

Requirements:

• Deadline: Application must be received by the scholarship committee by April 30th. 

• Acceptance Letter: High school graduates must submit an acceptance letter (or equivalent documentation) for the college/training/program they will begin in the fall. 

  • This is not a requirement for rising high school freshmen.

• Transcript: Student must maintain a rolling cumulative GPA minimum of 3.2 (80%, B-)

  • In cases of junior high schools that do not utilize the 4 point or 100 point grading scale, a short letter of recommendation from the classroom teacher or college and career counselor will be accepted. The LOR must address the student's benchmark proficiency, effort, and conduct. 

  • In cases of GPAs that fall short of the minimum, the Scholarship Committee may take into account community service and membership in extracurricular activities. 

  • A GPA impacted by a leave of absence, hospitalization, or any situation outside of the student's control shall not impede their qualification for a scholarship provided their references agree that the student is of good moral character. 

• Character Reference: An adult who can speak to your moral character and your commitment/leadership in school, a club, a volunteer organization, or a job will fill out a 4 question form and mail it to us.

  • This adult may not be a family member or a friend. Please select someone who is in a position of authority, leadership, or education. 

• Essay/Presentation: What does it mean to be Italian?

  • Respond to one of these prompts in a one-page essay, a 3-5 minute video, a 5-7 slide presentation delivered at a Lodge #272 meeting, or other project that displays your deep understanding of the topic:

    • Why did your ancestors emigrate from Italy? What were their hopes and dreams? Did they come true? If so, how? If not, why not? How do your ancestors' decisions and dreams influence you today? (Your project should show that you have researched - and interviewed, if possible - your elder relatives.)

    • What was life like in your family's ancestral home town when your branch of the family still resided there? What is life like in that same town today? How does life in your family's ancestral home town compare to every day life where you live now? (Your project should reflect an understanding of the region and culture.)

    • Would you ever move to Italy? Where would you live? Why have you chosen that region? What would your life goals be while living there? (Your project should reflect an understanding of the region and culture.)

    • How will you share Italian and Italian-American/Italian-Pennsylvanian heritage with future generations? How has it shaped you and how can it shape those who will come a long in the future? (Your project should show that you have researched the influence of Italian-Americans and/or Italian-Pennsylvanians and given thought to our ever-changing American culture and how your heritage fits into that puzzle.)

    • Any research/essay/presentation topic relevant to your appreciation of the influence that your Italian heritage, ancestors, and homeland have had and continue to have on your life and where you live.  (Your project should show your sincerity about your heritage and an effort to learn something new about your family, your ancestral home, and/or the influence of Italian culture and history on the United States.)

    • Solo per i coraggiosi (Only for the brave): Have a 10 minute conversation in-person or over the phone with the Scholarship Committee chairperson (Emily di Febo) in Italian! (Your learning level would be taken into consideration.)

• Act of Good Faith: Optional but highly recommended. Applicants should consider expressing a desire to connect with SDOI Lodge #272. 

  • Ideas include but are not limited to:

    • Participate in 1-2 Lodge #272 activities/meetings per year (when feasible)

    • Present a slideshow to Lodge #272 about your Italian heritage, a trip to Italy, or Italian history/language/culture

    • Connect with one or more non-family lodge member/s. For example:

      • Go out for coffee with the lodge president

      • Invite a Scholarship Committee member to your sports/performing arts event

    • Offer community service to the lodge or its members. For example:

      • Mow the lawn for an elderly lodge member

      • Come teach older lodge members how to use their new cell phones

      • Offer to cook, sew, build, program, decorate, clean, etc for the lodge

    • Learn something from a lodge member

      • Ask a financial committee member to teach you how to balance a budget

      • Ask the lodge president to tutor you on leadership skills

      • Find a lodge member with a career that interests you and interview them

      • Find a lodge member with a talent that interests you and ask for lessons

  • If you do not live locally, consider:

    • An established effort to learn the Italian language. Communicate with the Scholarship Committee chairperson (Emily di Febo) about what class you are taking or what method you are using. 

    • Attend an Italian mass or an Italian festival. Email or call a lodge member to tell them about it.

    • Record or transcribe an interview of a relative or other adult who has immigrated from Italy. Share the interview with Lodge #272 memers.

    • Learn something Italian (how to play bocci, a great marinara recipe, etc) and record yourself sharing this knowledge with friends. Share the video with Lodge #272 members.

  • Any idea the student has to express their appreciation for their history, their present countrymen, and their future with Sons and Daughters of Italy. 

Printable Application

Electronic Application