\u201cCe l\u2019abbiamo fatta!!!\u201d The enthusiastic Italian saying, which translates to \u201cWe did it!!!\u201d, was the subject of Italian Studies student Alessandro Sano\u2019s email to Dr. Chiara Mazzucchelli, the director of the Italian Studies program at UCF. The content of the email? Sano\u2019s acceptance letter to the NIAF on Campus Fellowship program.<\/p>\n
The competitive program, which was created by the National Italian American Foundation, offers 15 Italian American college students an all-expense paid trip to the NIAF Gala in Washington, D.C. Additionally, the NIAF will provide financial support to the Italian programs at the students\u2019 respective universities. UCF\u2019s Italian program offers a minor in Italian Studies and supports the activities of its student-led club, La Societ\u00e0 Italiana. That\u2019s definitely worth some exclamation points.<\/p>\n
Appreciating Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n For Sano, who has been a member of the Italian Club since his freshman year and was recently elected its president, the club has made him feel at home at UCF. \u201cBy being part of the Italian Club, I\u2019ve been able to meet other students who share my passion for Italian culture,\u201d said Sano.<\/p>\n Mazzucchelli says the Italian Club at UCF \u201cpromotes the appreciation of all things Italian\u201d through its organization of unique events. These include free Italian movie nights, food nights, field trips and even bocce tournaments. The club is open to all students, regardless of language ability.<\/p>\n While the club creates opportunities for Italian American students like Sano to mingle, it also encourages diversity. \u201cWe want to motivate not just Italian American students but students from different cultures to learn about the Italian language and traditions,\u201d said Sano.<\/p>\n Looking Ahead for Italian Club<\/strong><\/p>\n At the NIAF gala, Sano will be working with peers who are also active in Italian clubs at their universities. The goal of bringing these Italian student-leaders together is to create a unified strategy for the success of their clubs.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to interact with some of the most successful individuals in the Italian American community,\u201d said Sano. \u201cWe\u2019ll be sharing ideas on how to promote Italian American culture at our universities. As an ambassador for the Italian community at UCF, creating innovative strategies to get more students involved is one of my biggest goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Are you an Italian American student? Take it from Sano: it\u2019s never too early to get involved on campus. \u201cCollege is a chance to branch out and meet new people, emerge as a leader, and gain valuable skills that you can take with you throughout life,\u201d said Sano. And through it all, Sano always takes pride in his Italian heritage. \u201cRepresenting UCF at this prestigious national event shows what Italian American Knights are capable of!\u201d<\/p>\n