A University of Central Florida student has been selected for the 2026-27 National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) On Campus Fellowship, recognizing his engagement with Italian and Italian American culture and commitment to his campus community.
Tyus Hadcock, a music major pursuing a minor in Italian and president of UCF’s Italian Club, La Società Italiana, was selected for the fellowship after the program received the most competitive applications in its history, according to the organization’s acceptance email.
NIAF, a nonprofit organization representing Italian Americans, offers the On Campus program to engage students with Italian culture, foster leadership and connect them with a national network of peer leaders. Hadcock will join the 2026-27 cohort of representatives, with an introductory meeting scheduled for November.
“Growing up in an Italian American home, Italian culture was a big part of my childhood, and this fellowship is a way to keep that connection going at UCF. As president of La Società Italiana, I want more students to have a place to learn the language, share the culture, and feel like they belong. I’m looking forward to meeting the other student leaders and bringing what I learn back to campus,” said Hadcock.
Hadcock is the fourth president of La Società Italiana at UCF to receive the fellowship, continuing a tradition of student involvement with the organization. The four recipients represent a range of academic disciplines and have all pursued minors in Italian. Previous recipients include alumni Alessandro Sano, Anna Ariani, and Betsy Echagarrua.
The club connects students through Italian language, culture and community. As president, Hadcock helps lead the organization and support opportunities for students to explore Italian heritage and traditions, working in collaboration with the club’s faculty advisor, Brian Barone, to further these initiatives.
Chiara Mazzucchelli, professor and Dr. Neil Euliano Chair in Italian Studies and director of UCF’s Italian Studies Program, said the foundation has supported UCF students through scholarships, resources and programs.
“UCF’s Italian Studies program is fortunate to have committed students who are eager to learn about Italian culture, explore their own heritage, and embrace leadership roles. Tyus is the fourth president of La Società Italiana to receive this fellowship, and we are deeply grateful to NIAF for helping our students build meaningful connections with their Italian heritage and for opening new opportunities for our university community,” said Mazzucchelli.
Through the fellowship, Hadcock will have the opportunity to connect with other student leaders from across the country and engage with the National Italian American Foundation throughout the academic year.
Learn more about the National Italian American Foundation’s On Campus program and UCF’s Italian Studies Program.