Each year forty-eight deserving college students are selected to participate in the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery.  This fourteen-day all-expenses paid trip embarks on an educational expedition to NIAF’s Region of Honor, which is Friuli Venezia Giulia this year. 

The students explore UNESCO sites, local hotspots and breath-taking landscapes.  Participants have the chance to delve into iconic Italian cities and towns, explore ancient landmarks, and savor delectable cuisine, while immersing themselves in the local culture and history, forging unforgettable memories. Additionally, each trip incorporates a day dedicated to community service. 

The students share this experience with Italian American peers, putting their Italian American heritage into a life-changing context that may never have been realized before. 

Angelica Ross and her family are members of the Federazione Abruzzese del Michigan (FADM).  This year she was selected to participate in the NIAF Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery.  Angelica is a currently finishing her senior year at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois, with a dual focus on academics and athletics.  She is a biomedical engineering major and is a full scholarship athlete.

Angelica is one of the captains for the Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team.  The rigor of her major, along with her leadership skills, make her a positive role model for her peers.  Her interests outside of school and athletics are spending time with friends in Chicago as well as coming home to be with family and her dog Bella. Angelica’s parents are Brian and Luciana Ross. 

FADM president Pietro Fuciarelli recognized the value of joining the NIAF as an affiliate organization in 2023.    Among other benefits, affiliates are guaranteed the opportunity for one qualified student to participate in the Voyage of Discovery Program.  The affiliate membership costs $1500, and the trip to Italy is a $3000 value.  FADM is currently the only club in Michigan to have joined the NIAF. 

For additional information about the NIAF Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery, please visit https://www.niaf.org/programs/voyage-of-discovery/

For additional information about becoming a NIAF affiliate organization, please visit https://www.niaf.org/about/affiliate-organizations/

For NIAF membership information, please visit https://www.niaf.org/membership/become-a-niaf-member/