Ten university students who reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area have received National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Scholarships. The students are Katie Anastasi of Rockville, Md. Mackenzie Burnett of Ellicott City, Md., Mattia D'Affuso of North Potomac, Md., Daniel Evans of Germantown, Md., Gabriella LaVerghetta and Nicholas Tsusaki of Columbia, Md., Natalie Eichner of Arlington, Va., Kosette Leperi and Karson Leperi of Falls Church, Va. and Ashley Pacitto of Dumfries, Va.

Seven university students who reside in Florida have received National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Scholarships. The students are Michael Corso of Naples, Daniel DePrisco of Naples, Lisa Anne Feola of Marco Island, Madison Marie McIntosh of West Palm Beach, Victoria Messina of Tampa, Michael Olson of Boca Raton and Michael Ragusa of Naples.

Fifteen university students who reside in the Tri-State area have received National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Scholarships. The students are Allessandra DiCorato of Wilton, Conn., Matthew Regina of Stamford, Conn., Alicia Vinci of Burlington, Ct., Raymond Bellon of Haworth, N.J., Jade Bonacolta of Upper Saddle River, N.J., Andrew Mascelli of Chatham, N.J., Matthew Mayers of Franklin Lakes, N.J., Vincent Mirabella of Lebanon, N.J., Laura Sorice of Old Bridge, N.J., Brendan Blendell of Albany, N.Y., Teague Florio of Southampton, N.Y., John Fusco of Staten Island, N.Y., Carmine Giannotto of the Bronx, N.Y., Samuel Pellegrino Connors of Baldwin, N.Y. and Teisha Ruggiero of New York, N.Y.

"NIAF has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships and grants across the country since its inception. NIAF's leadership is extremely proud of the high caliber of students and their outstanding achievements," said NIAF Chief Operating Officer John M. Viola.

NIAF celebrates its 38th anniversary this year. The scholarship program has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to dozens of annual scholarships that range in value from $2,000 to $10,000 each in the humanities, medicine, business, engineering, music, Italian language and culture and other specialized fields.

Scholarship winners are selected based on academic merit and are academically outstanding, with an average GPA of 3.95. The average scholarship in the United States was more than $4,000.

In addition to NIAF's scholarship program, this year NIAF donated funds for the Cooperativa Sociale Nazareno, a facility for disabled and mentally challenged individuals, ravaged by the recent Emilia Romagna earthquake in May 2012. NIAF also sent college students to Italy's Campania and Lazio regions to participate in the Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery program, an educational and cultural initiative.

Contributors to the NIAF scholarship program include corporations, individuals and organizations across the United States.

Apply online for a 2013-2014 NIAF scholarship at www.niaf.org/scholarships. Application deadline is March 1, 2013.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., and dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Visit www.niaf.org.