The Lido Civic Club of Washington DC Awards $135,000 in Scholarships

On the evening of June 18, 2026, the Lido Civic Club of Washington DC presented $135,000 in scholarships to eighteen deserving Italian American students at the Embassy of Italy.

The 14^th Annual Scholarship Awards Presentation brings total scholarships presented to over $1.5 million since the inception of the Scholarship Program.

Lido is most grateful to the Scholarship Committee, led by John DeZinno, our members, sponsors, contributors, and supporters. We especially would like to honor Dominick F. “Nick” Antonelli Jr. (1922-2010) who helped to establish this program. In addition, we thank the Embassy of Italy for hosting and Stefano Bianchi, the Deputy Chief of Mission for his wonderful remarks regarding Lido and the Scholarship Program. Finally, we thank Scarlett Courso, Esq., a former scholarship recipient, for recognizing the importance of the Lido Scholarship.

Who are the recipients?

• Joseph “Joey” Cuomo is entering his freshman year at Boston College and is the recipient of The Rosario (Roy) and Rosemarie Argento Memorial Scholarship. His ancestors hailed from Palermo and Catania in Sicily.
• Elena Flaim is entering her junior year at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she is studying Clinical Psychology and Theology. Her ancestors hailed from Trentino-Alto Adige, Lazio, and Sicily.
• Paolo Flaim is entering his freshman year at the University of Maryland College Park. His ancestors hailed from Trentino-Alto Adige, Lazio, and Sicily.
• Avery Gannon is entering George Washington University. Her maternal ancestors hail from Sicily.
• Patrick Gannon, a past Lido Scholarship recipient, is entering his senior year at Gettysburg College and is the recipient of the Solazzo Caputo Trimboli Scholarship. Majoring in Business, Management and Organizations, his material relatives hail from Sicily.
• Makenzie Jones is entering her freshman year at Coastal Carolina University. She plans to study Intelligence and Security Studies. Her ancestors hail from Sicily.
• Becca Jones is entering her junior year at the University of South Carolina, where she is studying Risk management and Insurance. She is the recipient of the Kathleen Fitzgerald Sphilhaus Scholarship and her ancestors hail from Messina in Sicily.
• Francesca Klesius is entering her freshman year at James Madison University. She plans to study Sports Media and minor in Italian. Her maternal relatives hail from Abruzzo.
• Gaeta Losso is entering her freshman year at The University of Maryland College Park and plans on majoring in Journalism. She is the recipient of The Bo DePaola Memorial Scholarship and her paternal ancestors hail from the Vento Region.
• Emily Mancino is entering her sophomore year at the University of Kentucky and is majoring in Journalism. Her relatives are from Matera in the Basilicata Region.
• Marianna Manziano is entering her senior year at James Madison University and is majoring in Communications Sciences and Disorders. Her ancestors come from Santomenna in Salerno.
• Melina Mazzella is entering her junior year at the University of Pittsburg, where she is majoring in Public Health. She is this year’s recipient of the Domenic Antontelli, Jr. Scholarship and her ancestors hail from Genoa and Sicily.
• Sofia Petro will be majoring in Sports Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her ancestors hail from Sicily.
• Arianna Roman is entering her freshman year at Cornell University, where she will be studying Fashion and Apparel Design and merchandising. Her family hails from Abruzzo, Sicily and Campania.
• Annalisa Russo is entering her sophomore year at St. Joseph’s University with a major in Food Marketing. She is this year’s recipient of the Gastone Monticelli Memorial Scholarship. Her relatives come from the Campania and Abruzzo region.
• Christian Sadek is entering his freshman year and will be majoring in business at Virginia Tech. His maternal ancestors are from the Campagnia Region.
• Isabelle Toscano is entering her freshman year at the University of Delaware. She is the recipient of The Madeline and Antonio Germinario Scholarship. Her parental relatives are from Sicily.
• Leonardo Valli is entering his Sophomore year at the University of Virginia. He is commissioned in the US Space Force at UVA and is he recipient of the Loretto J. Clavelli Scholarship. He was born in Milan.

For more information about the Lido Club and the Scholarship Program, please go to: lidoclub.org