Awardees 2010

The Candida Pitassi Di Croce Italian Language Award of $1000, to be given to a scholar who has excelled in learning the Italian Language and shows promise of continued commitment to excel in the language and culture of Italy. The 2010 awardee is Lily Jaffe-Shupe.

Lily Jaffe Shupe (above) addressed the Gala guests in excellent Italian. She is a recent graduate of the University of Delaware where, among other honors, she was selected the outstanding student of Italian in 2010.

The Vincenzo Palumbo Artisan Award of $1000, to be given to an artisan who has excelled in working with stone, wood, natural and synthetic fibers and other relevant media. There age restriction does not apply to this award.  This year there are two co-recipients: Maestro Roberto Paolinelli and artist Michela Mansuino

Maestro Roberto Paolinelli poses with ICS VP Olga Mancuso in front of examples of his ceramics in the Castelli d'Abruzzi style for which he is being recognized as one of the foremost exponents in the United States.

Michela Mansuino receiving her half of the Vincenzo Palumbo Artisan Award from Ronald Cappelletti, ICS president. Michela is a practicing painter, sculptor, draftsperson, and designer. A collection of her work was distributing during the event.

The Ruggiero Morigi Artist Awardof  $1000, to be given to a scholar who has excelled in the Arts. Written reviews, recordings and/opr photographs, etc. of your work must be submitted to the Awards Committee. This year the awardee is Miriam Costa-Jackson, a junior at Utah State University, for her operatic accomplishments.

A recording of Ms. Costa-Jackson featuring a performance of "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi was played during the Gala. Ms. Jackson and her sisters Ginger and Marina gave a memorable concert to the ICS in the fall of 2009.

Lois Bangiolo waits patiently while her long list of accomplishments is read out to the audience. Ms. Bangiolo is a straight-A student focussing on biology at Smith and plans to attend medical school.

 Ms. Emma Ross, a top-grade student at WIS, addressed the Gala attendees with remarkable aplomb, and in impeccable Italian, making it obvious why she was selected for the Donna Scholarship.