Congratulations to the Awards recipients 2026:
– CESARINA HORING AWARDS
Read about Cesarina Horing Award at the bottom of this page.
- MAURA GUIDA MAFFIA AWARD: Mia Knobelspiesse
- MARIA GUARRERA WILMETH AWARDS:
- Giulia Crispolti – Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Instructor: Laura Loddo Moticka)
- Josephine Forrest – Walter Johnson High School (Instructor: Maria Grazia Cavallini)
- Elena Aldrette & Isabella Romero – Brookewood School (Instructor: Dr. Donatella Romero)
- LUCIANA MONTANARI-MENDOLA AWARD for a university or conservatory student showing promise in piano performance.
(donated by Silvana De Luca)
Matthew Hung
Winston Churchill High School. Study piano under Jaewon Lee - ELENA AND ANTONIO DE LUCA AWARD:
- Joseph Turco – The Catholic University of America
- PROFESSOR of PHYSICS RONALD L. CAPPELLETTI YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD:
- Francesco Iacovelli – Johns Hopkins University
- Giulia Pulano – Georgetown University
Other award categories acknowledge excellence in Latin/ Greek, Piano performance, Art and Science.
Awards are made possible through donations and fundraising events. If a donor wishes, ICS can create and name a new award, perhaps as a memorial or to honor a cause. To make a donation, please contact our office, 301-215-7885. The Italian Cultural Society of Washington, D.C. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. All donations to ICS are 100% tax deductible.
The Awards will be presented at the prestigious ICS Gala Dinner Awards at the Embassy of Italy. Attendance at the Awards Gala is a requirement of receiving an award, with the exception of the Cesarina Horings and the Maura Maffia Awards. The winners of the Luciana Montanari-Mendola Award may be asked to perform at the Awards Gala.
Our Amazing Donors
Ron Cappelletti, Luigi De Luca, Silvana De Luca, Bruce Esposito, Fincantieri Marine Group, anonymous, Romeo Segnan, Arrigo e Ingrid Mongini, Jeffrey Nico, Paolo and Claudia Vidoli, Stefania Amodeo, Nina Luzzatto Gardner and Francesco Olivieri, Francesca Krieg, Stefania Amodeo, Monica Devey, Ida Arcorace, Melissa Maxman, Nicholas and Brenda Monaco, anonymous, Alessandra DeSantis, Michael Su, Paolo Nascimbeni, Salvatore Romano, Nancy Kazakos, Martha Abbott,
Award Details
Professor of Physics Ronald L. Cappelletti Young Scientist Award (Read about Professor Ronald Cappelletti here.)
The Italian Cultural Society recognizes the accomplishments of Italian scientists working in the Washington area. A $1,500 award is to given to an Italian national working in the Washington area as a doctoral student or as a post-doctoral student or an equivalent (e.g., in connection with NIH, NIST or with NASA or a university) in the physical, biological or medical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. (Founder and main Donor: Ron Cappelletti. Other donors: Jeffrey Nico)
The Maria Guarrera Wilmeth Award
The Maria Guarrera Wilmeth Award honors two (or more) outstanding students from a Washington metropolitan area high school in which the study of Italian language is part of the curriculum. The award provides $800 to each student or group of students, if they apply in a group of two or three.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS on how to apply
Awards are named in honor of the founder of the ICS Italian Language Program, who initiated our mission of including the Italian language in the schools of the DC area. Read more about Maria Wilmeth here. The awards are funded by donations.
The Maura Guida Maffia Award
The Maura Guida Maffia Award honors a student who wishes to take an ICS course but may need encouragement or financial support. (See application details in the flyer).
The ILP Team may also award the scholarship for merit, by selecting the most talented and dedicated student of the school year as the recipient of the Maura Guida Maffia Award.
The scholarship covers the full cost of one annual ILP class (approximately $950) and can be applied to any course within the ICS Italian Language Program.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS on how to apply
This award is named in honor of Maura Guida Maffia, one of the first teachers to develop our children’s courses, and launch our Cooking classes. It is funded by our ILP and donations to support it are always welcome!
ICS Awards for students under the age of 31
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Award honors one university student who has excelled in the study of Latin and/or Greek with a $1,000 award (Donor: Luigi De Luca).
The Luciana Montanari-Mendola Award provides one $1,000 award for a high-school-age pianist showing promise in piano performance. You’ll need to include examples of recordings in your application and include one piece for solo piano by Frederick Chopin (Donor: Silvana De Luca).
Click on the flyers on the left for more details
The Cesarina Horing Awards
In addition to the Awards given during the Gala, the ICS provides the Cesarina Horing Awards, to honor students at six universities in the Washington, D.C. area that offer a major or minor in Italian:
Major at * Georgetown University * University of Maryland * Catholic University and Minor at *George Washington University * American University * George Mason University (Minor). Each university receives funds ($600 for Major, or $400 for Minor) to give to one or more students selected by the Department of Italian. (No applicants for these awards).
Awards are named in honor of the former Italian Language Program Director, Cesarina Horing, and are funded by donations. (Main Donor: Bruce Esposito)
Previous Recipients
2024 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Thomas Ronan, Elise Gallentine, and Derek Ginoris, Georgetown University
Ian Emanuel and Yuna Jessica Higgs, University of Maryland
Kathleen Zaremba, Catholic University of America
William Barlowe and Michael Poulin, American University
Leonela Tase Sueiro, George Washington University
Ximena Espinoza and Stephen Boakye, George Mason University.
Maura Guida Maffia Award
Dylan Rhein – Norwood School
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Virginia Herber – Brookewood School
Madison Galloway, Silas Fondoh and Queen Thomas – Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Award:
University pianist: Etienne Haitian Zhou – The Catholic University of America High School pianist: Alexander Lee – The Heights School
Elena and Antonio De Luca Award:
Mary Catherine Contreras – University of Maryland, College Park
Professor of Physics Ronald L. Cappelletti Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Eleonora Tubaldi – University of Maryland, College Park
2023 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Thomas Ronan, Elise Gallentine, and Derek Ginoris, Georgetown University
Ian Emanuel and Yuna Jessica Higgs, University of Maryland
Kathleen Zaremba, Catholic University of America
William Barlowe and Michael Poulin, American University
Leonela Tase Sueiro, George Washington University
Ximena Espinoza and Stephen Boakye, George Mason University.
Maura Guida Maffia Award
Dylan Rhein – Norwood School
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Amarantha Flachs-Hernandez – Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Katie Stroot – Brookewood School
Monica Stohlman – Brookewood School
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Paola Oliva – NIH
Dr. Igor Andreoni – University of Maryland, College Park
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Award:
Marcelo Ratzkowski, university pianist – The Catholic University of America
Julia Young, high school pianist – Georgetown Day School
Elena and Antonio De Luca Award:
This year the ELENA AND ANTONIO DE LUCA AWARD, normally for students of Classics, was assigned to a Scientist, instead
2022 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Catherine Dell’Olio, Briana Sparacino and William DiGiovanni, Georgetown University
Lauren Herman and Jack Landau, University of Maryland
Marissa Mazzella, Catholic University of America
Elliott Howes and Anthony D’Iorio, American University
Julia Paola and Quintin Mastrangelo, George Washington University
Timothy Schranck and Matthew McConnell, George Mason University.
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Andrea Trivino, Woodbridge Senior High School
Emma Oleas Davis, Woodbridge Senior High School
Jan Molazade, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Marta Zampino, NIH
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Award:
Dylan Schenker, Montgomery Blair High School
Xiaobo Liu, Catholic University of America
Patricia Segnan Award:
Brianna Cooney, American University
Elena and Antonio De Luca Award:
Molly Williams, University of Maryland
2021 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Danielle Guida, Georgetown University
Marcella Finelli and Kamryn Hoag, University of Maryland
Sarah Beretich and Andrew Falzone, Catholic University of America
Katelyn Haas and Luciana Di Donna, American University
Francesca Morgano, Will Krag and Andrew Vipatasilpin, George Washington University
Brandy Virginia James and Maeve Flanagan Shumate, George Mason University.
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Victoria Mitnik, Walt Whitman High School
Sabrina Sabahi, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Katherine DeForest, Woodbridge Senior High School
Marina Bottomley, Walter Johnson High School
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Gioia Rau, Research Scientist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Noah Lovold, The Catholic University of America
2020 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Harry Rose and Arthur E. Babcock, Georgetown University
Rachel Contini and Margaret McPherson, University of Maryland
Bridget M.Bagileo and Caterina E. Greco, Catholic University of America
Sofia George, Eve Hauser and Grace Hitchens, American University
Amy Doring and Mary DePond, George Washington University
Amanda C Freda, Noah Andrews and Nicolas Akpata, George Mason University.
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Johanna Engman, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Kyeongmi Lim, Doctoral Candidate at The Catholic University of America
2019 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Morgan Callwood and Alexandra Toutounji, Georgetown University
Tatiana Andreevna Malykh and Miguel H. Vetencourt, University of Maryland
Samantha Calias and Kathryn Janae Carter E, Catholic University of America
Elisabetta Gabriele and Anna Hutto, American University
Zoe Fischer, Santiago Trujillo,Sabrina Kelly and Gianluca Nigro, George Washington University
Ryan Bartee, Claire Cronin and Nicholas Fisch, George Mason University.
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Vannya Josselyn Huarca, Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Ivanna Ramazzini Gutierrez, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Jennifer Coffman and Andrea Jimenez, Woodbridge High School
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Garrett Harmon, The Catholic University of America
Cao Linh Pham, Langley High School
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Young Classicist Award:
Lauren Baker, University of Maryland
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Giuseppe Cataldo, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2018 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
George Avetian and Leah Benz, Georgetown University
Garrett Thomas Yocklin and Sofiya Gennadievna Schug, University of Maryland
Anthony Digiacinto and David Soltis, Catholic University of America
Elisabetta Gabriele and Frank Piscani, American University
Natalie Wulderk and Adam Cetorelli, George Washington University
Wossen Bekalu, Angela Lister and Kendall Serena, George Mason University.
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Stephanie Annis, D. Hylton High School
Ingrid Ortiz-Ramos, Alice Salomon and John Le, Wheaton High School
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Dominick Cristofori D’Alessandro, The Catholic University of America
Anton Nelson, Washington Conservatory of Music
Solomon Joshua Duane, Norfolk Academy
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Young Classicist Award:
Katherine Bradshaw, University of Maryland
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Alberto Ceccon, Laboratory of Chemical Physics, NIDDK, NIH
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Alessio Andreoni, Laboratory of Advanced Microscopy and Biophotonics, NHLBI, NIH
2017 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Dario De Palma, Georgetown University
Bora Mica and Giuliana Sciuto, University of Maryland
Tanner Jackson and Nina Uritskaya, Catholic University of America
Gabriella Liles and Alejandra Alferezi, American University
Rachel Grasso and Carly Whitmeri, George Washington University
Gia Primerano and Salvatore Pitin, George Mason University.
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Emma Trowbridge, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Danila Tomaselli, The Catholic University of America
Emma Trowbridge, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Massimo Fantini, Senior Scientist at Precision Biologics, NCI, NTH
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Eleonora Troja, Nasa
2016 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Allison Irene Cannella and Danielle Ienn, Georgetown University
Edelweiss S. Calcagno, University of Maryland
Rhiannon Richards, Catholic University of America
Jennifer Horning and Danielle Brignola, American University
Jessica Mandell and Christine Carpenter, George Washington University
Jamie Criser and Matthew Odom, George Mason University.
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Yuxi Liu, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Javier Antonio Ortiz, Springbrook High School
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Daniel Kuehler, Catholic University of America
Alexander Tsereteli, Levine School of Music
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Young Classicist Award:
Elliott Rebello, University of Maryland
Patrizia Segnan Award for Art and Art History:
Edelweiss Calcagno, University of Maryland
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Dr. Elisa Fabbri, National Institutes of Health
2015 ICS Awardees
Awardees attending the Gala:
Maria Guarrera Wilmeth awards, for excellence in the study of Italian in High School:
Yasna Khademian, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Valencia Baldwin, Springbrook High School
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Jiashu Song, The Catholic University of America
Gabriella Rose Devlin Capizzi, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Young Classicist Award:
Emily C. Mohr, University of Maryland
Patricia Segnan Award for Art and Art History:
Catherine Vassaux, American University
2014 ICS Awardees
Cesarina Horing Awards to the universities of the DC areas:
Stephanie Jasson and Kevin Regan, Georgetown University
Katrina Szabo and Sankara Kasanje, University of Maryland
Alyssa Badolato and Bianca Sacco-Calderone, Catholic University of America
Elise Kearney and Louis Giorgi, George Washington University
Awardees attending the Gala:
Luciana Montanari-Mendola Awards:
Brian Billion, The Catholic University of America
Antonia Stabile, Georgetown University
Juncheng Shen, Winston Churchill High School
The Elena and Antonio De Luca Young Classicist Award:
Katrina Szabo, University of Maryland
The ICS Young Scientist Award:
Alessio Petrozziello, Penn State University
Check also:
BORSA DI STUDIO OFFERTA DALL’ UNIVERSITA’ PER STRANIERI DI PERUGIA
CONTACT US BY MARCH 12TH