Literature and Language Program

IACF awards on average $20,000 annually to students attending 9 high schools and 3 colleges who participate in our program IACF has placed over $30,000 worth of books of Italian American literature in libraries of participating schools.

Students compete for monetary education awards by choosing a book from the collection provided by IACF and submitting an essay detailing how this book has influenced the student’s perspective of Italian American culture.  Essays are judged by a committee of academicians independent of the Foundation.

Essay Criteria

  • Students of participating high schools are to be of Italian descent
  • Students of participating colleges need not be of Italian descent
  • Participating students are to select and read a text from the book
    collection which has been donated to each school library
  • Students are to prepare an essay two to four pages in length
  • Essays are to be submitted no later than the first week of March of each year
  • The essay is to include how the text influenced the student's
    perspective on his/her Italian heritage and how the student's knowledge of Italian American culture was broadened
  • Essays are judged by a Committee of Academicians, independent of the Foundation, for originality of content, style and evidence of increased awareness of their Italian heritage
  • Senior essay winners are published in a VIA a national literary magazine

Essay Awards

College Level Awards
Students read a selection from our list and write an essay.  The Readers
Committee determines the best from all entries.

First Place......$1,000
Second Place....$ 500
Third Place.......$ 300

Total Awards per College: $1,800

Honorable Mention recipients are awarded $100.
All other qualifying entries are awarded $25.


High School Level Awards
Students read a selection from our list and write an essay. The Readers
Committee determines the three best from senior students; and the best essay from the sophomore and junior entrants.


Graduating Senior - First Place...............$500
Graduating Senior - Second Place........... $300
Graduating Senior - Third Place...............$200
Junior - First Place................................$300
Sophomore - First Place.........................$200

Total Awards per High School: $1,500

Honorable Mention recipients are awarded $100.
All other qualifying entries are awarded a certificate of participation of
$25.


Copyright (C) 2005 - 2009
Italian American Cultural Foundation
  Beachwood, Ohio 44122 
800-592-5373 or info@iacfcleveland.org

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Participating Colleges and Universities

John Carroll University

Lake Erie College

Ursuline College

 

Participating High Schools

Arch-Bishop Hoban

Benedictine

Lake Catholic

Mayfield

Padua

Solon

St. Edwards

West Geauga

Wickliffe

 

Contributing Sponsor Organizations to IACF Literature and Language Program

Americans of Italian Heritage
Italian-American Club of Solon
Sante Catholic Union
Southwest Italian-American Club
Wickliffe Italian-American Club
Le Radici Club of Akron
Circolo Italo Americano Corenese



 IACF Trustees and Co-Chairs of Education Committee, Vicki & Jack Thomas have significantly contributed to the Program's success.