SOI Scholarship - Entering Post-Secondary

The Lodge annually awards two scholarships of $1,000 each to students of Italian origin entering post-secondary education. We have presented over 20 such scholarships to date.

The criteria for the award include academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, involvement in the Italian and wider community, and need. If you know of a deserving individual, detailed information and the application form can be found here.

Each year we are faced with the difficult task of assessing numerous qualified and successful Italian students. We have been gratified and excited to realize the number of Italian students who every year achieve high grades and involve themselves in the Italian and Winnipeg communities. They are a credit to the Italian community and to our City.

To Apply

Note that the deadline for 2012 is that applications must be received no later than August 5, 2012.  The application form (PDF) can be downloaded by clicking here. 

If you have questions on the scholarship program, please send them by email to Cosmo Racano, our Scholarship Chair. 

2011 Winners

Cristina Ardita

Cristina Ardita graduated from École Garden City Collegiate with a French Immersion diploma in June 2011. She was accepted and is currently attending the University of Winnipeg's Faculty of Education program. She is pursuing a major in Biology and minor in French with the hope of becoming a French Immersion high school teacher for the Seven Oaks School Division.

Cristina has volunteered for the Italian community for countless years. Her passion for teaching first started at Holy Rosary Church where she began teaching the Communion class. She’s always wanted to have a classroom of her own ever since. In 2009, she represented the Italian Pavilion as their Youth Ambassador and continues to volunteer at the pavilion every year. She is also the recipient of the University of Winnipeg Special Entrance Scholarship, and the West St.Paul Council Scholarship.

Cristina would like to offer her sincerest gratitude to the Sons of Italy for their generous support. Thanks to generous organizations such as the Sons of Italy, her goal is now within reach.

Alessandro Augellone

Alessandro Augellone graduated from St. John's Ravenscourt High School with Honours. As a result of this academic achievement he obtained
 direct first year entry into the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba. Alessandro, born and raised in Winnipeg attended SJR for all of his scholastic life, achieving Honors Standing every year, along with numerous other accolades, culminating in a University of Manitoba bursary scholarship.

He has been active in the Italian Canadian community. He was involved in the Leonardo Da Vinci Youth group as its vice president and thus volunteering with the Sons of Italy at the annual Christmas Eve Feast, a project feeding and providing Christmas spirit to some of the neediest inner city residents. He has been involved with Holy Rosary Parish as an altar boy and Sunday school assistant and with the Centro Caboto's Folklorama.

At school, Alessandro was instrumental in the Kendra McBain SJR Cancer Walk become an annual event, along with spearheading a fundraising initiative to obtain a playground structure for John M. King School in the Inner City.  In the community, Alessandro played and coached youth soccer with the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association.

Alessandro would like to thank the Sons of Italy for this scholarship and congratulate the Sons of Italy for their commitment to youth and for being great role models for the youth of today.  "One day as we embark on our careers, we too, will give back in a similar fashion as the Sons of Italy, with their very successful charitable initiatives."

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Past winners

2010 Winners

Franca Petrelli

Franca Petrelli received her grade twelve high school diploma from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in June 2010. She is now attending the University of Winnipeg and was accepted into the Integrated Program in the Faculty of Education.  She hopes to one day teach at the elementary school she attended.

Franca has contributed many years of dedication to the Italian Community. She was the Youth Ambassador for the Folkorama Italian Pavilion in 2008. Franca attended the Societa Culturale Dante Alighieri School and completed all of the Winnipeg School Division Italian exams. She received the Dante Alighieri Scholarship Award in her grade twelve graduating year. Furthermore, she is now on staff with Dante working as a teacher’s assistant. Franca has been an active member of the Splendora D’Italia Folk Dancers of Manitoba for about eight years. She received the Splendora D’Italia Scholarship for 2010. She is currently the President of the Sons of Italy Leonardo Da Vinci Youth Group and looks forward to joining the Lupa Di Roma Women’s lodge in the near future.

Franca wishes to express her sincerest gratitude to the Sons of Italy, Garibaldi Lodge for being selected as one of this year’s scholarship recipient. This is truly an honour and privilege to her.

Natasha Angelina Rossol

Natasha Angelina Rossol, born and raised in Winnipeg, has been studying voice for the past 8 years, singing many songs in Italian. 

She is currently in her first year at the University of Manitoba, and has begun an Introductory Italian course, which she enjoys immensely. 

Her involvement in the Italian community includes singing and volunteering at various events at the Centro Caboto.  Her most significant contribution was singing and acting in the Italian Pavilion for Folklorama 2010. 

She is extremely grateful to the Sons of Italy for awarding this scholarship to her, and has never been prouder of her Italian heritage.

2009 Winners

Lisa Bova

For many years she has volunteered and worked in the Italian community, from being Youth Folklorama Ambassador to teaching at both Holy Rosary Church and the Dante Alighieri Summer Camp.

She loves every minute she spends in the community for she realizes that her Italian heritage is very important. She plans to continue to be involved in the Italian community in years to come.

The Italian culture is so rich it has intrigued Lisa to major in History as she is currently enrolled in the University of Winnipeg’s integrated Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education program.

Braiden Mayhew

Braidan completed grade 12 at the Laureate Academy in June of 2009.  Graduating with honours, Braidan was president of student council and an active participant in all sporting activities including captain of the volleyball, basketball and soccer teams.  Braidan’s contributions both inside and out of school earned him the Citizenship Award at graduation.

Canadian born of mixed heritage, Braidan is proud of his Italian background which he feels has strongly shaped his identity.  Presently attending the University of Winnipeg, Braidan hopes to study architecture and thanks to the Sons of Italy Scholarship, is one step closer to his goal.