Left to right: Emma Di Pace, Jeffrey Campagna & Thomas LaBarbara

Scholarships Awarded to Three Lancaster County Students

During a meeting held at the Acorn Farms Reception and Conference Center on May 21st, the Lancaster Italian Cultural Society awarded $6,000 in scholarship monies to three seniors from local high schools. Dr. Stephen Iovino, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, reported that three judges used established criteria to score twelve essays submitted by students of Italian-American heritage throughout the county.

The winners were Emma Di Pace, daughter of Nick and Karen Di Pace, from Lampeter Strasburg High School who will be attending La Salle University to study Spanish Education and Italian; Jeffrey Campagna, son of Charles and Beth Campagna, from Lancaster Catholic High School who will be attending Lebanon Valley College to pursue a degree in physical therapy; and Thomas LaBarbera, son of Tom and Cris LaBarbera, from Hempfield High School who will be attending Shippensburg University where he will be majoring in Accounting. Each of these students will receive a $2,000 scholarship that will be paid to the accounts at the school they will be attending.

Thomas LaBarbera described Sicily in relationship to the food and traditions followed by his family. Jeffrey Campagna wrote about Patron Saint Francis of Assisi and the important message he presented about acts of kindness and love. Emma Di Pace wrote about visiting Italy and her impressions of the lifestyles she  witnessed along with the value Italians place on friends, family and community.