Student Prizes and Awards

Students are encouraged to take their academic work beyond the classroom by submitting outstanding essays to national competitions in Italian Studies. These competitions offer an opportunity to receive recognition for exceptional research and writing while engaging with the broader community of students and scholars in the field. Students interested in submitting their work should speak with an Italian Studies faculty member for guidance in selecting and preparing an essay for submission.

• The Dante Prize of $500 is offered annually by the Dante Society of America for outstanding undergraduate work related to the life or works of Dante Alighieri. Students may submit an essay or a multimedia creative project. Deadline: June 30 each year.
• American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) College Essay Contest — AATI has offered a College Essay Contest for undergraduate students of Italian. The contest is currently being revised, and AATI has not announced a new submission deadline. Check the AATI website for updates and future competitions.
• Italian Language Week Student Competition — Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia — The Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia periodically sponsors competitions for university students studying Italian in Pennsylvania and other states within its consular jurisdiction. Competitions are often connected with the annual Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo and may involve writing, video, interviews, or other creative work in Italian. The theme, format, prizes, and deadline vary from year to year; check the Consulate website for current opportunities.
• Italian Language Foundation (ILF) College Fellowships — The Italian Language Foundation offers fellowships to undergraduate students studying Italian at colleges and universities in the United States. Awards include fellowships for students studying Italian alongside other academic fields, including STEM/pre-med and business. Students do not necessarily need to be Italian majors or minors to qualify. Check the ILF website for current fellowship categories, award amounts, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines.