Congratulations to the 2026 West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Scholarship Recipients!

Each year, the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival is proud to facilitate the following scholarships, which are selected entirely by the scholarship committee, independent of the Festival's Board of Directors. We celebrate these outstanding students and wish them continued success!

WVIHF 2026 Scholarship Recipients

Mary L. "Weege" Vargo Scholarship (in memory of Margaret Rose Devono Vargo)
Dominick James Matheny | Bridgeport High School | $250 | West Virginia University

Michael & Julia Oliverio Memorial Scholarship
Lillian G. Burns | Princeton Senior High School | $250 | Fairmont State University

Rose Mary "Wizzie" Brunetti Tennant Memorial Scholarship
Gianna Marlo Fragman | Lincoln High School | $250 | Amherst College

WVIHF Golf Classic Scholarship #1
Anthony Joseph Wood | Independence High School | $500 | West Virginia University

WVIHF Golf Classic Scholarship #2
Giulianna Mia Lively | Bridgeport High School | $500 | West Virginia University

WVIHF Scholarship
Antonio Sam Sellaro | Morgantown High School | $500 | Carnegie Mellon University

Harry Green 7 Acres Scholarship (1 of 2)
Saverio Giovan Destito | RCB High School | $500 | Salem University

Harry Green 7 Acres Scholarship (2 of 2)
Brooklyn Marie Blankenship | Oak Hill High School | $500 | West Virginia University

Nancy Davisson Memorial Scholarship
Caroline Jordan Lewis | Notre Dame High School | $1,000 | Marshall University

Carmine J. & Florence Cann Memorial Scholarship
Carina Angelina Felosa | Bridgeport High School | $1,000 | West Virginia University

Margaret and Joe Robert Spatafore Memorial Scholarship
John B. Jordan | Notre Dame High School | $500 | Catholic University

Angelo S. and Carolyn Arena Petitto Memorial Scholarship
Chesnea Brooke Boyles | Lincoln High School | $1,000 | West Virginia Wesleyan College

Brenda Maunz Casto Memorial Scholarship
Branner Richard Rock | RCB High School | $5,000 | West Virginia University

David G. Calabrase Memorial Scholarship
Naudia Nichelle Ng | RCB High School | $5,000 | West Virginia University

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NOTE: Each year, the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival facilitates scholarships that are funded by individual donors. The board is not part of the selection committee. Applications are sent to an outside source and once recipients are identified, the information comes back to our office.

Rules:

• This scholarship application is restricted for West Virginia residents of Italian descent
• High school seniors, undergraduates and graduates may apply and will be considered for ALL available scholarships.
• APPLICATION MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2026

Please include the following with your application:

• Registration fee: $10.00 payable to "WVIHF Scholarship Program".
• Any necessary essay attachments.
• Sealed official transcript (1 copy).
• Letter of acceptance to college or graduate school (for high school & college seniors only).
• Names and addresses of your school newspaper and two (if possible) hometown newspapers.
• One photo (head and shoulder area only, color or black/white):
• Photo will be sent to the media if you are selected to receive a scholarship.
• Photo will not be returned; digital copy may be emailed to wvihf@wvihf.com.