Alexa Castelluccio of Astoria, N.Y., who attends St. Francis College in Brooklyn, N.Y., will receive the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Michael Gargiulo Scholarship in Broadcasting and Communications.


NIAF Board of Director Nicholas R. Caiazzo will present the scholarship to Castelluccio during the Foundation’s New York Golf Kick-Off Reception at the historic Pier A-Harbor House in Battery Park on June 7. The June 7 event introduces NIAF supporters and friends to the Foundation’s mission, and its upcoming 12th Annual Golf Tournament at the Old Westbury Golf and Country Club in Old Westbury, N.Y., on August 8.


Emmy–award winning journalist and co-anchor of NBC 4 New York’s weekday newscast, “Today in New York,” Michael Gargiulo will serve as this year’s master of ceremonies. A longtime supporter and friend to NIAF, Gargiulo has emceed this event for five consecutive years. He also has covered the Foundation’s Anniversary Awards Galas in our nation’s capital.


“We are very proud of Michael’s outstanding achievement in the field of broadcasting and remain grateful to his dedication in leading our NIAF event program each year,” said Caiazzo. “NIAF values the importance of education and the role it plays in helping deserving Italian American students including Alexa Castelluccio, build promising futures.”


Castelluccio is a rising senior and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications and broadcasting. She is a graduate of St. John’s Preparatory High School in Queens, N.Y.


Since NIAF’s inception 40 years ago, the scholarship program has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to dozens of annual scholarships ranging in value from $2,000 to $12,000, each in the Italian language and culture, medicine, engineering, business, law, music, and other specialized fields. Last year, the average scholarship to students in the United States was worth more than $6,000. NIAF has awarded millions of dollars in merit-based scholarships and cultural grants to undergraduate, graduate, post graduate, medical and law students from across the country.