“Receiving the scholarship has given me the opportunity to further my education and made me feel all my hard work was worth it.”
– Alia Lopez
“Any financial assistance helps relieve schooling and housing costs, so I can more easily concentrate on my education.”
– Abigail Grace Arnette
It is the goal of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America to promote, enhance, and encourage the studies of Italian heritage and culture. This scholarship program is designed to benefit worthy students of Italian descent or partial Italian descent who display academic excellence and leadership qualities. The scholarship will be awarded based on eligibility, scholastic achievement, and participation in school and community programs.
- The applicant must be of Italian descent or partial Italian descent (at least one grandparent, great-grandparent, etc., was Italian).
- Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (unweighted).
- Applicants must have a minimum SAT total score of 1200 or a minimum ACT composite score of 23.
- Recipients must be accepted as a full-time student at an accredited junior college, college, or university, and must enroll immediately following graduation from high school.
Currently, our local lodge, Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835, offers three scholarship programs: one requiring association with the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and the others are limited to students graduating from high school (or homeschooled) in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. All aim to support higher education while honoring Italian heritage.
The applications and descriptions for each are included below:
Buona Fortuna Lodge Scholarship
The Buona Fortuna Lodge Scholarship is funded by our local fundraisers, primarily Festa Italiana and the Pensacola Seafood Festival.
This scholarship is designed to support students of Italian American decent from Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties or those home-schooled in these counties.
Association with the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America is not a prerequisite for this scholarship.
The Russo Family Scholarship is offered by one of our members, Patricia Russo She is one of our active long standing members who has held multiple offices over the years.
This Scholarship aims to support students of Italian decent from Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, empowering them to pursue their academic goals while honoring the hard work, community values, and dedication to education that have shaped Patricia’s family legacy.
Association with the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America is not a prerequisite for this scholarship.
The La Famiglia Scholarship is open to students who are direct descendants of current Buona Fortuna Lodge Members, including children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and future generations.
This scholarship is available to students no matter where they live, honoring their family ties to the Lodge and supporting their continued educational journeys. Therefore, Association with the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America is a prerequisite for this scholarship and the member’s dues must be current.
These scholarships reflect Buona Fortuna Lodge’s ongoing dedication to preserving Italian-American heritage, culture, and education. We encourage all eligible students to apply and continue their educational journeys with the support of these scholarships. Additionally, it is our hope that these recipients will become the Future of the Order and join our organization as FOTO lodge members.
Applications will be open by the end of January and must be received by April 15, Year of Fall Enrollment. Applications and checklist requirements should be submitted to Buonafortunascholarships@gmail.com
The scholarship committee will review all applications and recipients will be notified of their award dollar amount at least two weeks before, if not sooner, the second Thursday of June.
The recipients will be asked to join our monthly June meeting to be recognized with their families. Our monthly meetings are held on the send Thursday of each month. The second Thursday of June of 2027 is June 10th.
Buona Fortuna is local lodge and is associated with the larger state and national organization of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. Our local candidates and award recipients can apply for additional scholarships at these levels. Links to these programs will be added to this page when their application process begins.