Italian Women’s Civic Club Honors Two from Fisher

St. John Fisher University students Mason Gasbarre and Nicole Conciardo were named recipients of the Italian Women’s Civic Club (IWCC) 2022 Dante Scholarship Award.

Gasbarre and Conciardo were among several local college students to be recognized for their academic achievement and pride in their Italian American heritage. The students were formally honored during an awards dinner held on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Gasbarre is a senior majoring in finance and a member of the men’s lacrosse team at Fisher. A member of the Honors Program, he works part-time for a financial planner with Ameriprise Financial and plans to pursue a career in the financial planning industry upon graduation. Conciardo is a student in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy and hopes to translate her love of science into a career in the pharmacy field.

The club established the Dante Scholarship Fund in 1921 to assist young men and women of Italian heritage in pursuing a college education. The scholarship was named after the great Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, giving recognition to his passion for his literary talents. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $4,000.

The IWCC was established in 1919 to educate immigrant women on their newly acquired right to vote and assist them in assimilating into American life. The mission of the Club has evolved over the years, and today focuses on supporting higher education opportunities for young adults of Italian ancestry. The Dante Scholarship Award is among the group’s many philanthropic efforts. Applicants for the scholarship must be full-time matriculated undergraduate or graduate students at area colleges and universities. Awards are based on criteria set by the IWCC committee and include academic achievement, extra- curricular activities, community service, and personal identification with Italian American heritage.