Nick and Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) is proud to offer – from the Nicholas and Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship Fund-- scholarships that are awarded to persons of Italian parentage for assistance in music or education for college students who are orphans or who were raised in foster homes. Preference for scholarship awards may be given to students studying music in college beyond the freshman level. However, scholarships can be awarded for other fields of study. 

Preference for scholarship awards may also be given to those individuals who have been orphaned and wish to pursue their personal and professional goals of attending college. The scholarship is merit-based for students, taking into consideration the combination of academic achievement and talent.

Requirements: 

Primary consideration is given to music majors, but other applicants are considered and encouraged to apply. Competitive students should have a strong academic background, musical talent (if applied towards music major), demonstrated leadership ability, commitment to serving their ItalianAmerican community, and a resident of the State of Illinois. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic merit, talent, quality of their Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) Application, commitment to their education, intended degree area, and/or other relevant factors.

In order to be given priority consideration for the Nicholas & Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship, the applicant is required to:

• Have selected music or education as their major area of study in college. Other majors may be considered but music will be given priority.
• Preference will be given to those that have been orphaned or raised in a foster home.
• Limited to persons of Italian parentage and residents of the State of Illinois.

To apply for the scholarship, the following requirements apply:

1. Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education, completed at least one year of college coursework, and a resident of the State of Illinois.
2. Applicant must provide a college transcript to JCCIA.
3. Applicant must have a strong academic background and demonstrated music talent.
4. Applicant is encouraged to send two letters of recommendation from foster/adoptive parents, social workers, home advisors, guidance counselors, etc.
5. Applicant must submit an essay (500 words or less) detailing why the Nicholas & Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship will help them to fulfill their personal and professional goals and include how music may have impacted their life.
6. Applicant must include a current photo of themselves.
7. All application materials must be submitted electronically to jcc@jccia.com as one complete single pdf file between June 1, 2023 and the deadline date of November 1, 2023 otherwise the application may be denied.