About the Scholarship

At CCI-NC, we believe that preparing today’s students with Italian language skills is essential to building a strong future workforce—one that’s ready to engage with the more than 120 Italian businesses that call North Carolina home.

That’s why we are proud to offer an Italian language scholarship each year in partnership with UNC Charlotte and NC State University’s Poole College of Management.

Since 2018, this scholarship has supported outstanding undergraduate students in engineering, business, and related fields, giving them the opportunity to travel to Italy and study the language through some of the country’s most highly regarded immersion programs.

Language, however, is just the beginning. While abroad, students also visit the headquarters of Italian companies operating in North Carolina, where they gain firsthand exposure to Italian business culture and management practices.

From shadowing company leaders to attending presentations, these experiences help students connect their academic studies with real-world application—preparing them to be valuable contributors to Italian–U.S. business partnerships after graduation. By investing in students today, we are not only supporting their individual growth—we’re helping build a stronger, more globally-minded workforce for the future.

The scholarship is made possible by generous donations from the Italian business community and is endorsed by the Honorary Consul of Italy.

Scholarship Requirements

Applicants for the Italian Language Scholarship must be either a UNC Charlotte or NC State University student who is a rising Sophomore, Junior, or Senior.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.

Must be in good disciplinary standing at the time of application and prior to departure.

Preferences / Considerations

Business, Engineering, and Architecture majors are preferred, as are Italian minors.

Strongly recommended that the participant be enrolled in (or have already successfully completed) the first level of Italian offered by their university.

Agree to volunteer for CCI-NC and the Honorary Consul of Italy.

The recipient must participate in the Scholarship Awards Reception hosted by the Italian staff.

The students will give two presentations to the Board of CCI-NC:
- Prior to the trip, a presentation on the student's plans while in Milan, including what types of companies he or she would like to visit.
- After the trip, a recap of what he or she did while studying abroad, with attention to what they learned in regard to Italy's economy and business culture.

Application

Please check with partnering Universities directly for more information on the application process.

Past Winners

2017 - Mr. Chance Williams (UNC Charlotte)
2018 - Mr. Andrew Fiorentino (UNC Charlotte)
2019 - Mr. Greg Markowski (UNC Charlotte)
2020 - Canceled due to COVID-19
2021 - Canceled due to COVID-19
2022 - Mr. Aaron Lobo and Mr. Wolfgang White (UNC Charlotte)
2023 - Mr. Ryan Lowell and Ms. Frida Cachon Marmolejos (UNC Charlotte)
2024 -
2025 -