OUTSTANDING ITALIAN AMERICAN IN NORTH CAROLINA
Since 2013, the Triangle Sons & Daughters of Italy, Lodge 2817 in the Greater Raleigh, NC area has recognized the Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina. Unique to Lodge 2817, this competitive award was established to nominate Italian American candidates and select an annual winner who has demonstrated significant success in his or her chosen career; embraces his or her Italian American heritage; and serves as an inspiration and role model to other Italian Americans.
The Lodge has a selection committee chaired by Pat DiLeonardo for the Outstanding Italian American Award. Following a thorough review of all self-nominations from within or outside of the Lodge, or nominations put forth by Lodge members, and individuals and organizations from outside of the Lodge; the selection committee conducts a thorough assessment of each nomination to determine the winner. The winner of the 2024 Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina Award will be honored at our Italian American Heritage Celebration in October. The honoree will be presented with a plaque for their contributions and share their personal story on how their Italian American background influenced their personal and professional success.
Please note that nominations received during last year’s nomination cycle in 2023, who did not receive the award, will be automatically considered during the 2024 cycle and will once again be competitively reviewed along with new applications received during the 2024 cycle. No further action is required.
All new self-nominations for the award, and new nominations made by others must complete the Nomination Application Form and submit it via email to pat@dileonardo.net by August 31, 2024.
2024-Italian-American-Person-of-the-Year-Nomination Form Download
Don Cimorelli
TSDOI 2817 President
2023 Outstanding Italian-American in North Carolina – Dr. Michele Fazio
Since 2013, the Triangle Sons & Daughters of Italy has recognized the Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina. This competitive award was established to nominate Italian American candidates and utilize a Selection Committee to evaluate the nominees and select an annual winner who has demonstrated significant success in his or her chosen career; embraces his or her Italian American Heritage; and serves as an inspiration and role model to other Italian Americans.
The 2022 winner of the Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina Award was honored at our recent TSDOI Lodge 2817 Italian American Heritage Celebration attended by 100 members and guests.
It was with great pleasure that Selection Committee Chairman, Pat DiLeonardo, performed the special honor to bestow this distinguished award to Dr. Michele Fazio.
Nominated by TSDOI Member Joyce Moses, it is our pleasure to announce that Dr. Michele Fazio, received the distinguished 2023 Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina Award at the TSDOI Italian American Heritage Celebration on Sunday, October 29th. Our criteria for the award continued to include professional accomplishment, embracing of the Italian-American culture, and serving as a positive role model for others.
Dr. Michele Fazio is a distinguished professor in the English department and co-coordinator of the gender studies minor at UNC Pembroke where she teaches courses on 20th-century American and contemporary U.S. ethnic literature. She also directs the Pembroke Mellon REACH Program—an initiative to increase participation of underrepresented students in pursuing graduate school with a focus on the humanities.
Dr. Fazio grew up as the youngest member of a large Italian American family and was the first in her family to attend college. She received her Ph.D from Stony Brook University (New York). She has focused significant parts of her career in the field of Italian American studies and participates in several national and international organizations to promote a greater understanding of Italian American history and culture.
Dr. Fazio has received numerous awards and fellowships as a scholar and filmmaker, culminating in the very prestigious University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. She is also highly active in mentoring the next generation of teaching professionals.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Michele Fazio, our 2023 Outstanding Italian-American in North Carolina. If you were unable to attend last Sunday’s TSDOI Italian American Heritage Celebration (Destination America: The Great Italian Migration), you can watch Dr. Fazio’s acceptance presentation and personal story which has been posted on the link below on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/538796520/videos/pcb.1411281013153887/1064286081653455
Previous Winners of Outstanding Italian / American of North Carolina
2022 – Dr. Luciano Amerigo Lucia
2021 – Shelley Berardinelli McPhatter
2020 – Mark Spano
2019 – Thomas J. Vitaglione
2018 – Paul Paolicelli
2017 – Larry Vellani
2016 – Michael Miragliuolo
2015 – George Cattalona
2014 – Judge Ann Marie Calabria
2013 – Prof. Joseph DeSimone