Meet Class of 2021 Valedictorian Giacomo Di Capua

John Cabot University’s Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Mary Merva is pleased to announce the Valedictorian for the Class of 2021, Giacomo Di Capua.

Giacomo Di Capua

The word “valedictorian” is an anglicized derivation of the Latin vale dicere (“to say farewell”) and refers to the student who delivers the farewell statement at the graduation ceremony. This honor is usually granted to the student with the highest grade point average of the graduating class.

Born in Rome, Giacomo obtained his B.A. in International Affairs summa cum laude in December 2020. He has been the President of JCU’s Grassroots Environmental Club since 2019. He recently won the Academic Excellence Award in International Affairs, the Presidential Award for Outstanding Service to John Cabot University, and the Student Leadership Award.

Giacomo was one of the organizers of TEDxJohnCabotUniversity, on online event that took place on October 18, 2020 and focused on promoting climate action through change-makers, educators, and entrepreneurs within academia. In his presentation, Giacomo expressed the view that universities are the ideal place to share a sense of climate urgency and to actively advocate for it, as they allow for climate-conscious educators and activist students to come together. “Don’t ever be afraid to voice your fears for our common future. Social change can thrive if, and only if, we manage as a species to convey a sense of urgency,” he said.

Now pursuing a second B.A. in Business Administration with Minor in Legal Studies, Giacomo is currently collaborating with non-governmental organizations in the fields of environmentalism, digital journalism, and Italian youth policy.

Here is what two JCU professors had to say about Giacomo:

Silvia Scarpa, Assistant Professor of Political Science
“Giacomo Di Capua is one of the most-talented and brilliant students I have met in my whole career! His diligence, constructive attitude, self-motivation, and exceptional critical thinking skills are qualities that made Giacomo stand out in every class he took with me. His ethics and enthusiasm in class and his leadership in group activities have always been exceptional, so that it was a true pleasure having him as a student. I am confident that Giacomo will achieve great results in any professional path he decides to pursue and I hope that he’ll always keep his environmental passion and European spirit intact!”

Antonio Lopez, Associate Professor of Communications and Media Studies, Advisor to the Grassroots club
“Giacomo has been a consummate professional in the Grassroots club. He has worked tirelessly with his classmates to create a bold vision for JCU’s green future. I always felt confident in his leadership and enjoyed standing back and watching him work. The world needs more Giacomos!”