Three JCU Students Receive Medals from Italy-USA Foundation at Italian Chamber of Deputies
Three JCU students received medals of the Italian Parliament in the framework of the America Award by the Italy-USA Foundation on October 4, 2024. Lucas Vesey, Alexandria Davis, and Olivia De Laura were given the prestigious award in recognition of their academic achievements and service to the University community. Dean of Academic Affairs Stefano Arnone, Assistant Dean of Student Academics Annette Bryson, and other members of the JCU community attended the event honoring our students.
The Italy-USA Foundation is an independent institution established to honor and promote friendship between Italians and Americans by playing a bipartisan public role on both sides of the Atlantic. Each year, the Foundation confers the America Award to acknowledge and encourage initiatives aimed at favoring relationships between Italy and the United States.
Olivia De Laura
Olivia De Laura’s great-grandparents left Italy and arrived in the United States through Ellis Island at the turn of the 20th century. She grew up in Virginia and arrived in Italy in January of 2022, propelled by a desire to broaden her international experience, sharpen her interpersonal skills, and immerse herself in the cultural fabric from which her Italian American family originated. “As an Art History major and Communications minor, my time at JCU has been marked by a keen interest in intercultural communication and language in its many forms. It has culminated in a concern for cultural heritage expressed through art history and the fine arts’ unique role in informing national identity,” says Olivia. When she completes her degree, she hopes to pursue a career in the artistic direction of luxury brands, utilizing the multilingual and intercultural skills learned at John Cabot University to build a career that spans Italy, France, and the U.S.
Lucas Vesey
Lucas Vesey grew up in a small rural town in southwestern Minnesota. In the fall of 2023, he attended John Cabot University as a study abroad student from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Within a few weeks, he had realized that he wanted to transfer to JCU to take advantage of the diverse learning environment. He was awarded the Presidential Transfer Scholarship which allowed him to continue his education as a full-time JCU student majoring in Business Administration. In addition to his business coursework, Lucas is taking intensive Italian language courses to maximize his understanding of the local culture. “Being in Italy surrounded by its art and history has fueled my entrepreneurial spirit,” says Lucas. He expects to graduate in two years and plans to use his education and experience to start his own business.
Alexandria Davis
Alexandria Davis, who grew up in Texas, came to Italy on vacation for the first time two years ago and loved it so much that she stayed and found a job in the south for a month. After she finished, she knew she wanted to learn more about this interesting country, Italy, so she applied to JCU and moved to Rome in January of 2023. An Italian Studies major, she is a member of the Model United Nations (MUN) Society at JCU, a club that Alexandria says leaves you with more knowledge about yourself, your teammates, and current world issues after each meeting. After graduation, she’d like to stay in Italy and find a job in guest relations in the hospitality sector. She enjoys problem-solving and effectively communicating with people. “Wherever life takes me, I know I will always return to Italy because, while my family made a home for me in the U.S., I have made a home for myself in Italy,” says Alexandria.
Other recipients of this year’s award were: Simona Agnes, president Fondazione Biagio Agnes, Max Biaggi, motorcycle road racer, Helga Cossu, director Fondazione Leonardo, Alessandra Galloni, editor in chief Reuters, Guillermo Mariotto, fashion designer, Giorgio Moroder, Academy Award winner, Yvonne Sciò, actress, Michael Spence, economist, Nobel laureate, Walter Villadei, astronaut, Antonella Viola, scientist. A special award was also conferred in memory of film director Franco Zeffirelli.
