Premio America 2012

For the third consecutive year the students of the JFRC were fortunate to have been able to attend the Premio America ceremony this past Thursday, October 4^th.  Each year the award is conferred upon those whose work involves relations between Italy and the United States, ultimately forming a collaboration between the two countries.  The awardees’ work usually range among cultural fields such as fashion, media, economics, and the arts.  The award is presented by the Italy USA Foundation which is a non-partisan, Italian-based association whose mission is to foster initiatives that form a strong bond between Italy and the United States.

This year the Foundation was pleased to welcome:

• Andrea Bocelli (Italian Tenor)
• Massimo Ferragamo (President of Ferragamo Industries USA)
• Franca Sozzani (Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia)
• Antonio Di Bella (Director of RaiTre)
• Peter F. Secchia (Former U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Boardmember of the Gerard R. Ford Foundation)
• Justine Mattera (American/Italian Actress)
• Jeremy Rifkin (Economist, Founder of Economic Trends)
• Darina Pavlova (Television Producer)

They also conferred a posthumous award to the memory of Dino De Laurentiis, the famed Italian film producer whose California based posterity came to claim the award.

Among these titans of collaborative culture were two former JFRC students and one current staff member who were awarded the Presidential Medallion for their work in intercultural collaboration while at the Rome Center.

As this year’s medallion awardees, the JFRC was proud to present:

• Brooke Feery (Senior, Loyola University Chicago)
• Jessica Kuh (Junior, Loyola University Chicago)
• Carla Mollica (JFRC Senior Academic Advisor)

The ceremony took place in the Camera dei Deputati (Italian Parliament), in the Aula dei Gruppi Parlamentari (Parliamentary Groups Room), which is a special committee meeting room.  It began with the introduction of the Italy USA foundation and its mission, quickly followed by the presentation of the Presidential Medallion to our students and staff.  During this presentation our Dean of Faculty, Susana Cavallo, shared words of pride and appreciation for being included in such a prestigious group.  The evening was attended by about 50 JFRC students, a large number of faculty and staff, and a whole host of other supporters for the other awardees.  Our very own Maria Aulisa acted as simultaneous translator for the ceremony, allowing both Italians and Americans alike to fully partake in the honor of attendance.