JCU students Leonardo Di Franco-Cascone, Grace Sullivan, and Lusiana Veveiros received medals of the Italian Parliament as part of the America Award presented by the Italy-USA Foundation on October 10, 2025. The ceremony was held in the Sala della Regina (Queen’s Hall) of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
The America Award is conferred to American citizens who are enrolled in a B.A. program at John Cabot University and have extensive knowledge of the Italian language and culture through formal study and extracurricular activities.
The three students received the prestigious award in recognition of their academic achievements and service to the University community.
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 fostering relationships between Italy and the United States.
Leonardo Di Franco-Cascone
Leonardo, who was raised between Los Angeles and Rome, came to John Cabot University to honor the wishes of his grandmother, Fiorenza Di Franco, who was a professor of Theater and Italian Literature as well as Head Librarian at JCU. Says Leonardo, “Every summer and winter break since I was able to walk, I would come to Rome to see her. She strongly believed in freedom, education, and the ability to live anywhere. She was also a fighter who was able to navigate her own path through conflict while also being able to see the good in others. At John Cabot University, I study International Business with minors in marketing and philosophy, and I am one of the founders of the Film Appreciation Club. Through JCU, I feel I have been able to connect with both the worlds that I grew up in, and I am grateful to have had such a wonderful experience. When I graduate, I plan on going to a master’s program to continue my education and try to figure out how to include my passions and culture into whatever I end up doing.”
Grace Sullivan
Originally from Connecticut, Grace moved to Italy in August 2022 to pursue her undergraduate studies at John Cabot University. She was motivated by a deep interest in cultural understanding, international collaboration, and the desire to grow both personally and academically. “I chose Italy not only for its beauty and history, but also for the country’s unique ability to blend tradition with innovation in fields like business, art, and technology. At John Cabot University, I am pursuing a double major in International Business and Economics & Finance, with a minor in Computer Science. After graduation, I hope to pursue a master’s degree that combines finance, economics, and technology and to continue contributing to meaningful cross-cultural collaboration, especially between Italy and the United States,” says Grace.
Lusiana Veveiros
Lusiana was raised on 5 continents, growing up as the daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service family. Her great-grandparents moved to New York state from the Italian Alps, arriving at Ellis Island in the early 20th century. Says Lusiana, “I was named for the small town in the Veneto they came from, and this has always given me a strong connection to Italy. I decided to pursue a major in Political Science and a double minor in Legal Studies and Art History beginning at John Cabot University in August 2022. Having lived around the world and being raised in an Italian American family, it was important to me to deepen my understanding of the culture and language. I was initially drawn to the history of Rome, but it has been my interactions with the people here that have enriched my education and experience in ways that have been truly impactful. I hope to utilize my education, language abilities, and international experience that have all been deepened by my time in Italy to pursue a career at NATO, the UN, or the US Department of State in the future.”
America Award Winners
Other recipients of this year’s America Award are: Renato Calabria, American Board of Plastic Surgery; Maurizio Cheli, astronaut; Nunzia De Girolamo, anchorwoman; Filippo Magnini, Olympic swimmer; Eleonora Pedron, actress; Agnese Pini, editor in chief, Quotidiano Nazionale; Domenico Vacca, fashion designer; and Herman Van Rompuy, President Emeritus of the European Council. A special prize was also given in the memory of the scientist and Nobel prize-winner, Guglielmo Marconi.
JCU Dean of Academic Affairs thanked the Italy-USA Foundation and said, “It is a great honor for me to be here today. We are very proud of this recognition of our students, because like the Italy-USA Foundation, John Cabot University's mission is to build bridges between the US and Italy. It is in our DNA.”
