06/15/2026
๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐
๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ต ๐๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ
๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐น
PENSACOLA, FL โ June 11, 2026 โ During its June 11 General Membership Meeting, Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America recognized four exceptional students by presenting scholarship awards and the distinguished Dante Medal. The awards honor academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and dedication to educational excellence.
As Buona Fortuna Lodge celebrates its 20th year of service to the community, members reflected on one of the organization's most enduring commitmentsโsupporting educational achievement through scholarships.
Over the years, the Lodge and its scholarship sponsors have awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships to deserving students pursuing higher education.
"Our scholarship program represents one of the most meaningful investments we make in the future of our community," said Scholarship Committee Chairman Joe DelSignore. "Each of these students has demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to serving others. We are proud to support them as they pursue their educational goals and future careers."
"As Buona Fortuna Lodge celebrates its twentieth year, it is especially rewarding to recognize these outstanding young people," said Lodge President Ginny Barberi. "Their accomplishments reflect the values of hard work, family, education, and community service that our Lodge strives to promote. We look forward to seeing all they will achieve in the years ahead."
In addition to their scholarship awards, each recipient was presented with the Dante Medal, one of the most meaningful symbols of educational achievement within the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. Named in honor of Dante Alighieri, the celebrated poet, philosopher, and father of the Italian language, the medal recognizes students whose accomplishments reflect excellence in scholarship, strength of character, leadership, service to others, and pride in their Italian heritage. The presentation of the Dante Medal signifies the Lodge's confidence in these young scholars as future leaders and stewards of values that have enriched Italian-American communities for generations.
2026 Scholarship Recipients
๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ - ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐๐ป๐ผ
A graduate of the Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate Program, Isabel Teresa Puno was selected for her outstanding academic performance, leadership, and commitment to service. Throughout her high school career, she distinguished herself through exceptional scholastic achievement and active involvement in school and community activities. Isabel has been accepted to Florida State University, Stetson University, and the University of West Florida and plans to pursue a degree in Neuroscience. Her academic accomplishments and dedication to learning made her an exemplary recipient of the Buona Fortuna Lodge Scholarship.
๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ด๐น๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ - ๐ง๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐
A graduate of Ocean Springs High School in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Talon plans to attend the University of Mississippi, where he will major in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. Throughout high school, he excelled academically while balancing athletics, employment, and community service activities. His dedication to helping others and commitment to a future career in healthcare made him an outstanding recipient of the La Famiglia Scholarship. Although unable to attend the June 11 award presentation, Talon was recognized by the Lodge for his achievements and future promise.
๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ - ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ
A graduate of the Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate Program, Francesca plans to attend the University of West Florida, where she will major in Marketing. Born in Rome, Italy, Francesca embraced the challenge of adapting to a new country while excelling academically and becoming actively involved in leadership, volunteer service, and community activities. Her achievements reflect the perseverance, family values, and strong work ethic that characterize the Italian-American experience.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ - ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ-๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐
The inaugural Dinelli Family Women in STEM Scholarship was awarded to Grace Wippler-Shaw, a first-year college freshman currently attending the University of Florida, where she is pursuing a degree in Information Systems. A graduate of Gulf Breeze High School, Grace has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and dedication to service. Her pursuit of a technology-focused career embodies the purpose of the Dinelli Family Women in STEM Scholarship, which was established to encourage and support young women pursuing studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Lodge also recognized the generosity and vision of the families and sponsors who make these scholarships possible. The 2026 awards included the Buona Fortuna Lodge Scholarship, the La Famiglia Scholarship, the Russo Family Scholarship, and the inaugural Dinelli Family Women in STEM Scholarship.
As Buona Fortuna Lodge marks its 20th anniversary year, members remain committed to investing in future generations through education, service, and the preservation of Italian heritage. The scholarship program continues to reflect the Lodge's dedication to recognizing and encouraging outstanding young people whose accomplishments strengthen both their communities and the future of our region.
๐ฝ๐ช๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ค, ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ, ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ง-๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ง๐จ๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ช๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐๐ค๐๐ก๐จ.
About Buona Fortuna Lodge
Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835 is a local chapter of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in Americaยฎ, dedicated to preserving Italian heritage, supporting charitable causes, promoting educational opportunities, and fostering friendship and community service throughout Northwest Florida.
As the Lodge celebrates its twentieth year, it remains committed to strengthening the community through cultural programs, scholarships, charitable outreach, and family-centered activities that honor the rich traditions of Italian-American heritage.
To learn more about Buona Fortuna Lodge or to become a member, visit our website at www.BuonaFortunaLodge.org, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sonsofitalybuonafortuna/, or contact our Emissario, Andy Fricano, at 404-667-3526. Membership Committee Buona Fortuna OSDIA Lodge #2835
