E-mail: littleitalyfoundation@gmail.com    |    Phone: (410) 685-3116   

2026 Scholarship Application Guidelines

& Key Requirements

Little Italy Lodge OSDIA #2286 Foundation, Inc.

Please read this Application Guidelines thoroughly before submitting your scholarship application and essay. Failure to meet the requirements and eligibility will disqualify you. 

Your school(s) should mail or email your transcripts for the last three semesters directly to the Designated Recipient highlighted below. Even if you applied for a scholarship in 2025, you still must request the transcript(s) – the deadline is June 10, 2026. Please allow your school(s) ample time to respond. 

 2026 – Scholarship Application Guidelines (PDF)           

 

La Famiglia Scholarship Program
2026 Application 

The La Famiglia Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Little Italy Lodge OSDIA #2286 Foundation, Inc., provides financial support for undergraduate education. Scholarships are available to Lodge members and their spouses, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, step-grandchildren, and/or legal wards. To be eligible, the sponsoring Lodge member must have been a regular member in good standing (not a social member) as of January 1, 2025. 

Who Can Apply? 

  • Graduating high school seniors planning full-time study at an accredited two- or four-year U.S. college/university 
  • Current full-time college students (minimum 12 credits per semester, or ADA-approved reduced load) 
  • Scholarships are for undergraduate studies only. 
  • Applicants may reapply annually, but an individual may not receive more than four awards. 

Application Requirements 

Themed Essay 

  • Applicants must write and submit a 750–1,000-word essay on the theme, Values that Endure.  
  • The essay prompt is this: Italian heritage is more than food and festivals; it includes values such as family loyalty, hard work, faith, generosity, and pride in one’s roots. Choose one or two values that resonate most strongly with you. Explain how these values have shaped your character and how you intend to embody and pass them on in your adult life.
  • Essays will be judged on: 
    • Clear development of ideas, with examples 
    • Logical organization 
    • Writing quality (grammar, syntax, word choice, citations if used) 
    • Readability and engagement
  •  Strict word count enforcement: minimum of 750 words; maximum of 1,000 words. Essays outside of this word count will be rejected. 

Transcripts 

  • Ask your school(s) to provide transcripts for your last three semesters. 
  • Deadline is June 10, 2026. Late transcripts will not be accepted. 
  • Transcripts must be sent directly from the school (not the applicant) to our Designated Recipient: Gary Molino, 3 Covert Court, Timonium, MD 21093-2016 

(Optional) Free application information for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

  • Provide either a FAFSA Submission Summary (SAI) or FAFSA Student Aid Report (EFC) via the online form (SAI or EFC is needed). 
  • If the optional FAFSA is not included, the financial need category will receive no credit in evaluation. 

Complete Scholarship Application online 

  • All awards are contingent on the verified accuracy of the information provided by the applicant and sponsor. 

Evaluation Criteria 

Applications are scored on three factors, with any identifying student information removed before evaluation, to ensure fairness. 

  • Academic achievement (transcripts) 
  • Financial need (optional – FAFSA, if provided) 
  • Essay quality 

Award Details 

  • Scholarships cover tuition, fees, and on-campus room/board for the 2026–2027 academic year. 
  • Payments are sent directly to the college/university by September 1, 2026, upon receipt of an itemized bill. 
  • Awards are for one year only; however, applicants may reapply annually (up to four years total). 
  • Recipients will be notified by email and introduced at a Little Italy Lodge General Meeting. Non-recipients also will be notified by email.

Key Deadlines 

  • May 31, 2026 – Application and Essay submission 
  • June 10, 2026 – Transcript submission (Allow time for your schools to respond!) 
  • September 1, 2026 – Payments (scholarships) sent to college/university 

Questions? Email littleitalyfoundation@gmail.com