L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026 www.italoamericano.org 24 L'Italo-Americano F or 33 years, Seat- tle has enjoyed a vibrant sister-city partnership with Perugia, the capi- t a l c i t y o f U m b r i a . T h r e e decades of friendship have resulted in artist exchanges, lectures, food and wine tast- ings, and an annual film festi- val. But perhaps most impor- tantly, they have also led to greater mutual understand- ing, respect, and one-on-one friendships. One of Seattle-Perugia Sis- ter City Association's signa- ture initiatives is its scholar- ship program for adults. Up to four scholarships are awarded each year to associa- tion members, enabling them to study Italian language and culture for one month at Peru- gia's distinguished Univer- sità per Stranieri (Univer- sity for Foreigners). Located in the heart of the old town, the Università per Stranieri is the oldest and most presti- g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n i n I t a l y engaged in teaching Italian language and culture. Now for the first time, Seat- tle will reciprocate by offering two language scholarships to Perugia residents to study for one month at the University of W a s h i n g t o n t h r o u g h i t s International & English L a n g u a g e P r o g r a m s (IELP). During their residen- cy, the recipients will receive English instruction in the morning and go on guided or independent excursions to cultural sites such as muse- ums and city landmarks in the afternoons. "As an Italian American educator, I'm excited about this new partnership," said Darya Anoshei, the IELP's admissions and outreach lead who, coincidentally, was born in Spoleto, not far from Peru- gia. "The scholarship recipi- ents will gain new language skills and confidence while enriching our classrooms and communities with an Italian perspective. Having called both cities home, I know how meaningful it can be to feel welcomed while navigating a new culture. Seattle and Peru- gia share a spirit of learning, reflection, and connection, making this exchange espe- cially relevant." The program's inaugural scholars are Katia Perruc- cio and Chiara Scapicchi, both from Perugia. Although born a generation apart, the women are united by their shared passion for explo- ration and international fel- lowship. Perruccio, 54, is a med- ical doctor and researcher with a specialty in hematol- ogy and oncology. She holds a PhD in bone marrow trans- plants and is the author of more than 100 articles. As the m o t h e r o f t w o , s h e k e e p s busy with her family and her c o m m u n i t y w h e n n o t a t work. Three years ago, Perruccio traveled to Seattle with her daughter to participate in the 30 th anniversary celebration of the Seattle-Perugia sister c i t y g r o u p . D u r i n g h e r upcoming month in Seattle, she hopes to rekindle the friendships she made in 2023 and renew connections with c o l l e a g u e s a t t h e F r e d Hutchinson Cancer Center, as well as improve her Eng- lish. "My daughter and I were so warmly welcomed when we arrived in Seattle a few y e a r s a g o , " s h e r e c a l l e d . "When I heard that I could spend more time in Seattle studying English and at such a prestigious university, I applied. I've never had the c h a n c e t o s t u d y E n g l i s h abroad, and I think it could be very useful for both my job and my personal growth." Twenty-year-old Scapic- chi, a second-year business administration student at the University of Perugia, hopes that increasing her English proficiency will open doors professionally as well as per- sonally. "My main goal is to strengthen my English and fully immerse myself in an international environment," she said. "At the same time, I'm excited to meet people from different cultures and build connections. From a p r o f e s s i o n a l p e r s p e c t i v e , being able to communicate effectively in an international context is essential in today's world. I know this experience will help me become more confident and better pre- pared for future academic and career opportunities." The scholarship program was made possible through the efforts of the Seattle- Perugia Sister City Asso- ciation board of directors, in p a r t i c u l a r , P r e s i d e n t E m e r i t u s G e r m á n Rodríguez and board mem- ber Elisabetta Valentini, who also serves as the honorary consul of Italy in Seattle. Uni- versity of Washington sup- p o r t w a s l e d b y C h r i s Thomas, director of Interna- tional & English Language Programs, and admissions a n d o u t r e a c h l e a d D a r y a Anoshei. In Perugia, scholar- ship committee members are Donatella Brigiolini, Olimpia Bartolucci, and Lorena Fal- cinelli. While in Seattle, both stu- dents will be hosted at the home of Germán Rodríguez, w h o s e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t made the first year of scholar- ship awards possible. Sister city members are busy plan- ning several events and activ- i t i e s o v e r t h e s u m m e r months to welcome the two students. "After years of planning, we're excited to finally launch this inaugural scholarship program with the University o f W a s h i n g t o n a n d o u r c o h o r t s i n P e r u g i a , " s a i d Rodríguez. "It shows how much can be accomplished by p e o p l e w h o c o m m i t t h e i r time, talents, and resources – and how just a few individu- als can make a real differ- ence." In addition to the sister- city scholarship program, Perugia also serves as a base for a UW study-abroad pro- gram called Art & Food in the Green Heart of Italy. Now in its third year, the pro- gram will run this year from June 20 to July 23. The Art & Food program is split into two parts: lan- guage and architecture. An Italian language class called A Tavola! Italian Food and Conversation is taught by a professor from the Università per Stranieri, and integrates language classes with field trips – all centered around the theme of food. The sec- ond part, Architecture and Art in Italy, is taught by a UW faculty member who brings students out of the classroom and onto the streets of Peru- gia. Field trips include visits to museums, churches, and the nearby town of Assisi. RITA CIPALLA N e w s i s t e r c i t y s c h o l a r s h i p p r o g r a m expands cultural exchange tradition SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY Chiara Scapicchi is one of two students from Perugia, Italy, awarded scholarships to study English at the University of Washington this summer (Photo: Chiara Scapicchi); bottom left, a new language scholarship program for residents of Perugia, Italy, spearheaded by the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association, will be launched this summer at the University of Washington (Photo: University of Washington)

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