The Donato F. Cianciola Memorial Scholarship

The Donato F. Cianciola Memorial Scholarship was established by a gift from Mr. Cianciola to honor his Italian heritage. Mr. Cianciola deeply valued education and wished to assist students of Italian descent who are pursuing their college education. Born in 1931, Mr. Cianciola was born in America to Italian parents. Mr. Cianciola spoke only Italian until he began school. He graduated second in his class from North High School in June 1947. His father, who owned and operated authentic Italian grocery stores, insisted that his son keep his promise to his mother who had passed away that he would attend college. Mr. Cianciola was given $300 to enroll at The University of Akron. He was surprised to discover that the cost was $48 for the semester. Mr. Cianciola graduated from The University of Akron in 1953 with a bachelor of science in business administration. Throughout his life and career, Mr. Cianciola believed that education was a significant factor of his success. His regard for education and his deep commitment to his ancestral heritage led him to create this scholarship. The Donato F. Cianciola Memorial Scholarship was established to assist a student of Italian descent. Nomination of award recipients will be made by the president of The Italian American Professional and Businessmen’s Club and awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid at The University of Akron.

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