Winners look forward to a trip in Italy, including accommodation at a school in the province of Udine and meals in the tradition of the local gastronomy.
The prize, established in 1994, encourages and promotes excellence in Italian language studies in schools across Queensland and rewards the achievement of Year 12 students of Italian.
Students were required to submit an essay about themselves, written in the Italian language.
This year, seven lucky students were awarded a four-week study tour in Cividale del Friuli, in northern Italy, all expenses paid.
Mariangela Stagnitti, president of the Committee for Italians Abroad (Com.It.Es QLD & NT), described the StudItalia program as “amazing”.
“For these students, it’s an inspiration, an aim, a goal,” she said.
“We had 38 entrants this year. It was massive!”
Stagnitti was just one of the judges on a panel which included Consul Ludovico Camussi, two members from the Department of Education (QLD) and two Italian language teachers, from The Italian Language Centre and Dante Alighieri Society, Brisbane.
Minister of Education Grace Grace was also present at the ceremony.
The prize plays an important role in strengthening community relations between Italy and Australia.
According to the 2006 census, 852,417 persons in Australia were identified as having Italian ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.
Increasing numbers of Italians have been arriving in the last decade on Working Holiday visa arrangements, in search of job opportunities away from an economically troubled Italy.
Com.It.Es. QLD & NT plays the important role of protecting the working rights of newly arrived Italians.
