Today, Assemblyman Angelo J. Morinello (R,C,I,Ref-Niagara Falls) joined his colleagues in the New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators and announced the Conference is now accepting applications for its annual college scholarship contest. The Conference will be awarding four $3,000 scholarships to future and current college students based on academic and athletic achievement.

“With the cost of colleges around this country continuing to rise each year, the ability to attend these institutions has become increasingly more difficult,” said Morinello. “The opportunity to award scholarships to four incredible young adults is something I am extremely proud of, and I commend my fellow members in the New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators for continuing this tradition year after year.”

The Assemblyman James D. Conte Memorial Scholarship and the Sen. John J. Marchi Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to students for academic and athletic successes at the Conference’s Legislative Day in June. The awarding of these scholarships will be based on a student’s athletic success, grade-point average, interest in pursuing a higher education, involvement in the local community and individual financial need.

The Italian-American Conference is a bipartisan organization of New York State Assembly and Senate members who are actively involved in promoting and celebrating the state’s Italian-American community. The Conference mission is to elevate and highlight Italian-American contributions to the state of New York and beyond, in all aspects of society, including literature, the arts, architecture and politics. The Conference also tries to dispel negative stereotypes of Italian-Americans.

Applications for residents of the 145th Assembly District are due by Monday, April 14 and can be obtained by contacting Assemblyman Morinello’s district office at 716-282-6062, emailing morinelloa@nyassembly.gov or by visiting the office at 800 Main Street, Suite 2C, Niagara Falls, NY. Please mail or hand deliver applications to the district office on Main Street.