Coccia Scholarships, Internships and Awards
The Coccia Institute, in partnership with the Department of Global and Cultural Studies and the Coccia Foundation, supports students and educators through a variety of scholarships, internships, and awards that promote the study, teaching, and appreciation of the Italian language and culture.
These opportunities recognize academic excellence, support study abroad and professional experiences, and celebrate outstanding achievement in Italian language education. Each spring, the Coccia Institute hosts an annual Scholarships and Awards Ceremony honoring student recipients, while each fall the Institute recognizes excellence in K–12 Italian language instruction through the Coccia-Inserra Award presented at the Teaching Italian Symposium.
Explore the opportunities below for students and teachers.
For Students
The Coccia Institute and the Italian Program offer a variety of scholarships, internships, and awards for Italian majors, minors, and Language, Business, and Culture (Italian) majors. These opportunities support academic achievement, study abroad, and experiential learning, thanks to the generosity of the Coccia Foundation and other community partners.
Current scholarship opportunities, eligibility requirements, and application information are updated annually. Students are encouraged to review the available opportunities and apply during the designated application period.
Coccia-Inserra Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Italian (K–12)
The Coccia-Inserra Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Italian recognizes outstanding K–12 educators who demonstrate excellence in Italian language instruction, innovative teaching practices, and a commitment to advancing Italian language and culture.
Generously supported by the Coccia Foundation and Lawrence R. Inserra, Jr., the award includes a $5,000 prize, with funds designated to support both classroom programming and the recipient's professional development in Italian language and culture.
Eligible applicants are full-time, certified teachers of Italian who teach a minimum of two Italian language classes at the K–12 level. Candidates are evaluated on instructional excellence, innovative teaching, lesson planning, and contributions to the profession and broader Italian language community.
The award is presented annually during the Teaching Italian Symposium, the Coccia Institute's regional professional development program for teachers of Italian held each fall at Montclair State University.
For questions and more information, please contact the Coccia Institute Director.
The Coccia-Inserra Award Application