TSDOI Lodge 2817

We exemplify the very best of what it is to be Italian American

TSDOI Lodge 2817 - We exemplify the very best of what it is to be Italian American

Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina Award

OUTSTANDING ITALIAN AMERICAN IN NORTH CAROLINA

Since 2013, the Triangle Sons & Daughters of Italy, Lodge 2817 in the Greater Raleigh, NC area has recognized the Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina.  Unique to Lodge 2817, this competitive award was established to nominate Italian American candidates and select an annual winner who has demonstrated significant success in his or her chosen career; embraces his or her Italian American heritage; and serves as an inspiration and role model to other Italian Americans.

The Lodge has a selection committee chaired by Pat DiLeonardo for the Outstanding Italian American Award.  Following a thorough review of all self-nominations from within or outside of the Lodge, or nominations put forth by Lodge members, and individuals and organizations from outside of the Lodge; the selection committee conducts a thorough assessment of each nomination to determine the winner.  The winner of the 2023 Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina Award will be honored at our Italian American Heritage Celebration on Sunday, October 29th.  The   honoree will be presented with a plaque for their contributions and share their personal story on how their Italian American background influenced their personal and professional success.

Please note that nominations received during last year’s nomination cycle in 2022, who did not receive the award, will be automatically considered during the 2023 cycle and will once again be competitively reviewed along with new applications received during the 2023 cycle.  No further action is required.

All new self-nominations for the award, and new nominations made by others must complete the Nomination Application Form and submit it via email to pat@dileonardo.net  by August 31, 2023.

2023-Italian-American-Person-of-the-Year-Nomination Form Download

Don Cimorelli

TSDOI 2817 President

2022 Outstanding Italian-American in North Carolina – Dr. Luciano Amerigo Lucia

Since 2013, the Triangle Sons & Daughters of Italy has recognized the Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina. This competitive award was established to nominate Italian American candidates and utilize a Selection Committee to evaluate the nominees and select an annual winner who has demonstrated significant success in his or her chosen career; embraces his or her Italian American Heritage; and serves as an inspiration and role model to other Italian Americans.
The 2022 winner of the Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina Award was honored at our recent TSDOI Lodge 2817 Italian American Heritage Celebration attended by 100 members and guests.
It was with great pleasure that Selection Committee Chairman, Pat DiLeonardo, performed the special honor to bestow this distinguished award to Dr. Luciano Amerigo Lucia.

  1. Dr. Luciano Amerigo Lucia is a Professor and Renewable Materials Chemist who directs The Laboratory of Soft Materials & Green Chemistry at North Carolina State University
  2. Professor Lucia holds faculty positions in several departments at NC State as well as joint appointments at two foreign universities
  3. He has 409 scientific publications and over 11,000 citations
  4. He co-founded and co-edits the BioResources international research journal
  5. Dr. Lucia has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students and researchers from around the world
  6. In 2022, he was appointed a fellow of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, in recognition of his many research contributions to the industry

Dr. Lucia says the following about the influence of Italian American culture on his upbringing:

I can distinctly remember how Papa one very late night in Bayonne, NJ, where I grew up, gently lifted me up after I fell asleep on the couch near him and placed me tenderly in my bed. I still feel Papa’s strength in lifting me up because of his great love for me. That sense of lifting me up never left me and was a touchstone for the approach of this Calabrian “Capa Tosta” (stubborn) toward life. Each person I met and knew was important to me. My advancement and rise in life was only because I cherished relationships. The spirit of “La Famiglia” cultivated in my Calabrian family became an indelible part of my core personality and how I related. I could never hold back effusively, reaching out to people, sharing energy, care and concern, and hugging those who would let me. Being an Italian-American means a lot to me and I have always made sure each and every person knows where I come from. However, I know I can never fully share with everyone the unique experiences I had of being lifted up, but I try as much as I can because, God knows, the whole world needs to be lifted up now!

Dr. Lucia definitely celebrates his Italian heritage. If one looks at his tag line on Twitter, it says “….His appetite for love, life, and work is pure ITALIAN.” When someone first meets him, he rarely tells him or her that he’s a professor initially. It is “Hi, I’m Lucian” and very soon thereafter, “I am an Italian”.
On behalf of all members of TSDOI, we are extraordinarily proud of our 2022 Outstanding Italian American in North Carolina Award Winner, Dr. Luciano Amerigo Lucia!


Previous Winners of Outstanding Italian / American of North Carolina

2021 – Shelley Berardinelli McPhatter

2020 – Mark Spano

2019 – Thomas J. Vitaglione

2018 – Paul Paolicelli

2017 – Larry Vellani

2016 – Michael Miragliuolo

2015 – George Cattalona

2014 – Judge Ann Marie Calabria

2013 – Prof. Joseph DeSimone