Milford senior honored with Brian Piccolo Award
The fifth annual Brian Piccolo Award, granted by UNICO Delaware District 1, was presented to Shane Anthony Gaglione at a Nov. 11 ceremony and dinner at the Glade Clubhouse in Rehoboth Beach.
Gaglione, a senior at Milford High School, is a member of the lacrosse team and an outstanding academic student. Although this is an athletic award, given in memory of Brian Piccolo, the candidates, chosen by their respective schools, must also be in good academic standing and of Italian heritage. The $1,000 donation is awarded to the winner’s school athletic department for the benefit of all students.
Other nominees were: Delaney Brannon, Indian River High School (field hockey); Brittany Castiglione, Sussex Academy High School (soccer); and Elizabeth Cataldi, Seaford High School (softball and volleyball).
All four students received gift bags containing gifts from UNICO National President Thomas Vaughn of Connecticut, gift cards from local restaurants and shops, movie tickets, a video on the life of Brian Piccolo (“Brian’s Song”), books and more. They and family members and friends were guests of UNICO at this event. A delicious meal was prepared by members directed by chefs Paula Corso and Nick Ruggieri.
Sponsors for this program were UNICO-Delmarva Chapter and Rehoboth-Area Chapter, the Delaware Commission on Italian Heritage and Culture, Auto Works Collision Center, Nicola Pizza, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Catania, and Nicholas Ruggieri, who also served as master of ceremonies.
Guest speaker Melissa Cannavo-Marino, host of “Mattinata Musicale,” a radio program broadcast each Sunday morning in Italian and English on AM Radio WILM 1450 and 610 Radio, spoke to those in attendance about her experiences growing up Italian, summers and studying in Italy, and working as a professional radio MC and contributor to a local Italian-American newspaper.
For more information about UNICO and its community service and charitable programs, contact unicodelawaredisrtict1@gmail.com.
