Scholarship "Un anno all'estero" (A year abroad) awarded through the Credito Valtellinese Group

Sondrio, 19th June 2003 - The scholarship award ceremony 'A year abroad', which is sponsored by the Credito Valtellinese Group, in association with Intercultura, was held today starting at 11.30 a.m., inside Palazzo Sertoli dance hall, in Sondrio. Established 1995, Intercutura is a partner of major organizations for intercultural exchanges in the world, such as 'AFS Intercultural Programs', based in New York, and 'EFIL', which is based in Brussels.
The grant has now been given for nine years to students aged between 14 and 16, who are also Bankaperta Junior account holders with the Credito Valtellinese Group member banks (Credito Valtellinese, Credito Artigiano). The grant allows the students to spend a period of residence abroad. The destination can be chosen among a number of countries available in Europe and the rest of the world. During their period of foreign residence all students attend a local high school, which contributes towards their final school results. In September 2002, the initiative was advertised by mail, in the local press and by the Intercultura employees, who have been informing the students in the local schools.
Laura Luraschi, a 17-year old student from Oltrona S.Mamette, Como, has been awarded the scholarship. She will spend one year in the U.S.A.
The scholarship has been awarded to Laura by the General Manager of Credito Valtellinese Miro Fiordi, who congratulated the young student on her school career and said all best wishes for the future from the Credito Valtellinese banking Group.
The scholarship award ceremony was attended by the Chairwoman of the Italian Intercultura Anna Pozzi Sant'Elia, the Intercultura regional co-ordinator Concetta Giamminola Buglisi, a voluntary worker of the local centre in Sondrio, Wladia Scherini, as well as by the Luraschi family.
As the Year Abroad is a unique opportunity for the students to improve their school results, make intercultural experiences and widen personal horizons, the Credito Valtellinese Group is launching the same project also for next year.