For more than a century, Carnegie Hall has welcomed some of the most celebrated figures in music, from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to Arturo Toscanini and Enrico Caruso. This October, the historic New York venue became the setting for a different kind of celebration: one dedicated to the people helping shape Italy’s reputation in the United States and beyond.
The third edition of the Italian Reputation Awards, founded by Davide Ippolito, president of Italia America Reputation Lab, brought together Italian and American leaders whose work has contributed to closer relations between the two countries. Organized this year in collaboration with Campus Salute, chaired by Pasquale Antonio Riccio, the ceremony recognized six individuals working across business, education, sports, healthcare, the arts, and public service.
Held during a weekend when New York celebrates its Italian heritage, the event also reflected how the relationship between Italy and the United States has evolved. For generations, that connection was largely defined by immigration, family histories, and the cultural traditions preserved by Italian American communities. Today, it also extends to economic partnerships, academic exchanges, institutional cooperation, and professional networks operating on both sides of the Atlantic.
That connection between past and present was evident from the opening moments of the ceremony, hosted by Sky TG24 journalist Cristiana Mancini. Students from La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi performed the Italian and American national anthems, while Serena D’Andria recalled the hardships faced by the first generations of Italian immigrants. Actress Alice Lussiana Parente recited Emma Lazarus’s The New Colossus, the poem inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, which has come to symbolize the immigrant experience in the United States. Pianist Francesco Pollon provided the musical accompaniment.
The evening’s honorees represented different aspects of the contemporary relationship between Italy and America.
Valter Quercioli, national president of Federmanager, received an award for his commitment to managerial expertise, professional responsibility, and the competitiveness of Italian industry. The recognition was presented by Alfonso Cerullo, a senior executive at EssilorLuxottica who leads the company’s North American optical retail operations. Their participation highlighted the importance of management and international business networks in connecting Italian companies with the American market.
In sports, Nick Eyde, a former professional American football player and entrepreneur with longstanding ties to Italy, was recognized for helping bring the Italian Bowl to Toledo, Ohio. The initiative has introduced an Italian sporting competition to American audiences, creating another opportunity for exchange between the two countries. Eyde received his award from Erica Di Giovancarlo, the first woman to lead the Italian Trade Agency’s network in the United States.
Academic cooperation was represented by Andrea Mazzucchi, rector of the University of Naples Federico II, Dante scholar, and member of the Accademia della Crusca. Recognized for his contributions to research, the humanities, and higher education, Mazzucchi received his medal from Professor Annamaria Colao, vice president of Italy’s Superior Health Council. His recognition drew attention to the role Italian universities play in international scientific and cultural exchanges.
The arts provided another example of how Italian creativity can reach audiences beyond national and linguistic boundaries. Aldo Gallina, a painter and sculptor who uses Braille as an artistic language, was honored for developing works that challenge conventional ways of experiencing art. Among his creations is an American flag designed to be read through touch. Actress Alice Lussiana Parente presented him with the award.
One of the evening’s most direct examples of institutional cooperation concerned Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan Borough President, who was recognized for his public service and efforts to strengthen relations between New York and Rome. Earlier this year, Hoylman-Sigal signed a cultural cooperation agreement with Rome’s Municipio I, establishing a formal partnership between the historic centers of the two cities. The award was presented by Giulia Silvia Ghia, the Roman district’s councilor for culture.
In healthcare, Concetto “Tino” Ruta, president and CEO of Knights Care Global, was honored for developing and managing healthcare platforms across the United States and Europe, navigating different regulatory systems and professional environments. His medal was presented by Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò.
The 2026 edition also introduced the Young Leader Under 30 Award, created in partnership with United Italian Societies to recognize young Italians building their careers in the United States. Its first recipient was Greta Fraraccio, an athlete and startup founder, who received the award from Marco Giovanelli, founder and CEO of Piazza Italia New York.
The new category reflects another dimension of the Italian American relationship. While earlier generations crossed the Atlantic primarily in search of employment and economic security, today’s Italian presence in the United States also includes students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and young professionals developing careers in an increasingly interconnected economy. Their experiences are different from those of the first immigrant communities, but they continue to build on the connections those communities established.
Healthcare as a bridge between communities
Beyond the awards themselves, the ceremony also highlighted the work of Campus Salute, an organization that has provided more than 150,000 free preventive medical consultations and holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
During the same period as the Carnegie Hall ceremony, Campus Salute organized healthcare initiatives at La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi in New York, bringing medical professionals together to offer preventive services and health education to the local Italian community.
Pasquale Antonio Riccio recognized the physicians involved in the initiative: Pasquale Mugione, Domenico Veneziano, Marco Chiellini, Valentina Russo, and Davide Mayol.
Their participation illustrated how cooperation between Italy and the United States can extend beyond institutional agreements or commercial partnerships to include practical initiatives benefiting local communities. Healthcare professionals with experience in different medical systems can contribute expertise, promote prevention, and develop professional relationships that continue beyond individual events.
From immigrant identity to international recognition
Each honoree received a handcrafted medal created by Italian goldsmith Marco De Luca. Inspired by ancient Roman coins, the medal is dedicated to Eucleia, the Greek personification of good reputation.
The symbolism reflected the central idea behind the Italian Reputation Awards: that a country’s international standing is shaped not only by its government, its businesses, or its cultural heritage, but also by the work of individuals who represent it abroad.
For Davide Ippolito, the ceremony also offered an opportunity to reflect on the changing experience of being Italian in America.
“A hundred years ago, for many Italians arriving in America, being Italian was something to hide,” Ippolito said. “Today, here at Carnegie Hall, we did the opposite: we gave a name and a story to those whose work helps make Italy respected around the world. There is nothing left to hide. Being Italian is a source of pride.”
His remarks referred to a history in which Italian immigrants often faced discrimination and pressure to assimilate into American society. Over time, their descendants became an established part of the country’s social, economic, cultural, and political life.
Today, that legacy coexists with a new generation of transatlantic relationships. Italian companies operate throughout the United States, American institutions collaborate with Italian universities and local governments, and professionals move between the two countries, bringing expertise and opportunities with them.
Events such as the Italian Reputation Awards offer a meeting point for these different networks. Bringing together public officials, business executives, academics, artists, and healthcare professionals in the same room creates opportunities for connections that might otherwise remain limited to individual sectors.
The ceremony at Carnegie Hall was therefore not simply a celebration of Italian achievement abroad. It was also a reflection of a relationship that has grown from the experiences of immigrant communities into a broader network of economic, cultural, scientific, and institutional cooperation.
The Italian Reputation Awards are promoted by Italia America Reputation Lab, RetImpresa Confindustria, Campus Salute, and Piazza Italia New York.
