The Italian-American Festival Foundation Inc. of Stark County will award $8,000 in college scholarships for the 2017 academic year. Applicants must be of Italian American heritage and a 2017 graduate of a Stark County high school. Scholarships are awarded on a basis of need, scholastic ability, extra-curricular involvement and character. Scholarship winners will be announced during the awards breakfast of the Italian American Festival on June 15.

To obtain an application, applicants must submit a request in writing to Italian-American Festival Foundation Inc., PO Box 9345, Canton, Ohio 44711-9345. Mark it to the attention of Louie Mattachione, chairman - Scholarship Committee. This is the 31st consecutive year the foundation has awarded scholarships totaling $210,000. Funds for the scholarships come from the annual festival set for June 15, 16 and 17 at Market Square green space in Canton. For more information, visit www.CantonItalianFesta.org.