Our PIA Junior Members

Ashtyn Vollentine

My nonna, Robbie Morrison, has taught me of my ancestors from Poggioreale from the mid 1800’s. My Nonna’s great grandfather, Guiseppe Ippolitio, was an immigrant from Poggioreale and came to the America’s via ship through New Orleans. Since Guiseppe’s immigration, my family tree and cultures have grown and I am eager to learn more about my culture and the people that surround it.

Skylar Meuse

All of my grandfather's grandparents were born in Sicily. His maternal grandfather, Joe Roppolo, was born and raised in Poggioreale.

Ross Prokop

My name is Ross Prokop. I am 17 and a senior in high school. My family has ties to Poggioreale. My great-great grandfather, Antonino Zinnanti, immigrated to America back in the early 1900’s. They settled near Bryan, TX to farm on the rich soil.

Chloe Johnson

My name is Chloe Johnson and I am 20 years old. My Paternal Grandmother is Charlotte Tavares Johnson and her mother was Ann Scambray Tavares. Ann’s mother was Maria Campise Schimpre who was born on July 17th, 1882 in Poggioreale, Trapani.

Katherine Rowan Wills

No matter where we are in the world, our familial ties allow us to be connected and be a part of something bigger than ourselves. I've grown up in a large family that has taught me the importance of knowing and maintaining our heritage. Being an Italian American to me means educating myself on our family and keeping the traditions our ancestors brought with them all those years ago alive - Great- grandparents are Vincent Campise and Katherine Viviani.

My ancestors have contributed to who I am as a person today mainly in my religion and family traditions. My family is very close and this is in part because of our Italian heritage. We all still live in Bryan, Texas and go to the church that John helped build and name. Every year at the time of lent we attend an altar to St. Joseph where we recite the novena rosary and the poem that he wrote to St. Joseph.

My family is notorious for their strong-willed, hard-working, driven, brave, productive women. The type of women who will step up, take charge, and are not afraid to try something new. Women who will start their own Etsy business while taking care of four children with a husband who travels a lot. Women who will spend hours a day researching to write a book and run a website to connect relatives all over the world. Women who will go to work building airplanes for the war effort in the U.S.

I come from a long line of Italians that we have traced back to the mid to late 1800s. When looking into my family line and hearing the stories that my late grandmother told my mom, my family came to America on a boat. They completely left Italy and most of their belongings to come to America for a better life. Eventually, all of my great grandparents ended up in Bryan and here we are generations later.

The Campises

Leslee Campise Ruby Campise Mandy Campise 2X great granddaughters of Giuseppe "Joseph" Campisi, born in Bryan, TX and Domenica "Mandy" Franco 3X great granddaughters of Mariano Campisi (born 1849 Poggioreale, and Anna Campione born 1852 Poggioreale).

The Scambray and Smiths

Leo Smith Vincenzo Smith Michael Scambray Sarah Scambray Julia Scambray Roman Smith with grandparents Linda and Terry Scambray Great grandchildren of Maria Campisi, born 1880 in Poggioreale (daughter to Mariano born 1849 and Anna Campione born 1852)

The Henleys and Palermos in Poggioreale

Megan Henley Paige Henley Alexander Henley 2X great grandchildren of Pietro Maniscalco born 1879 and Maria Messina born 1883, both in Poggioreale 2X great grandchildren of Francisco (Frank) Alfano born 1898 in Mumford, TX 3X great grandchildren of Tommaso Alfano born 1861 and Antonina Loria born 1866, both in Poggioreale Alisa, Nino, Pepe and Karol Palermo Grandchildren of Giuseppe Agosta and Giuseppa Blanda of Poggioreale Photo taken in Poggioreale in 2018

The Hallier Children

Juliet Hallier James Hallier Jonah Hallier With older brother, Keiton Hallier Great great grandchildren of Girolamo Campisi born 1878 Poggioreale, son of Mariano Campisi, born 1849 Poggioreale

Alex Case Logan Taylor 2020 Christmas_IMG_9642 cropped

Alexandria Anderson Case Anderson Logan Anderson Taylor Anderson 2X Grandchildren of Salvatore Todaro (born in Poggioreale 1869) and Rosa Spina (born in Poggioreale 1882) who immigrated to Chicago 1912

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