We are ecstatic to congratulate Mario Casamassima and Maurizio Casamassima, Miami Dade College- Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, for being recognized as the FCSAA Publications Division Students of the Month for February! Mario and Maurizio were nominated by their advisor, Emily Sendin. 

Here is what Emily shared with us about Mario and Maurizio: "Urbana Literary & Arts is blessed with the talented Casamassina brothers. Both Mario and Maurizio Casamassima have been members of Urbana since Fall 2020. Mario and Maurizio won a College Media Association (CMA) Audio and Film Festival 2020 3rd place for best animation short for “Jose The Clown” and in 2021 another third-place award for “Nature is a Treasure.” They contributed illustrations for our volume 14 print magazine as well as our website, social media, and podcast. Nowadays, they are working as layout designers and illustrators for our quinceañera volume bringing a unique and creative perspective to our magazine.

Mario and Maurizio Casamassima are part of the fabric of the Miami Dade College Padrón Campus community. Together they lead the Japanese Culture and Manga Club at Padrón Campus as president and vice president respectively. They are also Phi Theta Kappa active members and Student Government Association Senators. Both Mario and Maurizio won first place at the Congressional App Challenge for 25th District in Florida. Mario and Maurizio are also engaged members of their community volunteering for Feeding South Florida and Corazón Contento, Happy Hearts Foundation. Individually, Mario and Maurizio are committed scholars who contribute to Urbana magazine in a myriad of creative and innovative ways. Together, they are a magic duo that makes our magazine better every day."

A big congratulations to the Casamassina brothers for all of their hard work and creativity! Thank you to Ms. Sendin for nominating them!