Isabella "Bella" Sotlar, a recent graduate of Fulbright College of Arts & Science at the U of A with a B.A. in English-creative writing and an Italian minor, was awarded the Fulbright/Fondazione Falcone Award to Promote the Rule of Law. The award, which is co-sponsored with the National Italian-American Foundation, aims "to foster and strengthen exchanges in promoting the value of law and legality among young people and to promote the development of an anti-mafia culture in society."

Sotlar will spend nine months studying the legacy of two anti-mafia Italian figures, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, both assassinated in 1992 while fighting against the mafia. Sotlar's project "aims to explore the impact of Italy's Maxi Trial and the United States' Mafia Commission Trial on criminal procedure, focusing on differences in pretrial rights, jury selection and witness roles. Inspired by her previous coursework in Milan, the project addresses the Mafia's real-world impact versus romanticized portrayals. Through research conducted with Fondazione Falcone, academic analysis and community engagement with organizations like Libera Terra, the project aims to promote legal literacy, justice and international understanding of judicial systems, contributing to the legacy of Giovanni Falcone and efforts to combat organized crime."

Sotlar will participate in the annual memorial celebration of Judge Falcone's assassination on May 23, 2026. Reflecting on receiving the Fulbright, Sotlar said, "Earning the Fulbright Grant means more than words can say. It is a culmination of my academic work and success at the University of Arkansas, and I am extremely grateful to the faculty members who have supported me as well as my family."

The Fulbright/Fondazione Falcone Award is open to undergraduates, masters and doctoral students; only one award is given annually.