Last Monday night, the Loggia Giovanni da Verrazzano #1236 Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America awarded scholarships to 11 seniors at its 36th Annual Scholarship and Excellence in the Study of Italian Ceremony at Tappan Zee High School. Each scholarship winner gave a speech in Italian and in English, thanking the Loggia, their teachers and their families as well as their intention to study Italian language and culture as they prepare to go to college this fall.
“The ceremony is the result of our longstanding relationship with the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy. The support of the lodge has allowed students to be recognized for their hard work throughout their years of Italian study and has shown students and families the importance and strength of the Italian language and culture in our community. We are proud to be a part of such a passionate and dynamic program and are grateful for the support of the families, school and district administration and community,” said Italian World Language teachers Maria Bruno, Vittoria Conway and Christina Nilson.
Piermont Sons of Italy Social Club of Piermont and Scholarship Chairperson and Loggia Past President Joseph Stillo presented the scholarships to graduating seniors. The 2024 scholarship recipients are:
Louis “Sonny” DiCasoli Scholarship in Memory of Michele Arroyo: Asia Aponte
Salvatore Conigliaro Scholarship: Marisa Barikyan
2024 Loggia Giovanni da Verrazzano #1236 Scholarships: Jillian Clancy, Patrick Costello, Isabella Kensicki, Jack Pernick, Julia Piccione, Ian Raines and Sarah Kate Ryan.
2024 Sons of Italy Social Club of Piermont Scholarships: Sara Dodaj, Benjamin Fishel
Seventeen students were inducted into the Lodge’s Italian Language and Culture Honor Roll with a brief, candlelight ceremony for earning an average of 90 or higher for four years of Italian study: Frank Ambrose, Asia Aponte, Marisa Barikyan, Allison Carrera Flores, Jillian Clancy, Patrick Costello, Sara Dodaj, Jenna Fassbender, Jack Finn, Benjamin Fishel, Isabella Kensicki, Michael Lynch, Katherine O’Neill, Daniel Pagels, Jack Pernick, Julia Piccione and Ian Raines.
Merit awards were presented to 13 SOMS eighth graders and 102 TZHS Italian II, III, IV and V students for achieving an average of 90 or higher in their Italian coursework.
Italian has been offered as a world language to South Orangetown students for more than 50 years. South Orangetown was the first school district in Rockland County to offer Italian language and it is currently the largest Italian program in New York State.
Congratulations to our Italian language students and to World Language teachers Christina Nilson, Vittoria Conway and Maria Bruno!