Award Ceremony at SUNY Fredonia (April 2012)

Award Ceremony at SUNY Fredonia for Two Students of the Italian Club, “Unione Italiana”

With the increasing interest in Italian studies at SUNY Fredonia, fall of 2010 saw the founding of an Italian Club called Unione Italiana as part of the Students Association. Students Gina Lanfranchi, Amanda Rogers, and Nicole Ceppaglia were among the founders, with Gina serving as president in the academic year 2010-2011, and Nicole serving as president in the academic year 2011-2012, while Dr. Chiara De Santi (Professor of Italian) has served as academic adviser since its foundation. The Club, formed by students of Italian and non-Italian origin, strives to offer its members a variety of cultural events, sometimes in collaboration with other campus student clubs and organizations, such as the French Club. They have organized soccer games, a display in the Reed Library during the Italian Heritage Month in October 2011, and, most recently, a Saint Joseph Table meal on March 19, 2012. The club has already planned events for the coming academic year, such as Italian tables where students can converse in Italian in an informal setting over lunch, film screenings, Italian dinners, and thematic forums on the Italian culture.

Following a tradition initiated several years ago by Dr. Raymond Belliotti (Distinguished Teaching Professor of Philosophy) and other professors, when a similar student organization was present on campus, it was decided to recognize the efforts of two students who have distinguished themselves in the Unione Italiana. Former and current presidents Gina Lanfranchi and Nicole Ceppaglia have received these awards, respectively, for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 years, but their work was also supported by other students such as Roothland Medina, Angelina Modica, and Jonathan Boylhart, who have devoted time, enthusiasm, and energy to the club as well. Through this ceremony it was possible to connect the Unione Italiana with the local Italian-American Organization, C.I.A.O. (Chautauqua Italian-American Organization), which kindly supported the Awards of Excellence, offering two gift cards from a local restaurant, where the students can enjoy Italian cuisine.

At the Award Ceremony on Friday April 13, held in Fenton Hall, Dr. John Kijinski (Dean of Arts and Science at SUNY Fredonia), Dr. Roger Byrne (Associate Dean), Dr. Carmen Rivera (Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Professor of Spanish), Dr. Raymond Belliotti, Dr. Chiara De Santi, representatives from C.I.A.O. – Sam Crisanti (President), Nance Ortolano, Carol Kuell and Tony Granata (members of the Board of the Directors together with Chiara De Santi) –, the Italian Vice-Consul in Buffalo, Dr. Lucia Caracci Ederer, Michela and Paolo Blower from the Lion of Renaissance Enterprises LLC, students, faculty, and families honored the two deserving students.

The Award Ceremony is a significant event, helping commemorate the important work done by the students and the interest that they have in Italian culture. This interest reached a further culmination point this spring through the establishment of a Minor in Italian Studies at SUNY Fredonia, for the first time since the foundation of the college, with Nicole and Gina again among the first students enrolled in the Minor. For Chautauqua County, and New York state as a whole, all of these initiatives underline the valuable contributions of Italians who emigrated to this area long ago and preserved their traditions, heritage, and love for their country of origin, transmitting it to the following generations, both Italian and non-Italian. “Two founding members of Unione Italiana honored” (edited by April Diodato). Dunkirk Observer (Wednesday, April 18, 2012). A8.

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