The Smart Money Continues To Be On Italian

Upper Montclair, NJ
April 2008

For a number of years now, it makes sense, and translates into dollars and cents, to major in Italian language and culture. Once again this academic year, the Department of Spanish and Italian is pleased to be in a position to recognize deserving Italian majors and minors, at various points in their course of study at Montclair State University, with scholarships. Offered by the Montclair State University Italian Program and the Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America, there are ten recipients who will share in over $4000 being awarded for achievement, excellence and merit.

"The Achievement in Italian Studies and Heritage Education" for $1000 will go to Marianinfa Zito, a double major in Italian and English Education and one of the highest achieving students the Italian Program has seen in recent years. This semester in Prof. Del Principe's Introduction to Italian Literature Marianinfa demonstrates strong, leadership qualities in class, and frequently initiates discussion. Her writing skills are equally admirable, perhaps a product of her interest and sensitivity for poetry. This award is offered thanks to the generosity of UNICO District 7.

"The Saddlebrook Unico Chapter Scholarships for Excellence in Italian Language" for $250 each, will be awarded to Marisa Bianco, an Education major and Italian minor, Robert Campana, a double major of Italian and Spanish, Valeria Ruggeri an Italian major and teacher candidate, Rosa Russo, an Italian major and Larisa Vitaliti, an Italian major and International Studies minor. These students have distinguished themselves not only for their superior work in the classroom, but also for their special individual talents.

"The Passaic Valley Unico Chapter Italian Studies Award" for $1000 will be awarded to Rosa Russo, an Italian and Teacher Education Major.

The Department of Spanish and Italian is proud to grant four additional awards, "The Italian Program Awards Excellence in Italian" for $250 each, to three Italian majors: Kristin Chapman, Kelly Cocuzza and Daniela Peluso; and one new Italian major: Caterina Pontoriero. Each of these candidates has recently received academic distinction on the Dean's List in the Fall 2007 semester.

"The Italian faculty is extremely proud of this year's Scholarship and Award Recipients. This is the academically strongest group of Italian Majors and Minors we have had in years, with GPA's averaging well over 3.0 and, in fact, over 3.5. All of the students receiving these awards are most worthy of them, having proven their excellence with a high level of engagement in class discussions, strong assignments, and enthusiastic participation in cultural events. The faculty has come to rely on them in many ways and wish them the best with all of their future endeavors," said Prof. Del Principe, Deputy Chair of Italian. "They are proof that studying Italian pays, both in terms of linguistic, cultural, and personal enrichment, and in dollars and cents. We are thrilled to recognize them for their superb efforts."

Incentives to take Italian abound, indeed, from exciting courses in Translating, Cooperative Education, Italian and Italian American Cultural Studies, and Italian Cinema and Literature, to certification in the ever-expanding field of Italian Teacher Education. Being an Italian student, then, can be profitable and, quite simply, fun. Class outings, lectures, and events are often planned by the faculty, the Coccia Institute and the AMICI student group, which is constantly growing in numbers, due to a wide array of successful initiatives.