Protect the Italian and Italian American Studies Program at University of Illinois at Chicago
We, the students of the University of Illinois at Chicago, are coming together to advocate for the preservation of the Italian and Italian American Studies department and minor in response to the recent proposal to eliminate certain languages and LAS departments. Maintaining literature, linguistic, and cultural programs at UIC is essential, as the...
Fiore believes in the power of learning through service
From a young age, Ida Fiore knew she wanted to be a teacher. “I loved school and everything about it, from learning new things to building relationships with my teachers and classmates,” she says. “Teaching felt like a natural path for me, combining my passion for education and my desire to make a difference in the lives of others.” Now 32 years in...
Medieval matches bring ancient Roman history to life
The clash of swords, cheers and jeers of seventh-graders, and the clapped percussion of the 1977 Queen song “We Will Rock You” filled the social studies classroom during the recent Lowell Middle School-style Gladiator Games. Minutes earlier, teacher Drew Struckmeyer had entered the arena, or, to be literal, the space inside a circle of tables at wh...
Spilotro helps Italian students ‘find their fire’
When Enza Spilotro’s family moved from Chicago’s South Side to suburban Addison, she chose to attend the local public high school rather than a private institution because she wanted to take Italian language classes. Nowadays, Spilotro walks the halls of her alma mater, Addison Trail High School, as an Italian teacher, a role she’s held for the las...
Invitation to Apply: Loyola Rubino Italian American Studies Endowed Professorship
The College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago seeks qualified candidates, discipline open, for a tenure-track appointment at the assistant professor level for the Paul and Ann Rubino Endowed Professorship of Italian American Studies beginning Fall 2025. We seek candidates with strong research and teaching profiles in Italian America...
A beacon of la bella lingua in Kenosha
Being born in Palermo and growing up in Sicily, Monica Valenti Niespodziany used to gather her friends and play “pretend school,” putting herself in the role of the teacher. When she decided to become a teacher, her family wasn’t the least bit surprised, she says. Valenti Niespodziany has taught Italian at St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Kenosha sin...
Celebrating Italian Space Day: Bridging Italy’s Legacy with Michigan’s Innovation
Tuesday night, the Consulate of Italy in Detroit hosted a momentous Italian Space Day event, marking the 60th anniversary of Italy’s entry into space with the historic launch of San Marco 1 in 1964. Italy’s groundbreaking achievement positioned it as the third nation, after the United States and the Soviet Union, to launch an artificial satellite i...
Witness the Impact of Your Contribution: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Diabetes Research with the Rugiero Promise Foundation
This year, the Rugiero Promise Foundation invites its sponsors to an exclusive opportunity to see “Where the Money Goes.” Although the annual Casino Royale gala is paused for 2024, we are excited to announce a special sponsor-only reception at Michigan Medicine’s North Campus Research Complex on November 6, 2024. This intimate event will allow our...
Maine South Italian language instructor honored by national teachers association
A Maine South High School teacher who teaches Italian as part of the school’s world language curriculum has been recognized for her academic efforts, school district officials announced in a news release. Cristina Modica – who is Italian and also teaches the language course at the Park Ridge high school – was selected by the American Association of...
Naperville (IL) mom opens school to share Italian heritage
In celebration of Italian American Heritage Month, a Naperville mom is taking a unique approach to teaching others about her heritage. Her lessons have grown so popular, she’s opening up a school in Chicago this month. There’s no telling what tricks will come out of teacher Claudia Di Pancrazio’s magic bag. The Italian native and mom recently opene...
Sister Cities Open Golf Tournament in Ferrara and Sylvania
The Sister Cities Open Golf Tournament took place the first week of October. The tournament began Oct. 2 and teams played over a two-day, 42-hole challenge in both Italy and Toledo. Five teams of two played between Ferrara and Sylvania during the first edition of the tournament. The second edition will take place as part of the Italian Bowl week in...
Exchange Program between “Padua Franciscan High School”, Ohio, and “Liceo Classico, Linguistico Carlo Alberto” of Novara, Italy
On October 2, 2024, an international cooperation agreement was signed between Liceo Classico / Linguistico “Carlo Alberto” of Novara and “Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio. The Meeting, held online, was presided over by the Consul of Italy in Detroit, Allegra Baistrocchi. In attendance were Dr. Marina Lenza, Director of the Education Offi...