The Rockland Sons of Italy Lodge 2176 recognizes students each month who study the Italian language at area schools. The students are presented with a monetary gift at a monthly dinner for the honorees and their families hosted by the Lodge. The students also have an opportunity to thank everyone for the honor and often say their speeches in Italian first and then English; both students honored in February were no exception. To date the Lodge has honored nearly 40 students.

Two students were honored on February 28th. The students were Diane Rizzo from Tappan Zee High School and Holly March from South Orangetown Middle School. Their Italian Language teachers, Roberta Avantifiori of South Orangetown Middle School and Tricia Castelli of Tappan Zee High School, introduced each student and detailed their outstanding backgrounds.