“Ever since Louis and I co-founded the Italian Language Foundation to support The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program in Italian Language and Culture in 2008, Louis has been a tireless supporter and champion of the study of Italian,” Dr. Cuomo said. “Through his efforts, and those of our supporters, we have succeeded in our goal of having AP Italian reinstated and seen exceptional growth in the number of high school students taking the course and increasing their love of one of the world’s great languages and cultures.”
The College Board’s AP Italian program was suspended after 2008. Following organizational efforts by the Italian Language Foundation, the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the National Italian American Foundation, and the Republic of Italy agreed to fund the reinstatement of the AP Italian Program, effective in the fall of 2011. Additional support was provided by Order Sons of Italy in America, UNICO, the National Organization of Italian American Women, American Association of Teachers of Italian, the Coccia Foundation, and individual donors.
Also in 2011, the ILF announced the establishment of the Dante Awards for Excellence for eligible students who score well on the AP Italian exam: $75, $100, and $200 for those who score three, four, or five, respectively.
In May 2015, as a result of the ILF’s support and advocacy, 2,573 students took the AP Italian exam, exceeding The College Board’s goal and expectations of 2,500 students.
Students of AP Italian may apply for the awards on the ILF’s website, www.ilf.org.
In addition to the Dante Awards, the ILF offers free professional development workshops for teachers of Italian to prepare them to teach AP Italian. Workshops are free to teachers who are ILF members.
“It has been a privilege for me to work with Margaret, our major partners, and the hundreds of individual donors who have helped keep advanced studies of Italian alive in the United States and throughout the world,” Mr. Tallarini said. “Challenges remain, and so we ask for the continued support of organizations and individuals to help us fund the Dante Awards, which have helped swell the ranks of students interested in this richly rewarding subject.”
CONTACT: Andrew Decker, 212 222 4688, decker06@gmail.com
SOURCE Italian Language Foundation