Teacher of the Year Banquet
2011 8th Annual WisItalia Awards Dinner
By Larry Godding
On May 14, 2011, friends of Italian culture and language gathered at the Concourse Hotel in Madison for WisItalia's 8th Annual Awards Banquet.
Awards went to (left to right):
- Giordana Kaftan - President's Award
- Ralph Annina - Outstanding Service Award
- Simonetta Milli Konewko - Teacher of the Year
- Silvana Bastianutti in Kukuljan - Outstanding Service Award
WisItalia Teacher of the Year
Giovanna Miceli Jeffries introduced Professor Simonetta Milli Konewko, WisItalia's 2011 Teacher of the Year. Professor Milli Konewko was born and educated in Italy. She is an assistant professor in the Department of French and Italian at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has been the recipient of many awards. She gives generously of her time and talent in service to her department and campus, as well as the Milwaukee community at large with her talks, presentations and projects. Professor Milli Konewko has distinguished herself for designing and developing new, innovative courses including Italian Folklore, a course on Pinocchio, and a recent one on Italian American Studies. She also taught the popular course, Italians and the Mafia, for many years.WisItalia President's Award
Giordana Kaftan received the 2011 WisItalia President's Award, presented by Tony Bruno. Giordana was born in Rome. In addition to being a dedicated teacher, and the real motor of the Italian program at Marquette University in Milwuakee, she has worked hard for many years and invested a great deal of energy and good will toward the establishment of a Minor in Italian, which convinced the administration of Marquette to create the interdisciplinary Italian Minor.Oustanding Service Awards
Ralph Annina received one of the Outstanding Service Awards, presented by Al Rolandi. A native of Italy, Ralph has taught Italian for 6 years at Bradford High School. He has taken students to the Chicago Art Institute, to many operas, and brought community members to speak at the school. He organizes after-school and/or Saturday programs for children Kindergarten through 8th grade. Ralph also serves as advisor to the Bradford High School Italian Club. Two of the club's most active members, Maria Patrizzi and Dominic Savaglio, were present at the banquet. Maria commented on the nomination form, "Signor Annina…truly has a love for the Italian language and the Italian culture…He makes the classroom atmosphere welcoming and fun…[and] teaches his students through songs, projects, conversations, and educational games; not through books, tests quizzes and worksheets alone."
The other Outstanding Service Award was presented by Rita Prigioni to Silvana Bastianutti in Kukuljan. Silvana has been teaching Italian to older adults for the last 14 years. Born in Fiume, Italy, and raised in Camogli, near Genova, Silvana emigrated to the USA at the age of 16 and settled in the Milwaukee area. Silvana taught elementary education in the Milwaukee Public Schools for 27 years, and loved teaching the 5th and 6th grades. For the last 14 years she has taught Italian at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Osher Lifelong Institute, a program for people 50 years and older. She inspires a passion for the language and a love of the culture. Her weekly classes include readings, lectures, films, visits from other native Italian guests and speakers, trips and outside activities regarding Italy. Currently, the class is busy working on a recipe book, which they intend to publish.Entertainment
Brian Jordan provided delightful entertainment as participants arrived for the cocktail reception. Brian is a multi-lingual jazz vocalist and guitarist and an Italian-American graduate of the UW-Madison Italian program. His most recent CD, Songs for Grandpa, features ten enchanting tracks. Find it at www.brianjordanmusic.net (exit WisItalia)The Italian Folk Dancers of Madison provided a lively and colorful conclusion to the evening. They presented several traditional dances and even invited audience participation for the final selection.
Grazie mille to Brian and the dancers for sharing their interpretations of Italian culture!
Online Web Album of Event
View the online web album. Photos by Ross DePaola and Rita Prigioni. Special thanks to Al Rolandi, Master of Ceremonies for the program. Among the illustrious guests was Larry Baldassaro, author of Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball. You can learn more about this recently published book at the Italian Book Corner page.Past WisItalia Award Recipients
2010- Teacher of the Year: Joanna Stenson - Kenosha Schools
- President's Award: Vincent F. Ruffolo, Kenosha
- Outstanding Service Award: Rita Prigioni, Madison
- Teacher of the Year: Enrica Tarantino-Woytal - Italian Community Center, Milwaukee
- President's Award: Joseph Mangi, Kenosha
- Outstanding Service Award: Peter Barca, Kenosha
- Outstanding Service Award: Al Rolandi, Milwaukee
- Teacher of the Year Award: Pellegrina (Rina) Pignone-DeBartolo - Tremper High School, Kenosha
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Christopher Kleinhenz, Madison
- Teacher of the Year: Elizabeth Mitchell, Ph.D. - Trinity Academy High School, Pewaukee
- Teacher of the Year: Ralph Annina - Bradford High School, Kenosha
- Teacher of the Year: Alison Daneka Ferrentino - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Teacher of the Year: Giovanna Miceli Jeffries, Ph.D. - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Updated May 31, 2011
