Lucia Dalla Montà, Francesco Isgrò
Congratulations to Lucia Dalla Montà, Director of the Education Office at the Italian Embassy, who was awarded the Lido Civic Club Appreciation Award in recognition of her contributions in promoting the study of the Italian language in the United States and in reinstating the AP Italian Language and Culture Exam. The award was presented by Lido Civic Club President Francesco Isgro at the Lido Club Annual Scholarship Awards Reception held at the Italian Embassy on June 19, 2014.
Italian Embassy Counselor Michele Pala welcomed the guests on behalf of Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and thanked the Lido Club for not only honoring Dalla Monta but also for its support for the teaching of the Italian language.
Professor Dalla Montà had a distinguished career as an educator and academic before becoming Director of Education at the Italian Embassy four years ago. During her tenure at the Italian Embassy, Prof. Dalla Montà has been a key player in the promotion of the teaching of Italian Language. She has been active with many teachers’ associations and has worked to create a teachers’ community in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond, establishing close relationships with local scholastic authorities.
Isgro noted that Prof. Dalla Montà is an action and results-oriented individual, noting, for example that when she first met with Lido Club representatives who asked her how they could be of help, she immediately came up with concrete ideas. One of them was that the Lido Civic Club provide grants to students in the Washington area who take the AP Language Exam. As a result, this year the Lido Club has donated more than $2,200 to the Casa Italiana Ente Gestore to administer the grants.
At the event, the Lido Civic Club presented the winners of the 2014 scholarship awards. The Lido Club awarded $50,000 in scholarships to seven worthy college students of Italian descent. Special congratulations were extended to Martina Costagliola, twice the recipient of the Lido Club’s Dominic F. Antonelli, Jr. Scholarship.
