“Promotion of the Italian language in the US; ITALIAN REGENTS RALLY AND HERITAGE CELEBRATION”

State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), State Senator Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) and representatives from the Westchester Italian Cultural Center and the Sons of Italy announced the restoration of the NYS Italian Regents high school exam at a rally on Thursday. Last week the NYS Senate saved the exam from extinction when it passed the final piece of this year’s budget. Attendees rallied in support of this important achievement and to celebrate Italian culture.

“The Italian Regents exam is a key incentive to high school students in Westchester and across New York State to study Italian and learn about their culture and history. By celebrating and promoting Italian heritage,  we can help keep this beautiful language alive for generations to come. I commend Senator Savino for taking the lead in this important fight,” said State Senator and Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester).

At the event Senators Klein and Savino were joined by numerous other community members and Italian civic and education leaders, including: Tuckahoe Mayor John Fitzpatrick; Ilardi Costa, Director of the Italian American Committee on Education (IACE); the Honorable Francis A. Nicolai, Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Westchester Italian Cultural Center; Robert Ferrito, State Treasurer of the Order Sons of Italy in America; Laura Raffiani, Corresponding Secretary, Order Sons of Italy in America; Dr. Joseph Scelsa, President of the Italian American Museum in New York; and representativehttp://www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/Ambasciata_Washington/Archivio_News/20100813ItalianoRegentsExam.htms from FIAME Federation of Italian American Educators.

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