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 family hosted by the Lodge. The students also have an opportunity to thank everyone for the honor. To date the Lodge has honored nearly 40 students.

Three students were honored on Jan. 24 and each gave their speech in Italian first and then in English. The students were Jack Guarnier from Tappan Zee Middle School, Jennifer Peraza of Tappan Zee High School and Sara Ferraro of Clarkstown South High School. Their Italian Language teachers introduced each student and detailed the outstanding backgrounds of each who seemed to be involved in multiple events and activities in their schools and in the community.