This is an archived UW-P news item,
originally posted: 4/6/2009.
Celebrate Italy at Celebrazione Italiana April 19
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside salutes all things Italian during the fifth annual Celebrazione Italiana. This evening of fine dining and celebration is Sunday, April 19, in Main Place of Wyllie Hall, 900 Wood Rd., Kenosha.
Festivities begin with a social at 4 p.m. followed by a sumptuous Italian dinner at 5:30. At 6:30, distinguished guests Michael Falbo and John Antaramian are honored.
Falbo receives the 2009 UW-Parkside Lifetime Recognition Award. He is past president of the UW-Parkside Foundation and is currently a Regent of the University of Wisconsin System. Falbo led the expansion of the State Financial Services Corporation from a single bank branch in Hales Corner to a $1.5 billion company serving Wisconsin and Illinois. He currently serves as chair of Associated Community Development an affiliate of Associated Banc-Corp which acquired State Financial Services in 2005. Falbo serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations including the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center Advisory Board, YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Museum. Along with his family, Falbo has been a long time supporter of the Italian-American community.
Antaramian will receive the 2009 UW-Parkside Excellence in Leadership Award. He served as the Wisconsin legislature's 65th Assembly District Representative for 10 years before being elected mayor of Kenosha in 1992. He served in that post for 16 years and was instrumental in strengthening the sister city relationship between Cosenza, Italy, and Kenosha and in the construction of Consenza Plaza. He is the founder and principal of Emerging Communities Corporation and he serves as a visiting professor of government in the Political Science Department of Carthage College.
Both honorees are UW-Parkside graduates.
Celebrazione Italiana also showcases the university's Italian exchange program and the students and faculty who participate in the program. This year's silent auction theme is "Italian Food & Art." Music is provided by UW-Parkside student musicians and vocalists.
UW-Parkside Professor and event organizer Dr. Carmel Ruffolo said the Celebrazione Italiana "gets better and grows in importance every year. Of course, the dinner and the opportunity to honor outstanding community leaders are wonderful but the most important thing about this event is it supports our ongoing student/faculty exchanges with the Universita della Calabria and UW-Parkside's Italian cultural programs."
Ruffolo thanked the program's major sponsors CNH (Case New Holland), a Fiat Group Company; and Associated Bank along with long-time sponsor Turano Baking for their support of the university and its students. Please visit www.uwp.edu/sws/celebrazione.italiana the event's official website.
Tickets for Celebrazione Italiana can be reserved by calling 262-595-2443.
Publish date: 4/6/2009
