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Mr. Joseph Coccia was committed to promoting a positive image of his Italian heritage and culture and the accomplishments of Italian Americans. Through the Coccia Foundation, Mr. Coccia and his wife, Elda, established student Italian clubs at several colleges and universities, supported Italian study abroad programs and funded cultural programs. The Coccia Foundation currently has seven sponsored scholarships. At Montclair State University, the Coccias established an institute to promote an understanding of the links between Italy and America and to foster interest in Italian and Italian-American fields of study.
For these and other contributions to Italian culture, Mr. Coccia was knighted as a Cavaliere in 1976. This honor is bestowed by the Republic of Italy for “merit acquired by the nation in the fields of literature, the arts, economy, public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities.”
One of the programs Mr. Coccia supported during his lifetime was the Italian Club at Ramapo College. “He came to all of our lectures and often provided matching funds so that students could attend the opera,” said Rosetta D’Angelo, professor of Italian. “He often came to the Italian conversation hour, held every Monday afternoon, and he spent a lot of time with our students. The students loved him.”
As a member of UNICO, an organization that promotes Italian culture, education and the accomplishments of Italian-Americans, the Coccias met the members of the Inserra family. When Lawrence Inserra was knighted as a Cavaliere, it was Mr. Coccia who had the honor of pinning him.
“That is when their relationship started to grow,” said Elisa Coccia, Joseph and Elda’s daughter. Elisa is president of the Coccia Foundation and serves on the Coccia Foundation board with Lawrence Inserra’s son, Larry Inserra. “Now Larry and I are following in their footsteps, carrying on the tradition our fathers started,” she said.
This scholarship is named for Theresa Inserra, Larry’s mother, who passed away in 2009.
James Pisacane of Oakland, N.J. is a Political Science major with an Italian Studies minor. He has a 3.7 GPA.
At Ramapo, he has been active in several organizations and activities including the Republican Club and the Italian Language Hour, where he has introduced special guests and helped advertise events.
James has also been involved in off-campus activities and organizations, including the Shirley Maia-Cusick for Senate Campaign, and he has been an Assistant Manager at the Mahwah PrimoHoagies for four years.
At Ramapo, James has been chosen as a SCUSA 75 delegate, and he hopes to continue his political science career by joining the Political Science Honor Society.
Ruth Flynn of Hillsdale, N.J. is a Social Work major with a minor in Italian Studies. She has a 3.4 GPA.
At Ramapo, she has been active in several organizations including the Italian Club. She is a part of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and she received her Global Seal of Biliteracy in Italian her senior year of high school.
Ruth hopes to use her language skills as a social worker after graduation and to possibly work as a social worker internationally or at embassies. While Italian is her favorite language to speak, she loves learning new languages and is currently studying German and Arabic.
James Pisacane of Oakland, N.J. is a Political Science major with a minor in Italian. He has a GPA of 3.7 and has made the Dean’s List for the 2023-2024 Fall semester.
At Ramapo, James has been active in the Ramapo College Republicans.
Off-campus, he has also been involved in the Shirley Maia-Cusick campaign for Senate and is an assistant manager at PrimoHoagies.
Amanda Shammas of Old Bridge N.J. is a Psychology major with a minor in Italian. She has a 3.5 GPA and has made Dean’s List multiple semesters at Ramapo.
At Ramapo, Amanda has been active in several organizations including Sophomores Advancing in Leadership (S.A.I.L.) and Sigma Delta Tau Sorority. She has held multiple leadership positions including historian and social chair of her sorority.
Amanda spends her time off-campus babysitting and caring for children. She is passionate about her community and is a member of the Community Emergency Response Team for Old Bridge.
“I hope to pursue a career with the U.S. government and later, the United Nations. I wish to aid others in the preservation of their cultures as my family has taught me,” says James Lafaso.
James is a History major with a minor in Italian.
Anna Romitelli of Franklin Lakes, N.J. is an International Business major, minoring in Italian Studies with a concentration in Finance. She has a cumulative 3.67 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List for multiple semesters.
At Ramapo, Anna Romitelli has been active in the Italian Club as the next President and Roadrunner Financial Group (RFG) as a returning active member.
She has also volunteered for Appalachia Service Project, a service organization rebuilding homes for families in the Appalachian area every summer, and works part-time at Bloomingdale Animal Hospital, a local animal hospital.
“I am proud to been one of the few general body members in Ramapo’s Roadrunner Financial Group to pitch a stock that was bought for the portfolio. Being able to focus on school, working part-time, working out at Ramapo’s gym, and having time for others has presented itself as a challenge daily, but overcoming that has been a great accomplishment through my eyes. After graduating, I plan to enter the workforce, be fluent in Italian, and move to Italy for work!”
Julia Sassano of Wyckoff, N.J. is a Marketing major with an Italian minor. She has a 3.5 GPA and has made the Dean’s List several times.
She is an active member of Sigma Delta Tau, Italian Club, and Relay for Life. Within her sorority, she has served as Executive VP on the executive board and Apparel Coordinator on the general board.
Julia is also in the process of launching her own clothing store.
Isabella Testa of Denville, N.J. is a Business Administration major with a focus in Marketing and a double minor in Italian and Civic and Community Leadership. She has a 3.7 GPA and is on the Dean’s List.
On campus, she is the president and marketing chair of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity on campus. She is also Vice President of Public Relations for the Professional Fraternity Council, and a member of the Italian and Women in Business clubs.
Off campus, she has a full-time job as a sales manager.
Kimberly Lauro of Middletown, NJ is a Literature Major with a Minor in Italian. She has a 3.5 grade point average. She achieved a rank on the Dean’s List for the Fall 2014 semester.
At Ramapo, Kimberly is an active member in the Ramapo Italian Club.
Kimberly has also been in involved in off campus activities and participates in volunteer activities alongside her sister who works for the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey.
Angela La Rosa is passionate about Italian and her Italian heritage,” said Rosetta D’Angelo, professor of Italian. Angela is pursuing a Liberal Studies contract major in Italian as well as a minor in Italian. “Angela wants to be a teacher of Italian and is active in the Italian Club,” D’Angelo added. She is a sophomore who has earned a 3.02 grade point average.
Gianna Casola is a History major who is minoring in Italian, and is vice president of the Italian Club. Gianna is a senior who has earned a 3.86 grade point average. “Gianna wants to work in Italy in a field related to international law,” said Italian Professor Rosetta D’Angelo. Gianna is from Holmdel, NJ.
Kendall Peterson is president of the Italian Club and is pursuing courses toward a minor in Italian. The senior is majoring in International Studies and is taking a second minor in Anthropology. Kendall studied abroad in Italy and is planning to work in business in Italy. Her grade point average is 3.45.
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