News - April 13, 2010

It’s all about you: SUF announces schedule of spring 2010 end-of-semester celebration

SUF continues the tradition of the end-of-the-semester celebration with “It’s all about you,” a series of campus-wide events combining various awards and activities to celebrate student achievements during the semester.

The celebration will begin Thursday, April 15 with the Student Art Show, offering a selection of artwork from the various disciplines in Studio Arts, located on Piazzale Donatello. Host families are invited and a small reception will be offered. STA faculty will also announce the winner of the second SUF Purchase Prize Award, a prestigious award in which one work from the exhibition will be bought by SUF and remain on campus, forming part of the SUF art collection.

Wednesday, April 21 the celebration continues, with the presence of—and awards to—a group of Italian elementary schoolchildren, the winners of the third SUF-sponsored Dr. Seuss Creativity Contest. Following the awards, refreshments will be offered to all in the garden of the Villa Rossa.
 
The celebration’s highlight, the Academic Excellence Awards, will take place on Thursday, April 22 at the Villa Rossa. Awards will be presented to the selected Outstanding Students for the Volunteer Program, Lettore per un Giorno, Option II and III Programs, the Internship Program, and the Coluccci Salutati Prize. Dinner in the garden will follow, with music by DJ Gelso and dancing under the stars.
 
SUF’s School of Architecture will showcase students’ on work Tuesday, April 27 in the architecture studios. Wrapping up the celebrations on Wednesday, April 28, I Giuliari di Syracuse, the widely popular theater group made up of SUF students and led by Prof. Eric Nicholson, will present “Romeo & Julietta” in the Annex garden, followed by a light reception.

Says SUF Interim Director Michael Calo, “ ‘It’s All About You’ promises to be a memorable event, putting the focus right where it belongs: on the students and their accomplishments during their time here at SUF.”

SUF’s got talent

What do Shakespeare, guitars, gluttony, and sassy gay friends have in common? All played an important part in the effervescent spring 2010 SUF Talent Show.

On Tuesday, 6 April, Room 13 of the Villa Rossa was a hot spot of music and theater. The SUF Talent Show was a resounding success, thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of Beth De Felici, who organized the event with the help of student and faculty volunteers, Jim Kauffman, the charismatic MC, and, of course, the courageous and talented performers.

Professor Eric Nicholson, wearing a charming blonde wig, gave us Helena's speech from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ashley Juavinett, who also helped organize the show, sang “Simple Things”—a song of her own composition—and accompanied herself on the guitar. Doug Helman's stunning performance of an operatic aria made the floorboards vibrate. The American and Italian members of Spazio Conversazione sang “Azzurro,” a lively Italian song, conducted with panache by Donatella Sommati. Abigail Hansen sang "Wet Sand" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and played the piano with great skill and energy.

Jackie Evangelisti and Patrick Davis offered something completely different—shall we call it performance art? —called “Gluttony.” Dressed in togas, they awed the crowd by attempting to eat a kilo of pasta each in five minutes. Neither of them actually licked the plate clean, but it was defeat with honor to roaring applause.

SUF's Interim Director, Michael "The Man, The Legend" Calo, sang a beautiful sad Italian song called “Il Poeta” and accompanied himself on the guitar. Katie Strube amazed us with her clear soprano voice as she sang an aria from The Phantom of the Opera. Sarah Moore sang a song of her own composition about falling in love in Italy and played a mean guitar. The name of Sarah’s innamorato? Pesto. Finally The Graduates thrilled us with the “Living Masterpieces Pageant”: before our very eyes, Savonarola burned the vanities, Michelangelo chipped away at the David, and Florentine history unfolded much more smoothly than it did in reality, due to the timely inventions of helpful and interesting friends. A gay time was had by all.

The audience then voted for the three winners, who were announced to deafening applause. Third place went to Doug Helman (La Scala, here he comes!). The second prize went to Ashley Juavinett, who clearly has a great career before her as a singer, song-writer, and guitarist. And first place went to Sarah Moore, that musical pesto-lover, for singing and playing with such gusto. Complimenti a tutti!