Yesterday at the Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at New York University, the special issue of ilNewyorkese titled “School of Record” was presented. The edition was entirely conceived and produced by students from La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi.
The project began with a simple idea: for more than a month, the newspaper’s editorial team stepped aside and gave students full responsibility for the publication, turning the editorial process into a real educational experience. The students worked as a true newsroom – holding editorial meetings, choosing topics, assigning articles, conducting interviews, and reviewing content until the final issue was completed.
The event opened with remarks by Stefano Albertini, director of Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, who highlighted the importance of initiatives that bring together schools, universities, and the Italian community in the United States. Institutional greetings followed from Giuseppe Pastorelli, Consul General of Italy in New York, and Silvana Mangione, Vice Secretary General of the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE).
The discussion was moderated by Davide Ippolito, founder of ilNewyorkese, who explained the origins of the project. The goal, he said, was to “step aside” and allow students to tell the story of their own generation and their relationship with Italian identity in New York.
Among the speakers were Anthony Martire, Head of School at La Scuola d’Italia; Cristiana Mancini, Foreign Affairs editor at SkyTG24; and Bilena Settepani, Brooklyn-based entrepreneur and pastry chef and a former student of the school.
A central part of the event was dedicated to the students themselves, who described the work behind the scenes of the special issue – from preparing interviews with prominent figures in journalism and public life to dividing editorial responsibilities and selecting the topics to cover. Interviews published in the issue include conversations with journalist Federico Rampini, Congressman Christian Di Sanzo, and several leaders of the Italian American community.
During the evening, many of the students involved in the project took the stage, including representatives from both the middle school and high school. They shared their experiences working on the issue and asked questions of the guest speakers.
The event also featured a presentation on the educational model of La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi, the only school in New York offering both the Italian high school diploma and the International Baccalaureate. The bilingual and bicultural program prepares students for admission to leading universities in both the United States and Europe.
One of the most engaging moments of the evening came when the winning student-designed mascot was announced by the Consul General, who also agreed to be interviewed on stage by two high school students.
The final part of the event included remarks from students participating in the Building Future Leaders project and from alumnus Mattia Scarpa, now a student at Bocconi University, who was also interviewed for the special issue.
The evening concluded with remarks by Professor Cristiana Grassi, the project coordinator, who emphasized the educational value of the initiative and the collaborative work carried out with the school’s teachers. During the closing greetings, Chiara Basso also introduced a new educational initiative dedicated to extracurricular activities, launching the programs “Casa dei Piccoli” and “Casa dei Ragazzi.”
“School of Record” represents a meeting point between academic education and cultural production, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with journalism and the dynamics of international communication.
The special issue tells the story of the identity, aspirations, and experiences of a generation growing up between two educational systems and two cultures – Italian and American – and finding in New York one of the most natural places where those worlds come together.
