[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 8, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION BUILDS AMERICAN LEADERS

                                 ______


                             HON. TOBY ROTH

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 1996

  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, on May 2, I had the privilege of attending the 
Eighth Annual National Education and Leadership Awards Gala, sponsored 
by the Sons of Italy Foundation at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium.
  Over the years this ceremony has grown in prestige, a result of the 
leaders it has honored and the cause it has served. Among its honorees 
have been the late Sil Conte, a friend to many of us in Congress; 
Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the most incisive judicial minds we've 
had on the High Court in my memory; and Louis J. Freeh, who is building 
on the tradition of professionalism at the FBI.
  This year's honorees follow in that line of great American leaders. 
Alfred Checchi, the cochairman of Northwest Airlines, is known as an 
executive who combines a good head for financial analysis with a 
heartfelt commitment to the well-being of his employees and the 
communities that Northwest serves.
  Al's management talents have succeeded in restoring the luster of a 
great American airline. For 6 years, Northwest has been rated first in 
on-time performance and has had the fewest customer complaints of the 
seven largest airlines. These performance records are a tribute to Al's 
ability to motivate those who work with him.
  Joe Paterno is one of the greatest coaches in the history of 
football. At Penn State, he has compiled a record of 278 wins, 
72 losses, and 3 ties--which makes him the winningest active coach in 
the collegiate ranks. But he is also a coach whose concern for his 
players extends beyond their careers on the gridiron. He urges them to 
learn art, literature, and music, and to bring their knowledge and 
values to the families they raise and the communities they serve.

  Both honorees provide excellent role models for this year's 12 
winners of the National Leadership Grant Competition. What impressed me 
about these young people is that they drew so much strength from their 
families and communities.
  There's no doubt in my mind that America will continue to flourish 
and prosper in the 21st century. It will do so because great American 
institutions like the Sons of Italy will help strengthen the bonds that 
hold us together as a society by building on a heritage of close 
families and strong communities.
  The Sons of Italy Foundation knows full well that the key to 
providing thoughtful leadership in America is to provide its sons and 
daughters with good educations. This year, more than $60,000 worth of 
scholarships were awarded to outstanding college-bound graduating high 
school students and full-time students in undergraduate, graduate, and 
professional programs. Since 1968, more than $21 million in 
scholarships have been handed out by the Sons of Italy at the national, 
State, and local levels.
  Among those who should be congratulated for this fine program are 
Joseph E. Antonini, who chaired this year's National Education and 
Leadership Awards Gala, and Paul S. Polo, Sr. and Valentino Ciullo, 
chairman and president respectively, of the Sons of Italy Foundation. I 
commend their efforts to recognize the outstanding Italian-American 
leaders of today and to support the outstanding Italian-American 
leaders of the future.

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