Barbantinis Establish Family Scholarship to Support Students of Italian Language

The love for family, for teaching, and for Dominican were abiding truths in the lives of Liduina and Constance Barbantini. The sisters—both lifelong educators teaching in Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges for much of their careers—had a passion for the Italian language and sharing their gifts. This lifelong dedication inspired them, through their trusts, to establish the Barbantini Family Scholarship to support students interested in studying the Italian language.

Liduina was born in Ligonchio Reggio Emila, Italy. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Chicago where Connie was born. Connie graduated from Rosary College in 1952 as Rosary’s first Italian major. Liduina majored in education at Mundelein College, graduating in 1950. Both women received master’s degrees from Northwestern in 1955. Connie returned to alma mater, Rosary, to teach Italian in the early ’70s. She later taught in the City Colleges, where she spent the remainder of her career teaching Italian. Liduina’s 34-year career included teaching at Chopin Elementary for 25 years, where she retired as its assistant principal.

In its first year the Barbantini Family Scholarship has enabled four students to study Italian at Dominican. First-year student, Olivia Szpunar, shared that “receiving this scholarship allows me to continue my passion for the Italian language. After traveling to Verona for my high school senior exchange trip, I fell in love with both the language and culture. My goal is to be able to travel to Italy to become an English teacher, and being awarded this scholarship is helping my goal become a reality. Italian is such a beautiful language with a rich culture, and I am enthusiastic to learn it as my third language and someday make it my profession. I cannot stress how grateful I am to have received the Barbantini Family Scholarship, and it will surely help guide my way at Dominican University.”