The Società Onoraria Italica is a school organization sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Italian.
The purpose of this program is to give recognition to achievements in Italian as well as to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Italian culture and civilization. The purpose of the SOI is to stimulate interest in the study of the Italian language and to promote the love and appreciation for Italian culture.
The members in National Italian Honor Society meet on a regular basis and discuss cultural topics, arrange meetings with guest speakers, watch Italian movies, listen to Italian music and organize study trips and cultural exchanges with local schools. They also plan a community project that involves initiatives of solidarity in the surrounding area. At the end of the school year, the members in the SOI organize and participate in an induction ceremony.
The chapter at Naples Middle High is dedicated to Antonio de Curtis, aka Totò. The SOI at NMHS intends to celebrate this icon of Italian comedy for several reasons: he is one of the most important symbols of Naples, its language and culture; his wit is appreciated by diverse generations; he was known as a very generous man; he made up new funny language expressions that have become part of the Italian dictionary.
The SOI at Naples intends to celebrate the Neapolitan culture and to celebrate the joy of living the Italian lifestyle and build positive, enriching bonds with the local community.
