Purpose:  The Dante Society of Westerly preserves, promotes and fosters the Community’s awareness of the Italian culture and rewards excellence in the study of the Italian language and culture at the Westerly High School.

History: In 1975 a group of people met at Lillian and Walter Ruisi’s home to reinstate The Dante Prize. Formerly, this prize privately funded by Dr. John Ruisi, had been awarded to a student at Westerly High School for excellence in the study of the Italian language.