The cars may draw the crowd, but the real engine behind Saint Mary’s Dante Club is a group of students determined to keep tradition moving forward.

Founded in 1935, the Dante Club is the oldest club on the Saint Mary’s College campus. Its beginnings trace to students who traveled to Italy and returned with a desire to share the language and culture they had experienced. Nine decades later, that mission remains, though today’s students are finding new ways to bring it to life.

For current president Maddie Strazzeri, the club is about more than celebrating heritage. It is also an opportunity to build community, develop leadership skills and strengthen the relationship between Saint Mary’s and the town that surrounds it.

Despite the college’s deep roots in Moraga, Maddie sees room for students and local residents to connect more often. Her goal is to help close that gap, creating opportunities for students to engage with the community and for Moraga residents to discover more of what the college has to offer.

The club’s annual car show has become an important part of that effort. After returning in 2025, the event drew an enthusiastic crowd and dozens of cars. Its second edition, Viva La Velocità, took place May 3, 2026, bringing the community back to campus for a celebration of cars and Italian culture. The event raises funds for the club while giving students a chance to connect with local businesses and residents in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

For Maddie and her fellow members, the show is also a lesson in making an idea happen: organizing, promoting, problem-solving and working together. The club is already looking ahead, eager to build on the event and continue growing its reach.

Behind the students’ efforts is Maria Grazia De Angelis in the World Languages & Cultures Department, and the club’s faculty advisor since 2000. Her approach is simple but significant: She lets the students lead. Rather than directing every decision, she offers guidance, encouragement and the benefit of decades of experience, allowing members to take ownership of their ideas and see them through.

That balance between mentorship and independence is central to the club’s staying power. Students come and go, but the opportunity to lead, learn and share something meaningful remains.

The Dante Club hosts activities throughout the academic year, from cultural gatherings and film screenings to celebrations that bring Italian traditions into campus life. Its work also reflects a larger truth about Saint Mary’s: the college is not separate from Moraga, but an integral part of it, with students, faculty and programs that can enrich the wider community.

For Maddie, the path forward is not about leaving tradition behind. It is about making it relevant to the next generation, and inviting more people to take part.

The Dante Club has spent 90 years celebrating Italian culture. With students at the wheel and a seasoned guide beside them, its next chapter is already underway.