History

For over a hundred years, the Alumni PoliTo Association has been the community of those who have studied, taught, or conducted research at Politecnico di Torino.

Annuario

Annuario

Foto d'archivio

Foto d'archivio

Tessera d'iscrizione all'Associazione

Tessera d'iscrizione all'Associazione
Associazione amichevole fra gli ingegneri

Associazione amichevole fra gli ingegneri

The Association was founded in 1908 under the name Associazione Amichevole tra gli Ingegneri ex Allievi del Politecnico.

 

That year, a group of colleagues gathered in Turin to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their graduation in 1872, unanimously decided to establish the Friendly Association, inviting all other alumni to join. It is important to remember the names of the founding members, who notably represented many regions of Italy: Salvatore Artom, Alessandro Bianchi, Luigi Bologna, Angelo Bottiglia, Francesco Cantoni, Siro Colombani, Carlo Gallarini, Ernesto Ghiotti, Alberto Girola, Angelo Lambert, Oreste Lattes, Gaetano Manzi, Giuseppe Morelli, Ermenegildo Perini, Ernesto Mossi, Risbaldo Nuvoli, Francesco Sburlati, Francesco Serena, Leopoldo Signorini, and Luigi Zunino.

In his speech at the 1st National Congress of the “Valentinians” (as PoliTo Alumi Association were called at the time), held in Turin in September 1911 during the International Exhibition for the 50th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy in the presence of King Vittorio Emanuele III, Engineer Oreste Lattes of Rome, then serving as President, recalled with satisfaction:

“About three years ago, about twenty friends living in different cities, who met in Turin to celebrate the now distant graduation in Engineering, welcomed the proposal of one of them aimed at strengthening the ties that unite those who studied at the same School. The idea was not new, as similar associations had flourished abroad for years and a sister society at the Polytechnic of Milan had already preceded us. The proposal was immediately welcomed, perhaps because of the sentimental note that always resonates despite apparent skepticism. It is almost unnecessary to define the purpose of the Association; it was, so to speak, intuited; and the call of the promoters was answered with youthful enthusiasm and encouraging applause by old and young, far and near, who felt, by joining, they were reliving the best years spent at Valentino. And thus the Friendly Association was founded.”

High membership rate and national spread

 

Data from 1911 show that the number of members was equal to 30% of graduates, a very high value comparable to that of alumni associations of the most prestigious technical universities abroad, where the spirit of belonging remains strong, helped by greater specialization and fewer students.

From the same 1911 source, it is noted that, except for Benevento (which had only two graduates), every Italian province had at least one Association member, for a total of 1,469.

Twenty Years of Congresses

 

The Association’s activities continued over the years according to Article VI of the Statute, which mandates organizing a National Congress of alumni at intervals no longer than five years.

  • The 1st Congress took place in 1911, from September 25 to 27.
  • The 2nd Congress was held in 1914, from May 31 to June 2, when a commemorative plaque marking the School’s 50th anniversary was placed at Valentino Castle, donated by the Association.
  • After a forced pause during World War I, the 3rd Congress was held on April 22, 1922, in Turin, coinciding with the Congress of the National Association of Italian Engineers.
  • The 4th Congress took place during the 1928 Turin International Exhibition, on October 6.
  • The 5th Congress of the “Valentiniani” was held in Turin on May 23, 1931.

During these years, the Association also maintained its commitment to regularly publishing the Graduates’ Yearbook, with the last preserved editions dated 1930 and 1933. Unfortunately, no documentation exists after 1933.

It is likely that during this period, the Association faced restrictions imposed on non-fascist organizations following the 1930s, when engineers were grouped into the Fascist National Syndicate. This period extended throughout World War II and the immediate post-war years. However, the Association remained active thanks to the efforts of Engineer Carlo Andreoni (President), Senator Engineer Tournon, and Professor Albenga.

The identity strengthens

 

After World War II, exactly in 1951, the Association was re-established thanks to a group of alumni.
The revitalization was led by engineer Aristide Micco, elected President, and engineer Vittorio De Bernochi.
The Association took on a new name: “Association of Engineers and Architects of Castello del Valentino – Former Students of the Politecnico.”
In 1959, the Association actively collaborated with the Politecnico, whose Rector at the time was engineer Antonio Capetti, for the centenary celebrations of the School, assisting in the printing and distribution of the History of the Politecnico di Torino by the then Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Professor Giuseppe Maria Pugno.

Culture, Collaborations, and Excellence Awards

 

In 1963, on the occasion of the Baroque Exhibition, the Association promoted a Piedmontese Baroque Study Center at the Stupinigi Hunting Lodge. In the following years, the Association maintained constant collaboration with the Politecnico: the first graduation awards were established, including the Andreoni and d’Ovidio awards, initiated by Dr. Maretta Andreoni, as well as the Vallauri award, which is still active today.

Anna Maria Cornaglia: the first woman leader of the Association

 

In 1986, engineer Aristide Micco resigned after 37 years as president.
The new Board of Directors elected engineer Anna Maria Cornaglia as the Association’s President.

Engineer Micco was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit for School, Culture, and Art by the President of the Republic. The diploma was presented by the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Stragiotti, during the inauguration ceremony of the 1986-87 academic year, with the following citation:

“Engineer Micco is recognized for his meritorious service as President of the Association of Engineers and Architects Castello del Valentino — which he founded, an association highly esteemed for promoting scholarships to Polytechnic graduates and scientific awards, including the Modesto Panetti Prize and the Eligio Perucca Prize. He also deserves credit for promoting, on the occasion of the university’s centenary, the publication and oversight of the printing of the volume History of the Polytechnic of Turin by G.M. Pugno.”

Agreements and Leadership

 

In 1996, an agreement was signed between the Politecnico and the Association, cementing a long-standing partnership, by President Guido Bonicelli and Rector Rodolfo Zich.

Three years later, the Association adopted its current name. In the following years, there was a significant increase in membership and participation in activities, especially at the Annual Meeting.

From 1999 to 2010, Engineer Giuseppe Tomaselli served as President, followed by Engineer Maurizio Scanavino for the subsequent three-year term.