By Connie Frydenlund
A recent reception in the courtyard of the Alliance Francaise de Chicago celebrated the 100th and 101st lauréats of the Alliance Francaise de Chicago McCormick Awards for Excellence Scholarship. The scholarship was created in 1968 as a memorial to Roger McCormick, former president of the Chicago Alliance, Chicago businessman, and avid Francophile. This remarkable memorial has provided scholarships for 57 years.
(L-R) Drew Barnes and Jack Ennis
This year’s lauréats are Drew Barnes of Providence Catholic High School and Jack Ennis who graduated from St. Ignatius. Drew will be attending the University of Tampa in the fall and Jack will be going to Yale. Each presented a short speech in French sharing his expectations and plans for his time in France and the development of his interest and passion for France.
Eight alumni representing scholarship recipients from 1987 to 2024 recounted their experiences and advised new recipients on how best to profit from their stay. They shared their views on the impact this international experience at such a young age had on their lives. Reception guests included teachers, parents, members of the Board of the Alliance Francaise, members of the AF Women’s Board, the McCormick Scholarship Committee and supporters of the program.
 NAMES L-R: Bridget Mickus Baumstark ‘87, Matthew Griffin ‘99, Julia Luscombe ‘06, Michael Ross ‘09, Luke Etienne ‘23, Guadalupe Vazquez ‘23, Connie Frydenlund, AF McCormick Scholarship Committee, Chair, Aldo Magaña ‘24, Gabija Fedaravicius ‘24. |
L-R: Conery Hoffman, Director of Special Programs, Mary Ellen Connellan, Executive Director, Alliance Française de Chicago Guadalupe Vazquez ‘23, Connie Frydenlund, AF McCormick Scholarship Committee, Chair, Aldo Magaña ‘24, Gabija Fedaravicius ‘24. |
Catherine Mouly, Member, AF Board of Directors, Connie Frydenlund, AF McCormick Scholarship Committee, Chair, Member, AF Board of Directors
The McCormick scholars attend the Sorbonne Cours de Langue et de Civilisation in Paris for the month of July. Our students live at the Foyer International des Etudiantes on the Boulevard Saint Michel. They commit to speaking nothing but French from the time they arrive in Paris, even between themselves.
Scholarship recipients undergo a stringent selection process. Beginning with the scores on the American Teachers of French spring exam—the Grand Concours—the committee reviews the top scorers in the greater Chicago area. In discussions with high school teachers, we assure that the students are graduating seniors, at least 18 years old and do not have a French parent. The top six prepare essays in French describing themselves and their interest in French language, literature and culture. They are then invited into the Alliance for interviews in French by the McCormick Committee which is composed of Alliance Board members, teachers and alumni of the program. All students interviewed have achieved a level of “excellence” in French and the selection process seeks to choose the students who will benefit most from the experience.
In our weekly letters in French from Drew and Jack, we follow their experiences. One of their first visits was to the newly opened Notre Dame. Farther afield, they have visited Reims and Giverny. We also have a What’s App account where we correspond often. We follow their activities. They share pictures and their thoughts on their experiences. They have been able to meet French families and students. « Diner avec une famille française est toujours utile, car je vois comment ils communiquent dans un cadre familial.’ [Dining with a French family is always useful, because I see how they communicate in a family setting.] « …c’était tellement chouette pouvoir sortir avec des français qui étaient a peu pres de notre age. » [..it was so great to be able to go out with French students of about our age]
In describing Monet’s house in Giverny: “C’était incroyable. Je m’attendais à un musée, alors j’ai été surpris de voir sa propre maison décorée avec ses œuvres, sans vitrines ni barrières. » [It was incredible. I expected a museum, so I was surprised to see his own house decorated with his works, without glass cases or barriers.] Upon their return from Giverny, they visited l’Orangerie to see the Nymphéas.
The students have benefited from their intensive language studies. “Dans le cours de grammaire, nous écrivons beaucoup et mes compétences écrites sont plus solides » [we write a lot and my writing skills are becoming stronger.] They report that their coursework, their interactions with French people and their adherence to our policy of only speaking in French have enabled them to start thinking in French—a true milestone.
Upon their return home, Jack and Drew will submit essays describing their stay in Paris and their thoughts and impressions. During their last week, this year for the first time, we are asking them to record short videos of their thoughts on leaving Paris — the first entry in our McCormick Scholarship oral history.
We share their communications with the Chicago Alliance Board members and others interested in the program. This way we all relive our own experiences and make note of changing trends and new developments in France keeping France alive for us all.
The McCormick Scholarship is an integral part of the outreach program of the Alliance Francaise de Chicago. Etoile Scholars, the other major outreach program, works with a group of Chicago public schools, holding after school language classes at the Alliance for high school students.
