Newman Students Win French Contests

[FULL STORY]

Several Newman students were awarded prizes in two different competitions sponsored by the Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans (AFNO) and the Council of French Societies this month. The students, who participated in a photography and an oratory contest, were honored at a special reception at the Historic New Orleans Collection’s Williams Research Center on the evening of November 13.

 

The photography contest was entitled “Ma Louisiane: What Makes Louisiana French?” The contestants were asked to submit photographs of the local life, towns, architecture, or cuisine of Louisiana that highlight the state’s French heritage. Newman students Erin Reily ’14, Jessica George ’14, Michael McAlpine ’15, and Taylor Bush ’15 submitted photos for the contest. The subjects ranged from a Côté Sud kitchen worker, to street performers, to French Quarter landmarks. We are happy to say that Erin Reily won the grand prize, Michael McAlpine was awarded 3rd place, and Taylor Bush came in 4th in the competition.

 

The Council of French Societies also held a French Oratory competition. Contestants were asked to recite, in French, a memorized selection and answer a few questions for the judges. Rebecca Fisher ’13 chose to recite a section from Sous la Burqua, a French documentary about the outlawing of burkas in France. Her selection involved part of the documentary where veiled women were interviewed before the law was passed. She went on to win the grand prize for non-immersion students. The council of French Societies may even ask her to appear at French cultural events throughout the next year.

 

Please join us in congratulating our contest winners, and look through the slideshow to see the winners and some of their photographic work. Newman’s World Language and Photography programs, and the students enrolled in them, help reinforce the School’s reputation for academic and artistic excellence.