KU French Club receives French government award


LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of French, Francophone & Italian Studies and the School of Languages, Literatures & Culture have announced that the KU French Club took a second-place France on Campus Award.

The award is given annually to U.S. university student organizations that promote French language and culture through engaging campus events and introduce French culture to new audiences. The award is issued by the cultural counselor of the French Embassy in the United States. The second-place award carries a cash prize of $1,000, which will bolster the KU French Club’s annual budget and allow it to host more events to promote French language and culture at KU.

“This is certainly a big deal,” says Bruce Hayes, department chair. “The French government only makes a handful of these awards per year as part of a national competition. Looking at previous winners, KU is certainly in good company. Furthermore, this will allow our French Club to put on a great community outreach event in the spring and further strengthen KU’s ties with the French Embassy.”

The KU French Club is an undergraduate, student-led organization that promotes the KU French & Francophone studies program to students through diverse on- and off-campus events. Olivia Shaffer, a senior from Lee's Summit, Missouri, who is majoring in global & international studies and women, gender & sexuality studies and minoring in French, serves as the club president. Professor Christine Bourgeois, director of undergraduate studies in French, serves as the faculty adviser.

The KU Department of French, Francophone & Italian Studies is part of the KU School of Languages, Literatures & Cultures. The department offers degree tracks in both French and Italian.

Tue, 11/26/2019

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Christian Beer

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Christian Beer

School of Languages, Literatures & Cultures

785-864-4803