Scholarships Send Centenary Alumni to Belgium and France

SHREVEPORT, La.—Two Centenary College Alumni were among eight recipients awarded foreign-study scholarships by the La Fondation Louisiane during their annual meeting May 30 in Lafayette.

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Lyles '09 and Anthony Cole Fairchild '04 were awarded the scholarships for study in countries where French is the primary language, and will study abroad during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Lyles, a French and communications major, received the Lois and John Breaux Scholarship to study at the University of Mons in Belgium. Named in honor of former U.S. Senator John Breaux and his wife, Lois, the scholarship is given with the assistance of the French Community of Belgium and provides free tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year plus $10,000.

Fairchild is one of four recipients awarded Heritage Scholarships to teach conversational English in the elementary and high schools of France during the 2009-2010 academic year. A French major, Fairchild is the James Domengeaux Heritage Scholar and will teach in Strasbourg, France.  

Competition for the Heritage Scholarships is open to college students from throughout the United States. The students work twenty hours per week, are paid a modest but livable wage by the French government, and are encouraged to continue their studies in French. The awards, worth $1,000 each, are given by La Fondation Louisiane in recognition of Louisiana's long and rich historical and cultural relationship with France and to encourage our students to become involved in this competition.

The other three recipients of the Heritage Scholarships were from Louisiana State University, and included Ashley L. Herrick and Connie Renee Boudreaux of Baton Rouge, and Laura Catherine Rachal from New Roads.

Other recipient of scholarships included Andrew T. Nelson, from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, winner of the James Domengeaux Scholarship; Phoebe Thomas, a high-school student at Barbe High School in Lake Charles, was awarded the Jason Dyess Scholarship; and Ashton Gauff, a high-school student at Zachary High School, is this year's winner of the Allen M. Babineaux Scholarship.

La Fondation Louisiane sponsors the annual scholarship competition for Louisiana university and high school students for study in Francophone countries. The collegiate competition and selection was undertaken by a committee appointed by the Foundation with input from college and university faculty from around the state. A committee of the Louisiana Association of High School French Clubs chose the winners of the high school awards. Formed in 1989, La Fondation Louisiane is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the promotion of the French language in Louisiana.

For more information on La Fondation Louisiane, contact Valerie Broussard at 337.232.4016.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and is regularly rated as one of the top colleges in the South. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.