Media Release

For Immediate Release

May 6, 2008

Saint Mary’s French student wins national award to study, travel abroad

As the winner of two prestigious awards, Saint Mary's University French student Laura Connors will spend the next year traveling and studying in France and Quebec.

Connors, a second year French major in Saint Mary’s Modern Languages and Classics program, was recently named this year’s winner of The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Award, a national scholarship that provides $7,000 plus travel expenses for a year’s study in a Canadian university where instruction is given in the winner’s second official language.

The award will enable Connors to study for a full year at a university of her choice in Quebec. All Canadian universities put forward candidates for the scholarship each year, but only two scholarships are awarded.

“I’m thrilled to have the chance to truly experience the French-Canadian culture first-hand for a whole school year,” said Connors. “To be completely immersed in my second official language will definitely help me to improve my language proficiency, and I know that I will also gain cultural experiences that I will never forget.”

Connors, a graduate of the late French Immersion program of Millwood High in Lower Sackville, will use the scholarship to study in Quebec for her junior year, and will return to Saint Mary’s to complete her fourth year. After graduation, she plans to enrol in an education program in order to teach in a French immersion program in Nova Scotia. 

Dr. Paul Bernard, who was Laura’s professor in four courses this year, said the competition for the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Award is “very tough.” Connors, a second-year student, won the award over second-year and third-year finalists from other universities.

“Laura’s victory is quite prestigious when you consider the scope of the competition,” said Dr. Bernard.  

In addition to the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Award, Connors also won this year’s Alliance Française d’Halifax prize, all-expenses-paid trip awarded by the French Consulate of the Atlantic Provinces to attend the World Gathering of Young Adults in La Rochelle, France in July. To win this award, she prevailed over fourth-year students from across Atlantic Canada.

“This is a huge opportunity for me and I can’t wait to go,” said Connors, noting her success was possible thanks in large part to the access she’s had to her French professors in the Modern Languages and Classics program, specifically Dr. Bernard, Dr. Sophie Beaule and Dr. Joelle Cauville.

“The classes are small and dynamic, and the professors are all so helpful and encouraging,” she said. “They are there to help you every step of the way.”

Dr. Bernard described Connors as a hard-working student with a deep love for French and a strong desire for excellence in its use – whether speaking or writing.

“Laura’s French professors are very proud of her local, regional and national accomplishments,” said Dr. Bernard. “Bonne chance, Laura.”

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca