Celebrating Excellence in French: 2026 Grand Concours Awards Breakfast

Early Monday morning, May 11, a group of dedicated retired and current French teachers arrived with table coverings, vases of flowers, printed programs, prizes, and smiles to welcome the 2026 Grand Concours medalists. For the past five years, this team of francophiles has worked to revitalize the annual May awards breakfast following the

pandemic, maintaining an eco-friendly event that reflects a shared commitment to environmental responsibility. By handling setup themselves and carefully managing expenses, the group is able to keep the celebration sustainable and continue offering this yearly recognition.

The Grand Concours is a national exam sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) and administered by state chapters. It assesses students’ reading, listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and cultural knowledge. The competition has a long history dating back to the mid-1960s, while the awards breakfast tradition began in the 1980s. As the event grew, it moved through several locations before establishing a long-term home at the University of Minnesota, where it remained through 2017.

After several years of interruption during the pandemic, the event was revived in 2023. That year, it was hosted at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in Saint Paul, a centrally located venue that accommodated about 150 attendees. In 2025, the celebration moved to the Eagan Community Center, whose larger conference space allowed for the recognition of bronze medalists in addition to platinum, gold, and silver honorees. Attendance has since grown to well over 200 students, teachers, and family members in both 2025 and 2026.

Croissants, catered by Baba’s Mediterranean Cruise Cafe in South Minneapolis, were served alongside hot beverages provided by the Eagan Community Center. Students sat at designated tables with their peers and teachers, creating a warm, communal atmosphere. Each level of the exam was called to the podium to be recognized and photographed, with applause and celebration throughout the ceremony.

The awards breakfast is especially meaningful for FLES students, many of whom receive their medals at this event, while secondary students often receive theirs later through national channels or school-based ceremonies held at the end of the academic year. Overall, the breakfast remains a joyful occasion to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of both students and teachers.

The President of AATF–Minnesota, Maureen Elwell Peltier, welcomed everyone and spoke about the organization’s role in supporting opportunities for Minnesota French stude

nts to excel academically. She also highlighted A Vous La Parole, the oral competition held at the University of Minnesota in mid-April, and shared a video of Benilde students performing L’Amour et un Cadeau from Frozen. She noted the continued strength of student participation across programs.

The Grand Concours itself has been part of the academic experience for decades. Several longtime educators in attendance recalled taking the exam themselves in the 1960s. The awards breakfast tradition began in the 1980s, moving through several venues as participation grew, until it was hosted at the University of Minnesota through 2017.

This year, 515 students took the exam, and 127 Minnesota students earned medals. One Level 2 student received a platinum medal, signifying a perfect score. Each level was called to the podium to be recognized and photographed, with moments of applause and laughter throughout the hour-long ceremony.

Le Prix de la Baguette, awarded to the school with the highest student participation, was once again given to Valley View Middle School. Chrystel Klein, winner of Le Prix de la Baguette, received her prize (a baguette, bien sûr) from Carolyn Fisk, administrator of the Grand Concours, Minnesota. Names for additional prizes were drawn after each level was recognized, and students selected their prizes from the table des prix.

A final highlight of the program was the drawing for the $500 Xperitas Travel/Study Voucher. All medalists in Levels 3, 4, and 5 were entered into the drawing, and one student from Saint Paul Central High School received the award. The drawing was conducted by Jenny Behrens, a representative from Xperitas. In past years, students have used the voucher to travel to Québec and France, take French-language courses, or attend Lac du Bois at Concordia Language Villages.

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Jenny Behrens from Xperitas and Carolyn Fisk, Grand Concours administrator, do the drawing for the grand prize scholarship.

The 2026 recipient of the Xperitas scholarship.

Looking ahead, the 2027 Grand Concours will take place from February 10 through April 9, depending on level. The awards breakfast will again be held in May at the Eagan Community Center, continuing a long-standing tradition of celebrating excellence in French language learning across Minnesota.

Photographs taken by Carolyn Fisk and Maureen Elwell Peltier

Photos of the event