AFGrandRapids

Alliance Française de Grand Rapids Scholarship Program

2008-2009 Scholarship Winner

Melanie Kloian

Grand Valley State University 2008

My name is Melanie Kloian, a senior and French Major at Grand Valley State University. This past semester I completed my term as the president of Grand Valley’s French Club “les Francophiles” and the task was both challenging and extremely fulfilling. As president, my goal was to create new activities as well as revive old ones and really make students aware of all the French resources available to them.

I also wrote the “Journal Français” each month and tried to include both faculty and students perspectives on learning this beautiful and intense language. Currently this summer I am doing a research project for a French Professor pertaining to 18th Century French literature and assisting him in compiling a bibliography , as well as organizing a French Festival titled, Fete de la Culture Française to he hosted by UICA on February 21st 2009.

Throughout this semester I have realized that I quite enjoy organizing events and taking on rather challenging and sometimes daunting tasks and I am interested to see how I can incorporate this with my love of French. This coming fall semester, I will be studying at the l’Université Catholique in Paris and I will be busy taking six classes which include: Literature, History, Culture as well as Language courses. While on this journey, I will also explore some of my graduate school choices, to see what they have to offer.

I am looking into several graduate programs such as Middlebury, Monterey and a specialized school in France called l’École de Métiers de la Communication. I am also interested in obtaining an internship at the French Embassy in Washington. Upon my return, I will resume the festival project as well as host weekly radio program in French on GVSU’s radio station WCKS which is switching to FM in the fall. Needless to say, I like to stay busy.

I would like to say MERCI BEAUCOUP to the members of the Grand Rapids Alliance Française for their recognition in awarding me this year’s scholarship. It is both an honor and a bless of which I am grateful for.

My French Favorites

Film(s): les Choristes, le Dernier Métro Director: Francis Veber Group: Paris Combo

Singer: Gerald de Palmas Food: Dessert Author(s): Annie Ernaux, Guy de Maupassant Artist(s): Camille Claudel, Réne Magritte Actor(s): Gérard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil Actress: Audrey Tautou, Fanny Ardant Often compared to: Napoléan

People I share my birthday with:

Dec 15th, 1832 Gustave Eiffel; Dec 15th 1852 Henri Becquerel (Disc. Radioactivity)

Quote: l’avenir de l’homme est la femme ~ Louis Aragon. (smart man)