2020 Winner

Meet Darby Frederiksen, the 2020 recipient, who was not able to be presented to our members this year. A junior now at Calvin University, she is majoring in French, linguistics and minoring in dance. Her family lived in Belgium for a short time when she was young, and they hosted several exchange students when she was older. She has also studied Chinese. Darby is exploring possible careers as a foreign language officer for the State Department, a Bible translator or field linguist with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Her professors applauded her engagement and enthusiasm in her advanced classes, such as Sub-Saharan African Francophone Literature and Culture, and her dedication in her position as a tutor for French Department students. Félicitations, Darby! You can read her application essay right here.

Alliance Française de Grand Rapids

The Alliance Française de Grand Rapids is one of over 1,000 Alliances Françaises in 138 countries around the world. Each year nearly 500,000 people worldwide come to an Alliance Française to learn French and 6 million attend cultural activities. There are 111 chapters in the United States.

Whether you are a native or fluent French speaker, a student of the language, or an enthusiastic Francophile, you are welcome as a member of the AF Grand Rapids to participate in the wide range of activities organized throughout the year.