Two Tech students snag CODOFIL scholarships - shollis

Belgium will not only have its trademark potatoes and beer this summer, but also two Louisiana Tech students roaming the country, gaining higher education.

Eugene Achi, a senior biomedical engineering major from Jeanerette, and Rebecca Riisness, a sophomore theater major from Mandeville, have received scholarships to study abroad July 1-23 at the University de Liege, in Liege, Belgium.

"The scholarships are received through the [Council for the Development of French in Louisiana] and will allow students to study for three weeks in Belgium," said Dolliann Hurtig, the Louisiana Tech representative to the CODOFIL Consortium of Louisiana Universities and an associate professor of foreign languages.

"Students will gain exposure to an international campus and improve their skills in the language."
Hurtig said students can also gain much more than expertise and competence in the language.

"I think students can look forward to a solid level of adventure," Hurtig said. "Belgium is a new country [for the students] and a new culture, and they really will get to dip into the country through the experience."

Hurtig said students have weekends free to explore other countries or local life in Belgium.

"Students can go to Paris, run around Rome or hop a train to London and travel to different countries," she said. "Even if students choose not to travel abroad on the weekends, they can explore the many museums and local culture of Liege, so it is a win-win situation."

Achi said he wanted to go to Belgium because he loves everything related to French culture.

"My mom and dad are both French teachers in Lebanon, so I"ve grown up with French," Achi said. "Plus I love the Belgium musician Jacques Brel."

Achi also said he believes the Belgium exchange will offer many opportunities to help him grow in French communication and experience different cultures.

"I want to expand my mind, have fun…have a lot of fun, actually," Achi said. "I plan to visit France, maybe go to England, and I also might go to Germany and watch the World Cup."

Jennifer Miguez, scholarship coordinator for CODOFIL, said the group"s main goal is to promote French in Louisiana.

"[CODOFIL and affiliates] send students abroad to enhance what they have learned in the classroom," Miguez said. "We hope the students in turn promote French in Louisiana and possibly teach someday."

Miguez said the scholarships are actually offered through a French group in Belgium.

"The scholarships have been offered from the French Community of Belgium for 20 years," Miguez said. "The French Community of Belgium allocates the scholarships, and CODOFIL acts as a liaison for awarding the scholarships."

Twenty scholarships were given out for the 2006 summer program.

"Scholarship recipients included three high school students, four Louisiana teachers and 13 university students," Miguez said. "The scholarships cover the cost of tuition for three weeks, housing in on-campus dorms, a stipend for meals and some local excursions."

The scholarships are open to any students who have majors or minors in French or French education.

"Students can obtain a minimum of three credits for classes in Belgium," Miguez said. "Credit obtained through Belgium depends on the Louisiana institution the student attends and what the school"s transfer policy is."

Miguez said the program is offered to enhance French students" skills in the language.

"A lot of the time, students say they can read or write French well, but with speaking, the students are not where they need to be," Miguez said. "Participating in the exchange program gives students more confidence with speaking French."

-- By Morgan Tarpley, Tech journalism student