The Northwest Indiana American Association of teachers of French held its annual brunch at the Valparaiso home of Barb Seeley, AATF president, to honor 33 recipients of chapter and national awards for the National French Exam, Le Grand Concours 2009.

In all, 101,487 French students enrolled in Le Grand Concours nationwide from public, private and home school programs.

Also in attendance was Valparaiso professor Randa Duvik, AATF regional representative.

"Teachers and parents from Boone Grove, Crown Point, Hanover Central, Lake Central, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, Oregon-Davis and River Forest high schools are to be congratulated for encouraging their students to study French seriously and, of course, all the participants should be acknowledged for staying after school or coming in March 14 for this wonderful opportunity," said Linda Atwood, AATF-INNW Grand Concours administer and French Club adviser at Crown Point High School.

A total of 336 Northwest Indiana students registered for the exam, and 33 earned honors.

National winners from the area are Stephan Zajac and Ximena Fernandez de Cordova, Level IIIA (French 3) from Munster High School. They won the Bronze Award with a 90th percentile on the exam. This is the third year in a row that Zajac has earned national honors.

Their French teacher at Munster High is Alyce Mart-Webb.

"We would like to thank our supporters for honoring our French students with door prizes and breakfast on the day of the exam at Crown Point High School and (providing) gifts at the brunch, Café Fondue, French Consulate, Langenscheidt, McDonalds, Ponderosa, and Strack & Van Til," Atwood said.