The French program at PHS is proud to announce the exceptional achievements of its students in the 2026 Le Grand Concours (National French Contest). These dedicated French-language learners from PHS competed against peers across the country, with several students earning top national honors.

Le Grand Concours is an annual French contest sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French in which students are assessed on their interpretative competency (reading and listening comprehension) skills. To place nationally, students must score in the top percentiles of all participants across the United States.

Among the participants, Elizaveta Gorkova achieved the highest possible distinction, receiving the Platine (Platinum) award, representing the top score in her category. Nora Dzwonchyk earned a Médaille d’Argent (Silver Medal) for her outstanding performance. The following students received Médaille de Bronze (Bronze Medal): Juliana Figlar, Macaela Awwad, Kalyn Malone, and Hannah Evans.

Mention Honorable (Honorable Mentions) were awarded to Emma Barry, Anthony Buchsbaum, Justin Chen, Riley Mandawe, Lara Torres, and Célestin Larrandabure.

“It is a privilege to honor these standout students in our French program," said Kaitlyn Kelly Trzepacz, French and Italian Teacher at PHS. “They truly went above and beyond by participating in the Grand Concours, and we are incredibly proud to see so many of them place nationally and receive recognition. This is an exceptional feat that demonstrates a high level of proficiency and puts them among the top French students in the country. Every student who participated and scored is deeply valued for their commitment to studying a second language.”

Photo (2026 French Le Grand Concours): L-R: Macaela Awwad, Nora Dzwonchyk, Juliana Figlar, and Elizaveta Gorkova. Not pictured and receiving recognition:  Hannah Evans, Célestin Larrandabure, Riley Mandawe, Kalyn Malone, Emma Barry, Anthony Buchsbaum, and Justin Chen, Lara Torres