Left to Right: Addison Heffernan, Bishop Hendricken High School, Level 4 Silver Medal winner. Michael Hébert, Président American Association of Teachers of French, RI Chapter. Francesco Savoretti, Bishop Hendricken High School, co-winner of AFN Prix d' Excellence. Joseph Théroux, Bishop Hendricken High School, Francesco´s Savoretti's teacher.

Marius Bonard, a student at Barrington High School, and Francesco Savoretti from Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, both won the Grand Prix de l’Alliance Française de Newport.

The award is given annually to two top high school students who demonstrate a strong affinity for the French language and culture. Students from across Rhode Island compete in the national Grand Prix de l’Alliance Française de Newport, which is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, Rhode Island Chapter, Consulat général de France à Boston, Alliance Française de Newport, Alliance Française de Providence and Délégation du Québec à Boston.

Both students received a National Gold Medal for their scores, which place them in the top 95% of the national competition.

Left to Right: Marius Bonard, Barrington High School,  co-winner of AFN Prix d’ Excellence.
Sandra Shaw, Barrington High School, Marius Bonard’s Teacher


“Part of our mission is to promote the appreciation of the French language and culture, and we are delighted to support students who show a strong affinity for the French language,” said Barry Bailey, President of Alliance Française de Newport.

The Grand Prix de l’Alliance Française de Newport was recently presented to Marius Bonard and Francesco Savoretti by Sandra Shaw, Secretary of the Alliance Française de Newport, and Board member of the American Association of Teachers of French, Rhode Island Chapter at the Providence Career and Technical Academy.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

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