Senior Allison Eaton won the CultureLab scholarship at Congrès, the national French competition held at the Double Tree Hotel in Orlando last weekend. As a result, Eaton will partake in the Festival d’Avignon, an annual arts festival held for one week each summer in the French city of Avignon.

In addition, senior Shelley Mitchell won the Suzanne Carrell scholarship of $500 to help her continue her study of French in college and the brain bowl team of senior Jacqueline Paylor, junior Eric DiGioia and Mitchell, the team captain, successfully defended its title, claiming a second consecutive state championship.

For weeks French teacher Jennifer Walker prepared her classes for the competition. Students auditioned for roles in the classroom to see who would perform them at the stage. The contestants who earned good scores on their presentations had the chance to win prizes such as scholarships and ribbons.

Both of West Shore’s French plays won Supérieur ranking, with the French I play receiving one of only two “Prix du Jury” (Judges’ Award of Distinction) in the state.

“[Sophomore] Jett Morgan was amazing in his outrageous role of Le Marquis de Mascarillein our interpretation of Molière’s comedy, ‘Les Précieuses Ridicules,’” Walker said.  “He is normally a shy student, but man, did he come alive during that performance. Callia Karas, Noelle Moore, Allison Eaton, Eric DiGioia, Tyler Everingham and Joel Soucheck were the other cast members who really were stellar.”

The French I actors —  performing “Yseult la Belle, Tristan la Bête et la Comédie-Française” were eighth-graders Sky M., Dylan O., Briana H., Victoria H. and Becca F.

Our French cultural scrapbook/yearbook — which Eaton created — won a Supérieur and one of only two “Prix du Jury” awards in the state.

Overall, West Shore took home 26 Supérieurs, nine Excellents and five Bons.

While Eaton appeared pleased with winning the scholarship and other recognition, they weren’t the only impressive things about the event.

“My favorite thing about going to Congrès is definitely the food,” Eaton said. “The desert is always the same thing. I’m not sure what it is, but its delicious.”

Congrès involves more than just competitions. Attendees also enjoy banquet and a dance.

Junior Brandon Cox was a fan of the dance.

“I looked forward to the big dance they have at the end of the day,” Cox said. “What I really enjoyed though was getting to parade around dinner and the costume contest.”

Editor’s Note: Brevard Public Schools policy prohibits the inclusion of middle-schoolers’ last names on district-sponsored web sites.