Forty Chaska and Chanhassen high school students participated in the annual “A Vous la Parole” French speaking contest held in Coffman Memorial Union at the University of Minnesota on April 17.

Sponsored annually by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French, with the support of the University of Minnesota Department of French and Italian, the contest recognizes excellence in French speaking skills. This year’s contest drew 640 entries among students in grades 7-12.

The various categories include prose and poetry recitations, theater presentations, song performances, extemporaneous reading, extemporaneous conversation, as well as original skits. Students are given ratings based on a four-star system with four stars earning them a blue medal, three stars earning a red medal, and two stars earning a white medal. All participants receive a certificate of participation regardless of their particular rating.

Chaska and Chanhassen high school students received 21 blue medals, 17 red medals and two white medals.

Each school chooses their best performance during the contest. This student receives the annual Prix Renaud, named for a University of Minnesota emeritus professor and his wife who left funds specifically for A Vous la Parole.

Eastern Carver County high schools awarded the 2025 Prix Renaud to the song performance group which included Mimi Damiba, Peyton Webb and Victoria Wirtz, and to the prose and poetry reciters, Mila Patel and Addie Singh. The students’ teacher is Kris Rydland.