Maggie Kogut, a third-year modern languages and English major, has received a highly competitive national scholarship to attend a French language university of her choice in Canada for a year of study.

Kogut, originally from Sylvan Lake, Alta., transferred to the U of L from Red Deer College. She will receive $7,000 and travel expenses as the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Endowment Fund for Study in a Second Official Language award, administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).

"The competition for this award is fierce as there are only a maximum of three awarded every year," says Dr. Tabitha Spagnolo Sadr, an assistant professor of French and one of Kogut's nominators. "Each university in Canada can put forth only their best candidate.

"The idea is that anglophone undergraduate students either in their second or third year can apply for funding to study for a year at a francophone institution. In turn, francophone students compete for the same award to study at an anglophone institution. We are extremely proud of Maggie for this exceptional achievement."

Third-year student, Maggie Kogut, will study at the Université du Québec à Montréal for a year after winning a prestigious national scholarship

Kogut is taking majors in both English and French, and is already refining her bilingual writing skills as the Entertainment editor and as a French-language columnist for the Meliorist.

Though the year away adds to the time Kogut ultimately spends in school, she does not mind at all.

"I am interested in taking a program at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) which focuses on French writing for non-francophones," says Kogut. "I'm considering a career in journalism, and being able to write effectively in both languages would be a helpful skill."

Spagnolo Sadr says she and her colleagues in the Department of Modern Languages spend a great deal of time and effort creating a cultural environment and range of courses, particularly at the upper levels, that prepare students like Kogut to succeed in language and literature studies in the classroom and beyond.

"Department members are always pleased to engage with our students and support them in exploring a wide range of external opportunities including funding, travel and employment options."

This story first appeared in the June 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.