Recently, six FASNY students, ranging from 6th to 10th grade, represented our school at the AEFE “Ambassadeurs en Herbe” North America Zone Finals in San Francisco, hosted by the International School of San Francisco. This year’s theme was "AI: A Revolution for the Benefit of Humanity," and our FASNY participants were incredible!
In the Middle School category, 6th graders André A and Camille P presented original fables they had written and performed themselves, impressing the jury with their sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and remarkably mature grasp of the issues surrounding artificial intelligence.
At the High School level, 9th graders Zélie B and Nicolas B delivered compelling speeches both in content and delivery, while 10th grader Guillaume V demonstrated exceptional skill as debate moderator, guiding discussions with agility and keeping the focus on the key issues; and fellow sophomore Arnaud J served as spokesperson, closing each round with clear and well-structured summaries. Across all roles, our students stood out for their critical thinking, analytical precision, and strong responsiveness.
The distinguished jury, chaired by Georgina Morat, Head of School Affairs at the French Embassy in Washington, and including Olivier Monteil, Director of Pedagogy and French Affairs at the International School of Silicon Valley, and Blake Ramsey, International Technical Expert at the Utah State Board of Education, took notice as Camille and Arnaud were selected to join the North America team, forming a six-member delegation that will compete at the World Finals. We are eagerly awaiting the results at the end of June and wish them all the very best!
Beyond the competition, the trip offered students a wonderful chance to connect with peers from other schools during a treasure hunt in San Francisco's Hayes Valley neighborhood and to discover some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including a reception at the stunning Residence of France, with sweeping views over the entire city, graciously hosted by the French Consul General. The students even got to ride in driverless taxis, an experience none of them will soon forget. Congratulations to all of our students and a huge thank you to chaperones and mentors Marion Herouard and Guilhem Cassagnes.