Pierce Cunningham awarded scholarship to study in Paris
When Pierce Cunningham transferred to Augustana in January 2023, he didn’t plan on majoring in French; he came for the science labs. What began as a J-term elective — upon his sister’s mention of coffee and treats from the professor — quickly became his third major and a national scholarship to study in Paris over the summer.
Cunningham, a senior whose other majors are biology and psychology, is this year’s recipient of the Joseph W. Yedlicka Scholarship. The award provides a fully-funded seven-week stay at the American University of Paris courtesy of the National French Honor Society, Pi Delta Phi.
Cunningham believes the trip offers a French education that’s unattainable in a traditional classroom setting.
“I really love the language,” Cunningham said. “I want to actually be immersed in the culture and see the history firsthand rather than just read it in a textbook.”
The scholarship, valued at around $8,000, covers tuition, housing and airfare. It is geared toward students whose course load prohibits study abroad during the academic year.
For Cunningham, the summer timeline was the most realistic option for him to study abroad. He explained that semester-long programs are often impossible for STEM students, as many courses require American Chemical Society standards which are difficult to transfer from international universities.
While Cunningham was able to visit the Galapagos over J-term in 2025, a seven-week stay in Europe was previously “implausible.”
Scott Fish, French professor and National President of Pi Delta Phi, explained that he often encourages his students to apply for this scholarship.
“The number one thing I hear is that although they have these great scholarships, very few students apply,” Fish said. “I think it’s because a student thinks, ‘Why should I bother applying when there’s going to be 300 [applicants]?’”
Fish’s encouragement has made Augustana students frequent contenders for the award. Cunningham is the eighth Augustana student to receive this scholarship from the society.
Last year, Cunningham’s roommate, Riley Houseman was named the recipient. Despite missing his own chance to travel last summer, Houseman was happy to see Pierce receive the opportunity.
“I was honestly ecstatic,” Houseman said. “It’s almost like he now gets to live it out for the both of us.”
During his time in Paris, Cunningham hopes to learn more about the nuances of French and explore French culture. Alongside visiting landmarks like Versailles and celebrating traditions like Bastille Day, he looks forward to exploring what he calls “the French paradox.”
“They eat all these foods super high in butter, super high in cholesterol, but on average, they usually have a longer life expectancy than a lot of places,” Cunningham said.
Having lived in France several times in his life, Fish had one important piece of advice for Cunningham as he prepares for full immersion.
“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because that’s part of the process, making mistakes,” Fish said.
