Pre-med student awarded French study-abroad scholarship to Paris

Riley Houseman has been called a jack of all trades – in fact, he gets that a lot.

The junior is a biochemistry major with aspirations of a career in medicine, serves as Treasurer for Augustana’s newly established Brew and Gold student organization, and plays classical piano. To top it off, he has another major, too – and it’s far from the field of biochem.

Houseman’s first French class over his freshman-year interim was in his schedule to fulfill a language requirement. Within two days, he realized that he thought French was “a lot of fun;” within the month, he decided to add it as a second major.

Now, two years later and heading into the spring of his junior year, Houseman’s most recent achievement is receiving a scholarship that will send him to study at the American University of Paris for seven weeks during the summer of 2025. He sent in his application last fall, including an essay about how he hopes to use his knowledge of French to serve him in his future medical career.

Despite his variety of accomplishments, Houseman was as surprised as anyone else would be when he saw the ‘Congratulations!’ email. It was an innocuous moment: He was waiting for an elevator after work on Feb. 8.

“There were a few people standing next to me, and my jaw was just dropped open,” Houseman remembered of his excitement. “I just started telling random people. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, look, I just got this scholarship. It’s awesome. I’m spending the summer in Paris.’”

The National French Honor Society, Pi Delta Phi, annually awards the scholarship Houseman received. It is one of two scholarships that honor Joseph W. Yedlicka, a former president and executive director of the society.

The scholarship covers full tuition costs for the summer session and allots a stipend for half of the cost of room and board with another student. It also includes $700 for food costs and a travel grant of up to $1,000 for airfare to and from France.

Scholarship eligibility requirements include an overall GPA of 3.2, a GPA in French of 3.3 and a grade level of sophomore or higher. And though Houseman does have a French major, a French major or minor is not necessarily required in order to qualify for the scholarship – a student must only be studying French in some capacity.

Scott Fish, Augustana’s sole professor of French, serves on a volunteer basis as the president of the National French Honors Society; however, he does not have input or influence on the society’s scholarship board. In fact, Fish pointed out that if Augustana students receive scholarships from Pi Delta Phi, it is more accurately due to him encouraging them to apply because he believes in the value of the opportunity and experience.

Fish often preaches that interdisciplinary studies in the area of language foster strong students.

“I love it – as a liberal arts institution – that someone studies chemistry and does a minor in theater, or they're a psychology major and they do a minor in English literature,” Fish said. “I think that makes for a better overall, well-prepared, well-balanced student than someone who has hardly any gen-ed, only takes government classes and nothing else.”

Thanks to a relatively small language department, Fish knows Houseman well and describes him as a motivated science major who is willing to take the time to tutor French students despite his busy STEM schedule.

Stephanie Bruggeman, another of Houseman’s professors and mentors, got to know him when he had her as a genetics lab instructor. When Houseman joined the team of students that run Augustana Brew and Gold, an organization for which Bruggeman advises, she too recognized his ability to adapt and succeed in multiple areas.

“On one hand, he's a classical pianist, and on the other hand, he can take apart and refurbish my kegerator when I need valves done and make sure that seals are made up,” Bruggeman said.

Such a wide range of interests and skills could result in Houseman deciding to take any number of different classes this summer at the American University of Paris, but he can ultimately choose only two, which will be taught in French during his seven-week stay. 

Houseman already has some ideas in mind for potential enrollments: perhaps French classical music or a history course – another one of his interests. And, of course, he has to consider something related to medicine or biology in order to boost his understanding of the language in his chosen field.

No matter what courses he ends up choosing, Houseman said it feels a bit surreal that it is going to happen as he looks back. He still remembers freshman interim when Fish outlined potential French scholarship opportunities to the class.

“Honestly, it’s so crazy – like, hearing about that on my first day of French?” Houseman said. “And then now I have this scholarship. It’s so awesome.”