SVSU grad Eric Becker, of Saginaw, wins national French language award

2014 May 8

Saginaw Valley State University graduate Eric Becker recently received the American Association of Teachers of French 2014 AATF Outstanding Seniors in French Award.

The award is given annually to a senior demonstrating excellence in the study of French.

Becker, a Saginaw resident, graduated from SVSU with a bachelor's degree in December 2013. His major was Spanish and minor was French.

He has been accepted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he will study for a master's degree -- on a Ph.D. track -- in French linguistics. He plans to attend the graduate school classes beginning in August.

"I was surprised and delighted," Becker said of winning the award from the American Association of Teachers of French, founded in 1927.

To qualify for the award, recipients must complete at least three years of French study and be non-native speakers of French.

While at SVSU, Becker was a member of the French Club and Alpha Mu Gamma, a national collegiate foreign language organization.