The Homer and Jason Dyess Scholarship is offered by La Fondation Louisiane to attend a French immersion program at Université Sainte-Anne in Church Point, Nova Scotia, Canada. This scholarship is for either the spring session (May 17 – June 20, 2026) or the summer session (July 5- August 8, 2026). The program allows participants to improve their French and meet other students from across Canada and the United States. The recipient will promise to speak only French during the university’s 5-week immersion session.
Program Description
The scholarship recipient must be at least 18 years of age by May 1, 2026. From Monday to Friday, they will attend two classes in the mornings and participate in a mandatory workshop (blog, dance, music, outdoor activities, souvenir album, etc.) in the afternoons. In the evenings, there are various social activities including band performances and themed evenings. The recipient will have the opportunity to sign up for excursions (beach trip, canoeing, trekking, whale watching, etc.) during the weekends.
What's Included in the Scholarship?
The scholarship will cover bus transfer between the Halifax airport and the university, one round-trip plane ticket, registration fee, tuition, a room in on-campus dorm, meals, sports, and almost all socio-cultural activities. The bus transfer is included in the program cost for the participants who arrive and depart on the designated days as described on the next page. If a participant chooses to arrive and/or depart on days other than the designated ones, they are responsible for paying for transportation between the airport and the university.
The scholarship recipient pays for the passport fee, travel insurance covering medical and repatriation insurance, and any optional excursions not included in the program.
Important Dates and Travel Information
Daily schedule Monday through Friday:
- 8:30/9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Class (with 30-minute break for info session)
- 12 – 2 p.m. – Lunch
- 2 -3:30 p.m. – Workshop
- 4 p.m. – Occasional excursion
Spring session (May 17 to June 20, 2026)
Participants in the spring session must arrive at the Halifax airport before 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026. To ensure arriving on time for the bus transfer, it is best to avoid opting for short layovers and to find a flight that arrives in Halifax well before 7 p.m. It is a 3-hour bus trip between the Halifax airport and Université Sainte-Anne. Only one bus trip will be offered that evening. For the participants’ return flight to Louisiana after the end of the spring session, they should find a flight that leaves the Halifax airport after 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Summer session (July 5 to August 8, 2026)
Participants in the summer session must arrive at the Halifax airport before 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026. To ensure arriving on time for the bus transfer, it is best to avoid opting for short layovers and to find a flight that arrives in Halifax well before 7 p.m. It is a 3-hour bus trip between the Halifax airport and Université Sainte-Anne. Only one bus trip will be offered that evening. For the participants’ return flight to Louisiana after the end of the summer session, they should find a flight that leaves the Halifax airport after 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026.