Traditional French Galette des rois was organized in Houston on the 17th of January 2024. French Consulate in Houston hosted the event at the initiative of the gadz group based in Texas. We would like to thank Patrice Brossard (Bo 195), DG Amériques, who came up with the idea and helped organizing this event!

A&M students and alumni as well as French speaking University professors and faculty members gathered to celebrate the Epiphany.

This was a great occasion to connect, discuss and feel a sense of belonging to a big French speaking community in Houston.

Looking forward to seeing other Houston-based events in partnership with the French consulate!

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Please read about Galette des rois organised in Saratoga, CA

Galette des Rois 2024 occured in Saratoga on January 14th during Martin Luther King Jr. long weekend. This event is a traditional gadz'arts gathering in the Bay Area to kick off the new year. Brookside Club of Saratoga has been a meeting point for this beginning of the year event for both students and alumni of Arts et Metiers living, studing and working in San Francisco Bay Area. It is also a friendly place for gad'zarts families - spouses and children.

This year we also had two alumni who came from Las Vegas and LA area to join the community for Galette des Rois in Saratoga!

Thank you very much to Aurore Prevot (Li 198) for the delicious galettes and to Yarith Phay (Bo 191) and Nicolas Horde ( Ai 214) for organizing the event.

If you want to know more about upcoming SF bay area gadz events, please join our new Whatsapp group. Please contact AFAM community manager or West Coast zident to get a whatsapp link.

See you soon!

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How did our community live in 2023? What events were important in this past year for AFAM, gadz community in the US, as well as for our school and SOCE?

Here is what we'd like to highlight.

January 2023 -

Arts et Metiers campus in Rabat (Morocco) is created

Traditional Galette des Rois took place in Saratoga, CA

Professors Charbel Farhat ( Stanford University, Aeronautics and Astronautics department) and Dimitris Lagoudas (Texas A&M) received doctorat honoris causa from Arts et Metiers

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Galette des Rois in 2023

February 2023 -

AFAM CEO Xavier Wartelle (Li 82) was awarded with SOCE bronze medal

Arts et Metiers and Data Science Tech Institute renewed their partnership

Arts et Metiers participated in Invent for the planet international hackaton ( in partnership with Texas A&M)

March 2023 -

AFAM board elections took place

International Week occurred at Arts et Metiers and AFAM participated in it

Marc Amblard (Cl 84), former AFAM CFO, received SOCE bronze medal

Gadz energy group networking event took place in Houston

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March energy group networking in Houston

April 2023 -

Gadz spring gathering took place in April

Arts et Metiers launched a European project MAXIMA (5.6 M euros budget)

May 2023 -

First Sequoia online conference took place, As a reminder Sequoia in AFAM's news program that helps students and alumni with applications to American Universities

Arts et Metiers received European financing for MARS project

June 2023 -

Xavier Wartelle (Li 82), AFAM CEO, met students and alumni at SOCE in Paris

48 Texas A&M students participated in Study Abroad program on Aix campus

July 2023 -

Graduation ceremony for Arts et Metiers Industrial and Energy Engineering diplomas took place

MSMP laboratory welcomed 12 American research students

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American research students on Aix campus

August 2023 -

Welcome of Conscrits took place on different A&M campuses (for instance, in Aix)

September 2023 -

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week took place in Arts et Metiers

Gadz New York group members participated in AAGEF afterwork party. AAGEF is AFAM's long time friend and partner.

Jean Pommier ( An 83), AFAM CFO, met students on Angers campus

November 2023 -

AFAM community manager visited Paris, Metz and Aix campuses to meet students and teams to informs them about AFAM programs and activities

Evolutive Learning Factory launched a fundraisign campaign

Aurore Prevot ( Li 98), former school representative in the US, met student on Lille campus

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Meeting students and the team on Aix campus

December 2023 -

AFAM took place in the International Week organized by the school

Special Arts et Metiers Edition at Le Monde des Grandes Ecoles et Universités

AFAM: Hello, Bailey. Thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. Please tell us a few words about yourself.

Bailey:

Howdy, my name is Bailey Sizemore, and I am a Mechanical Engineering Senior at Texas A&M University.  I enjoy running, reading, and traveling.

 

AFAM: could you please let us know about how you first heard about Arts et Metiers and the program on the Aix campus?

Bailey:

I first heard about this program through my friend Jensen McMurray, who also went on the trip. I have always wanted to do a semester exchange, and this program is unique because the credits transfer directly to count towards my degree.

 

AFAM: in a few words, if you may, how would you describe the difference between your studies at Texas A&M and in Arts et Metiers ( subjects, teaching style, your classmates etc)?

Bailey:

The studies at Texas A & M are more theory-based, while at Arts et Metier, the school is more hands-on with lab work. I enjoy this type of schoolwork more because I am a hands-on learner, so learning how to weld and cast is a skill I will have for the rest of my life. I believe I met friends similar to mine at home, which was awesome to know that I can meet people like me in different ways all over the world. Students in France are better equipped to the world around them because all students must study abroad, while in America, it is not a requirement.

 

AFAM: when speaking about studying/working in a different country, people would speak about culture shock. Any examples of a culture shock experience that you had in France?

 

Bailey:

Everyone in France is aware of the nutrition and environment around them, while we do not pay attention in America. The bread and market food are exceptionally fresh. Not having a car for 5 months was also a challenge because I couldn’t ever just hop in my car.

 

AFAM: what did you like the most about your French experience?

Bailey:

The friends we made and the people we met were the best part. They made the exchange so much more enjoyable—and, of course, wine, baguettes, and cheese.

 

 AFAM: what was the most challenging part of your French experience?

Bailey:

Definitely, my ability to speak French I learned after going, so reading signs, shopping in stores, and ordering food was challenging at the beginning. I also did miss my family, and it was hard to miss important events at home, but I was able to Facetime in!

 

AFAM: anything about your future plans that you would like to share with us?

Bailey:

I am currently looking to get my Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering.I am working on a patent for Biomedical Devices. I now want travel to be a piority, so I am always looking for the next adventure. Also, I plan to return to Aix in January to see my friends.

 

AFAM: any piece of advice you would give to American students willing to study at Arts et Metiers graduate engineering school?

Bailey:

My most significant piece of advice would be to embrace it all simply. Embrace the unknown, be open-minded, and . Everyone is very nice and helpful, which was a big reason why my exchange was so enjoyable.

AFAM: thank you, Bailey and have a wonderful day!

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St Victoire mountain near Aix-en-Provence

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At the café in Aix

AFAM participated in the International Week organized by the school on December 15th. We would like to thank the school and in particular Daniela Stelmaszyc, Head of European and International Development/Erasmus, for giving us the opportunity to meet students online during the International Week.

Merwan Benhabib (Ch 203) and Albina Patou-Chebykina represented AFAM during the meeting. They explained to A&M students participating in the conference what kind of activities and programs AFAM is having. There were around 20 students-participants.

We hope to see some of them on our lists of Shasta, Sequoia and Yosemite candidates as we invite our students to join our programs.

We wish you all Happy Holidays and looking forward to hearing from you soon!

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Daniela and Albina during the conference