Since 1976, the Maison Française de Cleveland has held an annual contest for the students of French from the public and private high schools of Cuyahoga County and for full-time undergraduate students from the colleges and universities of Northeastern Ohio.

The contest encourages continued mastery of the French language and knowledge and appreciation of francophone cultures.

The high school contest is an oral one. The college/university contest is both oral and written. Every year, the Maison awards significant monetary prizes to the winners.

A candidate may be presented either by a member of the Maison, or by their high school or college. All teachers and professors who are members of the Maison Française are entitled to present one candidate. Every high school in Cuyahoga County may present one candidate. Every college and university in Northeastern Ohio may present two candidates. A maximum of four students may come from one institution.

The contest is held ordinarily between mid-March and the early days of April.

From its inception, the contest has been held at John Carroll University where former director of the contest was professor emeritus.

Prizes are awarded at the regular meeting of the Maison in April. The winners and their professors are the invited guests of the Maison Française to the dinner which precedes the awards.