The George J. Mitchell Scholarships, awarded annually by the US-Ireland Alliance, provides funding for graduate study in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The first class of scholars began their studies in 2000. On average, approximately 350 young Americans apply for the 12 scholarships.^[1] In 2020, the US-Ireland Alliance announced that applications for the George J. Mitchell Scholar Class of 2022 increased by 22%, resulting in a record 453 individual applicants for the program.^[2]

Background

The George J. Mitchell Scholarship is organized under the auspices of the US-Ireland Alliance, a non-profit non-partisan organization based in Arlington, VA. The program began in 1998,^[3] created by US-Ireland Alliance president Trina Vargo with early support from the Irish and British Governments. Over the last decade, the program has been largely funded by the United States Department of State, with additional support from the Northern Ireland Government, Becton Dickinson, and Cross Atlantic Capital Partners. In 2010, the Irish Parliament passed legislation whereby it will match any contributions, up to 20 million euros, to an endowment for the Scholarship program.^[4] A Mitchell Scholarship award includes tuition, housing, airfare, and a cash stipend.

Scholarship purpose

The Mitchell Scholars Program, named in honor of former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell's pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, is designed to introduce and connect future American leaders to the island of Ireland and recognize and foster intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to service.^[5]

Alumni

Alumni of the Mitchell Scholarship program have pursued careers in a variety of fields including medicine, law, academia, politics, journalism, the armed services, and the arts. Notable alumni include Rebecca Aslakson, Chair of Anesthesiology University of Vermont; Matt Haney, member of the California Assembly; author Winnie M Li, wizarding gastro-pub entrepreneur Matt Cortland; author Deirdre Mask; Laela Sturdy, Managing Partner at CapitalG; entrepreneur Sasha Seymore; Alec Schierenbeck, former Supreme Court Clerk and General Counsel for New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Housing; Monica Bell, Professor of Law at Yale Law School; Robert Mulcare, Managing Director at New Mountain Capital; and Tommy Vitolo, Representative of the Massachusetts State Legislature.

Placement

Mitchell Scholars are placed at universities in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, including Trinity College, Dublin, University College Cork, Technological University Ireland, University of Limerick, University_of_Galway, Maynooth University, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, Ulster University and Queen's University Belfast.