Mitchell Scholarship

Fellowship for Americans to study in Ireland

Award

Mitchell Scholarship

Awarded for| graduate study in Ireland for Americans
Sponsored by| U.S.-Ireland Alliance
Established| 1998
Website| www.us-irelandalliance.org

The George J. Mitchell Scholarships, awarded annually by the US-Ireland Alliance, provide funding for graduate study in Ireland. It covers universities in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It was established in 1998, and the first class of scholars began their studies in 2000. On average, around 350 eligible American students apply for the 12 scholarships each year, with an acceptance rate of around 3%.[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] As of 2025, the program is no longer accepting applications, having been put on pause due to lack of funding.

## Background

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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 was established 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 to 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

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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 to recognize and foster intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to public service.[5]

## Alumni

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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; Tommy Vitolo, Representative of the Massachusetts State Legislature; and poet Rhiannon McGavin.

## Placement

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

## See also

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* Churchill Scholarship
* Fulbright Scholarship
* Gates Cambridge Scholarship
* Knight-Hennessy Scholars
* Harkness Fellowship
* Harry S. Truman Scholarship
* Marshall Scholarship
* Rhodes Scholarship
* Jardine Scholarship

## References

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1. ^ Vargo, Trina. "Class of 2014 Mitchell Scholars selected". US-Ireland Alliance. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
2. ^ "Class of 2022 George J. Mitchell Scholars | US-Ireland Alliance". www.us-irelandalliance.org. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
3. ^ Vargo, Trina (July 19, 1998). "The Irish, Here and There; For Irish Americans, Peace Means Change". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
4. ^ Kay, Sean (2011). Celtic Revival? The Rise, Fall, and Renewal of Global Ireland. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 264\. ISBN 978-1442211094.
5. ^ Kay, Sean (2011). Celtic Revival? The Rise, Fall, and Renewal of Global Ireland. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 264\. ISBN 978-1442211094.

## External links

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* Official website