Class of 2012 George J. Mitchell Scholars Selected

November 21, 2010

The US-Ireland Alliance capped a weekend of events with the selection of 12 Mitchell Scholars who will pursue a year of post-graduate study at universities on the island of Ireland in the academic year 2011-2012.

The George J. Mitchell Scholarship program was created more than 10 years ago by Trina Vargo, former foreign policy adviser to Senator Ted Kennedy. The scholarship was named in honor of Senator Mitchell’s role as chairman of the Northern Ireland peace talks. The program quickly became established as one of the most sought-after in the country. Scholars must have strong records of academic achievement, service and leadership.

The program has a strong and active alumni program. Jennie LaMonte, Director of the Mitchell Scholarship program noted that, “nearly 30% of the alums came together this weekend, strong evidence of their continuing connection to the program and the island of Ireland.”

On Friday morning, the Scholars met with Melody Barnes, President Obama’s Director of Domestic Policy. Melody spoke with the Mitchells about a range of issues including the President’s domestic agenda, the impact of the recent elections, her job at the White House, and what motivates her personally, including her faith. Melody and Trina were colleagues in Senator Kennedy’s office and Melody spoke about that shared experience and the lessons they learned from Senator Kennedy.

Britain’s Deputy Ambassador to the US, Dominick Chilcott and his wife, Jane, hosted a reception for the finalists at their northwest Washington residence. Guests included Mitchell alums, members of the selection committee, Capitol Hill staffers, and State Department officials.

Later that evening, the Northern Ireland Bureau hosted a performance by Duke Special, at the Irish-owned Dupont Hotel. The Belfast singer-songwriter had the audience singing along well into the night. The Mitchell Scholars are long-time fans of Duke who performed for them in Belfast in 2008 at the tenth anniversary of the peace agreement. He also performed at the Alliance Oscar Wilde event in Los Angeles.

On Saturday, a selection committee composed of eminent individuals interviewed finalists and selected twelve Mitchell Scholars. Read bios of selected scholars.

The selection committee included: Dr. Ehrin Armstrong, Mitchell Scholar class of ‘02 and cardiology fellow at the University of California, San Francisco; John P. Brown, Jr., associate director in the office of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Ambassador Chilcott; Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company; Michael McElroy, professor of Atmospheric Sciences and the first Director of the Center for the Environment at Harvard University; James C. Mullen, former President and CEO of Biogen Idec; and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Senior Vice President at Rock Creek.

Support for the program comes for the US Government (Congress and the Educational and Cultural Bureau at the Department of State), the Department of Education and Learning in Northern Ireland, the Irish Government, institutions of higher education on the island, Cross Atlantic Capital Partners and Becton Dickinson.