Norther Ireland Doubles Its Support of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program

Sir Reg Empey, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Employment and Learning, today announced that Northern Ireland will double its annual commitment to the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program.

Trina Vargo, President of the US-Ireland Alliance, which administers the program, welcomed the announcement, "We are very grateful to Sir Reg, the Department and the Northern Ireland Government for its support. This partnership of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the US Congress is evidence of how we can all work together to strengthen the ties between our countries by introducing future American leaders to the island."

Sir Reg Empey added: "I am delighted to continue to support the Mitchell Scholarship Programme and welcome the profile the Mitchell Scholarship provides for Northern Ireland universities in the United States. More than 100 Scholars have benefited from the Scholarship Programme, with many students studying at the University of Ulster and Queen’s University Belfast."

"I recently had the pleasure of meeting with the current Mitchell Scholars studying across the island of Ireland. I believe the students are great ambassadors for Northern Ireland in the United States and I wish them every success for the world of work or continued study."

"The Scholarship continues to emphasize and recognise the importance of higher education both in Northern Ireland and in the United States and continues to strengthen US - Northern Ireland cooperation and partnerships."

Northern Ireland, which had been contributing $42,000 a year, will now contribute $84,000 a year to insure the permanence of the Mitchell Scholarship program. Last month the Irish Seanad and Dail passed legislation to provide up to 20 million euros to the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program, the flagship project of the US-Ireland Alliance. The US Department of State provides annual funding, support for which is led by Congressmen Peter King and Joseph Crowley in the House of Representatives. Senator Chris Dodd has stepped in to lead Democratic support in the Senate, which had been led by the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Senator Olympia Snowe, Republican Senator from Senator Mitchell’s home state of Maine also helps lead the Senate effort.

The tenth class of Mitchell Scholars is currently studying at universities on the island of Ireland. Irish President Mary McAleese will present the graduating class with their class rings on 1 June at Farmleigh, the former Guinness family estate now owned by the Government of the Republic of Ireland. Hundreds of US universities and thousands of students are exposed every year to universities on the island of Ireland because of the Mitchell Scholarship program. Approximately 300 Americans apply every year for this competitive scholarship and many who do not win the Mitchell, have decided to study on the island as paying students. The US-Ireland Alliance is working closely with all of the universities on the island in raising the profile of universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the United States. Mitchell Scholarship Director Jennie LaMonte was recently in Northern Ireland where the current class of scholars recently gathered to gain a greater understanding of its political and cultural history.