US-Ireland Alliance Announces George J. Mitchell Scholars

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The US-Ireland Alliance today announced the names of the 2008-2009 class of George J. Mitchell Scholars. The new class includes Duke University’s newspaper editor whose coverage of the Duke lacrosse scandal won him and the paper universal praise, an environmental activist, an intellectual property specialist and distinguished musician and composer, an accomplished genetic researcher who has helped to discover a tumor-suppressor gene, and a dedicated anti-poverty advocate who has spent his years at Georgetown in Washington DC’s neediest neighborhoods.

The prestigious George J. Mitchell Scholarships are awarded annually to twelve Americans, under the age of 30, to pursue a year of post-graduate study at any university on the island of Ireland. This year’s renowned Selection Committee included former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake; National Book Award winner Alice McDermott; former State Department official and internet health leader and CEO Chris Schroeder; Ireland’s Ambassador to the US Michael Collins, Dr. Robert Clarke, a leading cancer expert at Georgetown who is a native of Northern Ireland; former head of Amnesty International William Schulz; Irish venture capitalist Gerry McCrory; and Jasmin Weaver, a 2004 Mitchell Scholar who is currently at Harvard University.

The awards are named after former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell who spearheaded the historic Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which produced peace in Northern Ireland. The Mitchell Scholarship program recognizes outstanding young Americans who exhibit the highest standards of academic excellence, leadership and community service. The Mitchell Scholarship program seeks to link future American leaders with the island of Ireland.

The twelve new Mitchell scholars were selected after a rigorous application process that drew more than 300 applications. “We are delighted with the new class of George Mitchell Scholars," said Mary Lou Hartman, Director of the George Mitchell Scholarship program. “They already are leaders in fields ranging from terrorism and national security to intellectual property, ubiquitous computing, human rights, and neuroscience. As we approach the tenth anniversary of Senator Mitchell’s historic Good Friday peace accord, these young leaders are the perfect heirs to Senator Mitchell’s legacy. They will build on Senator Mitchell’s legacy in impressive fashion in the years ahead.”

The Alliance received more applications this year than in previous years, drawing from 139 different schools from all over the country. “On campuses across the nation, the George Mitchell Scholarship has clearly emerged as one of the most desirable fellowships in the world. We are delighted by this development because it fulfills the vision of the program – to bring the most talented young leaders in the nation to the island of Ireland for a year of immersion in Irish life and culture as a way of building strong relationships between the United States and the Irish people,” said Trina Vargo, president of the US-Ireland Alliance.

The George Mitchell Scholarship places a unique emphasis on integrating the educational program with an intensive leadership program. Throughout the year, Mitchell scholars have the opportunity to meet and brainstorm with leaders of Irish government, business, culture, and the arts and to fully immerse themselves in the most important and interesting events throughout the island.

Ireland's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Collins, applauded the selection of the new Mitchell scholars. "We congratulate these outstanding young leaders, " Ambassador Collins said.. "We are honored to welcome them, and we are very pleased that they will contribute to friendship and close ties between the United States and Ireland."

The newly announced 2007-2008 George Mitchell Scholars are listed below along with their hometowns, their US university affiliation, and their Irish and Northern Ireland university assignment, pending final approval from the universities. A more complete biography of each Scholar follows.