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George Mitchell Scholarship: Application Information

Deadlines

The deadlines for applying are as follows:

  • Applications emailed, faxed, postmarked, or hand-delivered by Feb. 15, 2010
  • Recipient(s) selected by April 10, 2010
  • Recipient(s) notified by May 22, 2010

Click here to obtain a copy of the application form. (PDF)

The George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship honors the Northern Ireland peace accord brokered by Senator Mitchell between the governments and peoples of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The accord was reached on Good Friday, April 10, 1998, and accepted by vote of the citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland on May 22, 1998.

The Peace Scholarship is an agreement between Maine and Ireland for a student exchange at the community college and university level. The 2010-2011 exchange will begin in the fall of 2010 and offer placement in the city of Cork, on the south coast of Ireland, at either the Cork Institute of Technology for MCCS students or at University College Cork of the National University of Ireland for UMS students.

The Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System will each award one academic-year scholarship or two one-semester scholarships per year.

Each recipient of the award is named a George J. Mitchell Scholar.

MCCS scholarship requirements

Applicants must—

  • Be age 18 or older and be eligible for international travel at the time of the exchange.
  • Be a Maine resident for at least one year by the application deadline.
  • Have demonstrated leadership skills and a commitment to community service.
  • Be a full-time, matriculated student in the Maine Community College System (MCCS) and enrolled in an associate degree program.
  • Have completed at least one semester by the application deadline, be a 2009 graduate, or be set to graduate from MCCS in May 2010.
  • Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
  • Have health insurance coverage throughout the exchange period.
  • Submit a complete application emailed, faxed, postmarked, or delivered in person by the due date, including—

    1. Whether you're applying for the exchange for one semester or a full academic year;
    2. The program you want in Ireland;
    3. How the program will link to your study or career plans here;
    4. An explanation of why you want to participate in the exchange;
    5. Why you feel prepared to study in another institution and culture—Ireland in particular;
    6. A complete and up-to-date résumé;
    7. Your most recent college transcript;
    8. Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a college official attesting to academic ability and one from a community member attesting to community service;
    9. Three signatures: yours on the application and again on the Award Agreement and that of your faculty advisor, signaling agreement with your exchange program and your education and career plans after the exchange.

Award period

Scholarship winners must participate in the exchange within one year of the award. For example, if you are awarded a Peace Scholarship in spring 2010 for one academic year, your exchange period begins in fall 2010. If your award is for one semester, your exchange period begins either in fall 2010 or winter 2011. The specific timeframe for a one-semester exchange will depend on course offerings and exam schedules.

Expectations

While you are in Ireland you must communicate regularly with both the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Exchange Coordinator at the Center for Career Development, Maine Community College System, and the International Officer at Cork Institute of Technology. When you return from Ireland, you'll be asked to complete a formal evaluation of your exchange experience. In addition, you'll be expected to share your experience formally and informally on campus and in the community (e.g., with future applicants, in international forums, and with civic associations such as Rotary), as well as grant MCCS permission to quote from your reports and publish your photo, such as in press releases or on the MCCS Web site.

Participating Irish post-secondary institutions

  • MCCS Students: Cork Institute of Technology (CIT)
  • UMS Students: University College Cork (UCC)

If you plan to apply for this exchange, you should learn as much as you can about the Irish institution you will attend (see Web sites below) and which courses would align with your community college program and future plans.

You will be expected to take a full-time course load, either for the academic year or for the equivalent of one MCCS or UMS semester. Your faculty or campus advisor can help you plan your program.

Useful Web sites

Important information on course selection for the Exchange

Prior to submitting this application, you must decide on the program or major you want in Ireland. Your community college academic advisor must approve your plan and sign your application. If you plan to transfer to the University of Maine System, you should have your program approved—and your application signed—by the university chair or faculty advisor in the department in which you will enroll, if possible.

If you are awarded a Mitchell Peace Scholarship, you'll need to work with your faculty advisor to determine, as much as possible, the specific courses you want and how credit for them will transfer to your Maine institution. You may have to alter your course selections on arrival in Ireland, but planning ahead should help with credit transfer. Even though your advisor has approved your program in Ireland, you should bring syllabi and coursework home with you as documentation.

These requirements will help ensure that you have the prerequisites necessary for your exchange experience and can receive proper course credit in Maine. If you will be returning to a Maine community college or university, you should register as early as possible for the courses you want here when you return.