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George J. Mitchell Scholarship Exchange: Overview

The George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship is an annual exchange and scholarship to Ireland for students from the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System. The purpose of the scholarship is to create opportunities for the exchange of college students between Ireland and the State of Maine.

"This has completely changed the way I view the world. For as much as I love Maine, farming, potatoes, nature, etc., books can only give you so much of a picture of the world until you get out there and see it, and once I got here, and met kids from all over the world, my eyes were opened to so many different cultures, ideas, opinions."

NMCC Student Luke Ireland, 2009 Mitchell Scholar

The Scholarship

The Maine Community College System (MCCS) and University of Maine System (UMS) will each award annually either one academic-year scholarship or two one-semester scholarships. Each scholarship from the MCCS and UMS will provide the opportunity for a student to study full time at a university or institute of technology in Ireland. The scholarship includes tuition and fees, books, room and board, and living expense and travel stipends.

Participating Irish Colleges

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and University College Cork (UCC) are the Irish Institutions participating in the exchange. Maine community college students will attend CIT; students from the University of Maine System will attend UCC. If a student wishes to pursue a program of study not offered at the specified host institution, an exception may be considered to allow attendance at the other institution in Cork. Similarly, if a Maine community college student pursues a technical program not available at CIT, that institution may arrange to have the student attend another institute of technology offering a program better suited to the student's needs.

Qualifications (see application for complete list)

To qualify for a scholarship from the MCCS or UMS to Ireland, a student 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) or the University of Maine System (UMS).
• Have completed at least one semester by the application deadline.
• 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.

Transfer of academic credit

The MCCS and UMS will assist scholarship recipients in determining the appropriate transfer of credits.

Application due date

The application for the scholarship for academic year 2010-2011 is due on or before Feb. 15, 2010.

Selection date

The scholarship recipients will be selected by April 10, 2010, the anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accord on Good Friday 1998.

Announcement date

Scholarship recipients will be notified by the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System by May 22, 2010, the anniversary of the vote for the Peace Accord.

George J. Mitchell Scholars

Each scholarship recipient is named a George J. Mitchell Scholar.