Ambassador Foley addressing this year's class of Mitchell Scholars

Ambassador Foley Welcomes 2007/8 Mitchell Scholars

Ambassador Thomas C. Foley held a reception at his Dublin residence to welcome this year’s class of Mitchell Scholars.  Of the twelve new scholars, 4 have ties with the U.S. military.  Three—Sean Healy, Alison Barlow, and Erin Stevens—are on leave from active duty.  A fourth scholar, Jeffrey Benedict, was a member of ROTC.

Mitchell Scholars were founded with the idea that the differences which lead to the conflicts in Northern Ireland could be resolved through education and mutual understanding.  The US scholars go to universities in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  In addition to their studies, throughout the year there are a series of programs meant to foster understanding not only among the scholarship recipients but between Ireland and Northern Ireland.  It is hoped that as the scholars advance in their various careers they will take this knowledge with them and build further bridges of understanding and communication.

Ambassador Foley with 2007/8 Mitchell Scholars

Each of the scholars brings an extraordinary background of achievement to their studies in Ireland and Northern Ireland.  From working with the disposed in Rwanda and Darfur, to working with the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) to help people understand their rights, these young scholars have already shown their dedication to achieving a brighter future for themselves and the world around them.  Each of them is a top scholar and will certainly bring a desire to learn from and share with their Irish colleagues.  It promises to be an exciting year for them.

The Mitchell Scholarship program receives funding from the U.S. Department of State.