George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship
Maine-Ireland Post-Secondary Student Exchange
2011 Application for the 2011-2012 Academic Year
Applications due on February 7, 2011
Selection of scholarship recipients by April 10, 2011
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 Technical College and University level. During the 2011-2012 academic year, students from Maine will be in residence in the city of Cork on the south coast of Ireland, at the University College Cork of the National University of Ireland. The first Peace Scholarship exchanges took place during the 1999-2000 academic year.
The Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System will each award one full scholarship or two one-semester scholarships per year.
Each student selected for this exchange will be named a George J. Mitchell Scholar.
George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship Requirements:
University of Maine System Applicants
University of Maine System Applicants must:
- Be age 18 or older and be eligible for international travel at the time of the exchange.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- 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, undergraduate student in the University of Maine System (UMS) and enrolled in a degree program.
- Have successfully completed two semesters of University study at a UMS institution; i.e. 24 credits.
- Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- Have health insurance coverage throughout the exchange period.
- Submit a complete application (pdf) by the due date, including:
- whether you’re applying for the exchange for one semester or for a full academic year;
- the courses you want in Ireland and how they will link to your study/career plans here;
- an explanation of why you want to participate in the exchange;
- a brief explanation of why/how you feel prepared to live and study in another culture and in Ireland in particular;
- a complete and up-to-date resumé;
- your most recent official transcript;
- two letters of recommendation, including one from a college faculty member who has taught you, attesting to your academic ability, and one from a community member attesting to your participation in community service; and
- two signatures: yours and that of your faculty advisor.
- File appropriate “Away” registration form at your UMS institution.
Interviews with finalist candidates will take place in March 2011.
Award Period
Scholarship recipients will participate in the exchange within one year after receiving the award. For example, if you are announced as a Peace Scholarship awardee in spring 2011 for a one-semester period, your exchange period would begin either in fall 2011 or spring 2012 for one academic semester only. If you are awarded a full-year scholarship, your exchange period would begin in fall 2011 and last through spring 2012.
Expectations Following the Exchange
When you return from Ireland, you’ll be asked to complete a formal evaluation of your exchange experience. You will also be expected to share your experience formally and informally on campus and in the community (e.g. with future applicants, in international studies classes, at Rotary meetings, etc.).
Participating Irish Post-Secondary Institutions
During the 2011-2012 academic year, the George Mitchell Peace Scholarship recipient(s) in the University of Maine System will be in residence at University College Cork (UCC), on the south coast of Ireland. If you are selected, you will be expected to take a full-time course load, either for the academic year or for the equivalent of one UMS semester. Irish terms do not coincide exactly with our academic semesters. The Mitchell Scholarship advisor on your campus will help you plan your schedule to accommodate these differences.
Course Selection
If you are interested in this exchange program, you should learn about the participating Irish institutions, their course offerings (see websites below), and which of those courses might align with your home University program and future plans. Prior to submitting this application, you are required to identify the courses you want to take in Ireland, and your planned coursework must be approved by your University academic advisor, who must also sign this application. Even though your advisor will have approved the courses you intend to take in Ireland, you’ll want to bring syllabi and coursework home with you, in case there are questions concerning transfer of credit. If you are awarded this exchange scholarship, you must file an “Away” registration form. For more information regarding UMS credit and registration, contact the Mitchell Scholarship advisor on your campus.
Mitchell Scholarship Advisors
University of Maine: Karen Boucias, Director of International Programs
University of Southern Maine: Larisa Kruze, Assistant Director of International Programs
University of Maine at Augusta: Wendy Hazard, Assistant Professor of History
University of Maine at Farmington: Lynne Eustis, Assistant Director of International and Exchange Programs
University of Maine at Fort Kent: Mariella Squire, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Social Science
University of Maine at Machias: Stuart Swain, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Maine at Presque Isle: Marjorie McNamara, Student Exchange Coordinator
Useful Websites
University College Cork (UCC) - http://www.ucc.ie
University of Maine System (UMS) - http://www.maine.edu
Maine Community College System (MCCS) - http://www.mtcs.net
U.S. State Department/U.S. Embassies and Consulates - http://usembassy.state.gov/
U.S. State Department/Passport Services - http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
U.S. Customs Service "Know Before You Go" - http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/
International Student ID Card -http://www.myisic.com
Microsoft Expedia airfare searches& general travel information - http://www.expedia.msn.com
Mobility International USA for students with disabilities - http://www.miusa.org
Holiday Ireland - http://nci.ie/holiday