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US Naval Academy graduate Victoria Moore and renowned journalist Ryan McCartney selected to study at DCU
Wednesday 5 December 2007
The US-Ireland Alliance have announced the names of the 2008-2009 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.
Ryan McCartney from Mt. Kisco, New York, is a senior at Duke University and served as the editor of the student newspaper, The Duke Chronicle, during the Duke lacrosse scandal. With Ryan at its helm, the newspaper received universal praise for its professionalism and ethical and excellent coverage. Ryan’s work, in particular, was recognised nationally by the Associated Collegiate Press. As a junior, Ryan was selected as one of the top three college journalists in the country for his reporting on the lacrosse scandal and Hurricane Katrina. In addition to journalism, Ryan founded and continues to support a series of service trips to Kingston, Jamaica, to help orphans with mental and physical abilities. Ryan’s interest in mentoring and serving children with disabilities stems from his own personal experience. Growing up, Ryan suffered severe dyslexia and was unable to read until he reached the fifth grade. Ryan will pursue a master’s in Political Communication at DCU.
Victoria Moore from Burke, Virginia, will graduate first academically in her class from the US Naval Academy in the spring. During her years at the Academy, she has earned several leadership and academic awards, including the Carl Vinson Leadership Award, given to the midshipman with the highest military standing in the class of 2008, and Brigade Training Sergeant, responsible for the training of all 1200 first year midshipmen. Victoria is fluent in French, and was only one of two midshipmen selected for a five-week internship with the international staff at NATO headquarters in Belgium. She is also a varsity athlete and nationally ranked runner, clocking the second fastest time in the 1000m in the history of the Naval Academy, just one second away from breaking the school record. Victoria will pursue a master’s in Development Studies at DCU.
Dublin City University is looking forward to welcoming both Ryan and Victoria in September 2008.
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; Maureen Murphy, Dean of the School of Education and Irish historian at Hofstra; and Jasmin Weaver, a 2004 Mitchell Scholar who is currently working in the Budget Office 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 programme recognizes outstanding young Americans who exhibit the highest standards of academic excellence, leadership and community service. The programme 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 programme. “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 the historic Good Friday Agreement, these young leaders are the perfect heirs to Senator Mitchell’s legacy. They will build on his 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 programme – to bring the most talented young leaders in the nation to the island of Ireland for a year of immersion in Irish academia, life, and culture as a way of building strong relationships between our countries,” said Trina Vargo, president of the US-Ireland Alliance.
The George Mitchell Scholarship places a unique emphasis on integrating the educational programme with an intensive leadership programme. 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.