The Irish American Young Leaders Scholarship Awards was launched in 2017 by the Irish
American Young Leaders, in New York and Florida, in partnership with Brian Fahy of the
Celtic Irish American Academy (CIAA) summer program in Galway, Ireland. We sent one
student from Long Island, Grace Bridges and one from The State of Florida, Amanda Finn.
In 2018 we set up the Cara Loughran Scholarship, Sending a student from the Parkland Area, Florida, in memory of Cara who was killed in the school shootings in Florida. In 2018, we sent three students, one from
New York, Jamie Mulholland from Rockland and two from Florida Cristy Giacomini from
Parkland School District and she also danced with Cara Loughran.

The girls participated in an Irish cultural program, forged many friendships and even learned
some “cúpla focal”, hence encompassing the core mission of the scholarship. The aim of the
Scholarship is to provide American high school students the opportunity to travel to Ireland and
experience first-hand Irish culture and heritage in a fun and diverse way. This scholarship was
established sending students back to Ireland to participate in a two-week summer program,
where they experience Irish cultural, arts, sports and many other educational programs.

The long-term goal of the Irish American Young Leaders Scholarship is to develop the necessary
funding that will facilitate growth of this unique program, enabling a large number of American
high school students to attend cultural summer courses in Northern and Southern Ireland. It is
integral to the Irish American Young Leaders Scholarship that we preserve and promote a strong
and progressive connection between Ireland and America.

We welcome all organizations to partner with us to help set up Irish American Young Leaders
Scholarships within their community.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be over the age of 14 and in their second year or above of American High School
  at the time of application.
• Students must be willing to travel to Ireland during the summer months and partake in the Irish
  cultural programs in which they are enrolled.

How to Apply

• Students are expected to complete a short application form and submit a 1,500-word essay on
  why they are a suitable ambassador for the Irish American Young Leaders Scholarship.

Recipient Selection

• Scholarship recipients will be chosen by The Irish American Young Leaders Scholarship Board
  of Directors and their affiliate partners. They will look for candidates who have the potential to
  excel as young leaders and to represent the Irish American Community with distinction during
  their trip to Ireland.

For more information on the Irish American Young Leaders Scholarship, e-mail: IrishAmericanYoungLeaders@gmail.com