Scholarships

Details & Requirements

The American Irish Association of Westchester is pleased to announce that it will hold its Annual Scholarship Examination. Entries must be submitted via email and received by Wednesday, July 15^th.

Academic Scholarships will be awarded on the results of an essay competition. All awards are paid directly to the successful student-competitor.

For students competing for the Mary Patricia Mannion 8^th Grade Scholarship, the exam will consist of an essay response of at least two full pages.  

For students competing for the Robert F. Stauf High School and James G. McGinty College and Graduate School Scholarships, the exam will consist of an essay response of at least four full pages.

The following scholarships are offered annually:

In an effort to better engage with wider American-Irish community in Westchester County, the Association has decided to expand the scholarship examination to all grammar, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate level students in Westchester County of Irish descent.   

$500 Irish Dance Scholarship – awarded to a child of any age up to 7^th grade who is studying Irish dance.

$500 Ira Goldman Irish Music Scholarship – awarded to a child of any age up to 7^th grade who is studying Irish music.

In the two above-mentioned categories, applicants will submit a one page essay regarding the role Irish music and dance has played in his/her life and how it has shaped the applicant’s understanding of and appreciation for his/her Irish heritage. 

$1,000 Mary Patricia Mannion 8^th Grade Scholarship – awarded to a student who will be entering freshman year of high school in September of 2026.

$1,500 Robert G. Stauf Secondary School Scholarship – awarded to an American-Irish student presently enrolled in secondary school who writes a two-page essay detailing their commitment to community service, which was a hallmark of Mr. Stauf’s life. Proof of said community service needs to be corroborated by accompanying documentation from the applicant’s teacher, guidance counselor, Principal, etc.

$2,000 James G. McGinty Undergraduate Scholarship – awarded to a student who is or will be a full-time freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in a college or nursing school during the 2026-2027 academic year.

$3,000 Graduate School Scholarship – awarded to a student enrolled in a program leading to a Master or Doctoral Degree at a college or nursing school during the 2026-2027 academic year.

If you have any questions, please, contact Scholarship Exam Committee Chairman            Joseph Smith by telephone at 914-513-8220 or by email at joseph.smith11@yahoo.com  

Student-competitors must complete the application below and return it via email to Joseph Smith by July 6^th.

Please note: A student may participate any number of times at each prize level, except for the Mary Patricia Mannion 8^th Grade Scholarship. However, the student may only win each award once.

Essay Submissions

Scholarship Winners

YEAR	CATEGORY	RECIPIENT
2025	James McGinty Undergraduate Prize	Thomas Rice
2024	James McGinty Undergraduate Prize	Mairead Peel & Ryan McLaughlin
2024	Graduate Level Prize	Christopher Antonelli
2023	James McGinty Undergraduate Prize	Kevin McCarvill
2023	Graduate Level Prize	Fiona & Aidan Galvin
2020	Irish Dance Prize	Keira Accostupa
2020	Mary Patricia Mannion 8th Grade Prize	Ryan McLaughlin
2020	James McGinty Undergraduate Prize	Catherine Graham
2019	Mary Patricia Mannion 8th Grade Prize	Kevin McCarvill
2019	Graduate Level Prize	Mary Daly Ashraf
2018	James McGinty Undergraduate Prize	Oisin Galvin
2018	Graduate Level Prize	Shannon Houlihan
2017	Graduate Level Prize	Maureen McNulty
2016	Mary Patricia Mannion 8th Grade Prize	Owen McCarvill
2016	James McGinty Undergraduate Prize	Robert Graham
2016	Graduate Level Prize	Thomas McNulty
2015	Irish Music Prize	Mairead Peel
2015	Mary Patricia Mannion 8th Grade Prize	Oisin Galvin
2015	Graduate Level Prize	Shane Slattery
2014	Mary Patricia Mannion 8th Grade Prize	John Wiley
2014	James McGinty Undergraduate Prize	Briana Travers

There were no scholarship programs held in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic