Southern Maine Community College student Isabelle Chimenti has received a George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship to study in Ireland next year.
Chimenti, who is majoring in both Liberal Studies and Communications & New Media Studies, will attend Cork Institute of Technology for the spring semester of the 2018-19 academic year. She grew up in the western Maine town of New Portland and graduated from Caratunk High School in North Anson in 2011; she now lives in South Portland.
Chimenti said she plans to make the most of her time in Ireland, noting that her great-grandparents were originally from Ireland before emigrating to the U.S., and that her great-grandmother was from the Cork region. “I’m just really excited to soak in everything over there,” she said.
The Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System created the scholarship as a tribute to former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell for his efforts to facilitate peace in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Community College System awards two Mitchell scholarships each year to Maine community college students.
Chimenti is the eighth SMCC student since 2010 to be awarded a Mitchell Scholarship. The scholarship covers tuition and fees, books, room and board while also providing a living expense stipend and a travel grant.