2023 Scholarships

The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is pleased to announce a College Level Research Paper Contest and a High School Level Research Paper Contest. In memory of three outstanding Parade leaders who have gone on to their eternal rewards, these scholarships are named the Francis P. Beirne Scholarship, the Margaret O’Rourke Scholarship, and the Rosemary Lombard Scholarship.

In addition, this year we have added the St. Patrick Foundation Scholarship to the awards.  

FRANCIS P. BEIRNE SCHOLARSHIP
Francis P. Beirne was the Chairman of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the 1990s. He was a man of immense popularity with the Parade organizations and is best known as the person who protected and saved the Parade at a difficult time. He was from Carrick-on-Shannon Co. Leitrim and was a strong supporter and friend of John Cardinal O’Connor and the Church.

MARGARET O’ROURKE SCHOLARSHIP
Margaret O’Rourke was the Parade Secretary in the 1980s & 1990s and a close personal friend of Francis P. Beirne. Both of them worked together in protecting the Parade. Margaret was known as a compassionate and gracious lady who worked diligently behind the scenes for the Parade. She attended many advisory meetings and helped guide Parade matters at a difficult time in the Parade’s history.

ROSEMARY LOMBARD SCHOLARSHIP
Rosemary Lombard was an award-winning educator who actively preserved and promoted Irish heritage and culture in the Tri-State area. She was a founding member and President of the American Irish Teachers Association; a member of the board at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center; she chaired the Irish History Essay Contest of the United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc. and was an active member of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade where she served as Treasurer and member of the scholarship committee.

ST PATRICK FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
Commencing 2023, these scholarships will be awarded to College and High School level students eligible for various services (neuro-divergent, access, or disability) in their respective schools that help them meet their educational goals. For High School students applying to be considered, signatures of guidance counselor and parent (or guardian) are required. For College level students applying to be considered, signature of advisor is required. These signatures will be an attestation that the applicant meets the criteria above.

Award Amounts

FOR COLLEGE-LEVEL ESSAYS
There will be one award for each of the above-named scholarships in the amounts of $4,000, $3,000, $2,000, and $1,500. Determination of amount will be based on those achieving first, second or third place in the contest based on scores of the independent judges.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL-LEVEL ESSAYS
There will be one award for each of the above-named scholarships in the amounts of $2,000, $1,500, $1,000, and $750. Determination of amount will be based on those achieving first, second or third place in the contest based on scores of the independent judges.

ST. PATRICK FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
There will be two awards at the College level in the amounts of $4,000 and $3,000 and two awards at the high school level in the amounts of $2,000 and $1,500. Determination of the amount will be based on those achieving first and second place in each contest level based on scores of the independent judges. Applicants must write their essay based on the topic assigned to their respective educational level (college or high school).

***2023 SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST TOPICS***

TOPIC & MANNER OF PRESENTATION − COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
TOPIC – This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. How did political influence and financial support given by Irish immigrants and Irish Americans impact significant turning points in 20th Century Irish history — from the establishment of the Irish Free State (1922) through to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (1998).

A minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 typewritten pages (2,000-2,500 words) double spaced, standard one-inch margins. Footnotes should be included on each page, and you must include a bibliography to satisfy requirements, and both should not be included in the word count.
Writing on the wrong topic will deem the entry invalid.

TOPIC & MANNER OF PRESENTATION –HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
TOPIC: The Irish Tri-Color Flag was created 175 years ago by the Young Irelanders under Thomas Francis Meagher. Discuss the genesis of the flag in Waterford in 1848, and the design’s connection to other contemporary freedom movements in Europe. How did this flag come to officially represent the Republic of Ireland several generations later?
A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 typewritten pages (1,500-2,000 words), double spaced, standard one-inch margins. Footnotes should be included on each page and you must include a bibliography to satisfy requirements and both should not be included in the word count.
Writing on the wrong topic will deem the entry invalid.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST CALENDAR – COLLEGE LEVEL
College Level Eligibility: College Contest applicants must be currently attending as an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited college or university, school of nursing, medical school, business school or law school.
AND
The applicant must be either attending an affiliated educational institution or must be a family member of any person belonging to an affiliated organization. In both instances, the affiliated institution or organization which the student is relying upon must have paid its 2023 affiliation fee to the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. (Family members may include son, daughter, spouse, brother, sister, niece, nephew, grandchild, grandniece, grandnephew, and great grandchild.)

Applicant must have completed and emailed his/her research paper with the official application form scanned and attached no later than
Tuesday, APRIL 4, 2023, 11:00pm.
Research Paper contest winners will be announced by Friday, May 19, 2023.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST CALENDAR – HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL
High School Level Eligibility: High School Contest applicants must be currently attending high school, or be home schooled at the high school level.
AND
The applicant must be either attending an affiliated educational institution or must be a family member of any person belonging to an affiliated organization. In both instances, the affiliated institution or organization which the student is relying upon must have paid its 2023 affiliation fee to the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. (Family members may include son, daughter, spouse, brother, sister, niece, nephew, grandchild, grandniece, grandnephew, and great grandchild.)

Applicant must have completed and emailed his/her research paper with the official application form scanned and attached no later than
Tuesday, APRIL 4, 2023, 11:00pm.
Research Paper contest winners will be announced by Friday, May 19, 2022.