2025 Scholarships
2025 SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
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. These scholarships are named in memory of Francis P. Beirne, Margaret O’Rourke, and James and Rosemary Lombard. In addition, this year once again awards will be made at both the High School and College level for the St. Patrick Foundation Scholarships.
1. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST CALENDAR – COLLEGE LEVEL
1.1 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
1.2 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 2025 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.)
1.3 Applicant must have completed and emailed his/her research paper with the official application form scanned and attached no later than Friday, April 25, 2025, 11:00pm.
1.4 Research Paper contest winners will be announced by Thursday, May 22, 2025.
2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST CALENDAR – HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL
2.1 High School Level Eligibility: High School Contest applicants must be currently attending high school or be home schooled at the high school level.
AND
2.2 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 2025 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.)
2.3 Applicant must have completed and emailed his/her research paper with the official application form scanned and attached no later than Friday, April 25, 2025, 11:00pm.
2.4 Research Paper contest winners will be announced by Thursday, May 22, 2025.
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3. NAMED MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS
3.1 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.
3.2 MARGARET O’ROURKE SCHOLARSHIP
Margaret O’Rourke was the Parade Secretary in the 1980s & 1990s and a close friend of Francis P. Beirne. Both 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.
3.3 JAMES AND ROSEMARY LOMBARD SCHOLARSHIP
James and Rosemary Lombard actively participated in the preservation and promotion of Irish heritage and culture in the Tri-State area. Jim Lombard most recently served as a member of the Parade’s Board of Directors, and throughout his life, as a staff member at the NYC Council President’s office, and on the boards of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, Daxor Corporation and the Mayo Society. He was a member of the Cork Association of NY; Div. 3 NY Co AOH; The Ireland-U.S. Council and The Knights of St. Patrick. Rosemary 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.
4. ST PATRICK FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
4.1 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.
5. AWARD AMOUNTS
FOR COLLEGE-LEVEL ESSAYS
5.1 There will be one award for each of the above-named scholarships in the amounts of $4,000, $3,000, $2,000, and $1500 Determination of amount will be based on those achieving first, second, third, or fourth place in the contest based on scores of the independent judges.
FOR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL ESSAYS
5.2 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, third, or fourth place in the contest based on scores of the independent judges.
ST. PATRICK FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
5.3 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).
6. METHOD OF ADJUDICATION
6.1 A number of judges, who will not be provided with any identifying information regarding the names of the applicants or their affiliations, will independently score each paper, based upon an agreed set of standards established by said judges.
6.2 The research paper will be scored on the following criteria: quality of insight/central idea; strength of supporting argument; adherence to topic and requirements; cohesiveness; consistency of point of view; grammar/language; sources/documentation. (Minimum 4 plus published sources required.)
***2025 SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST TOPICS***
7. TOPIC & MANNER OF PRESENTATION − COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
TOPIC: The theme of the 2025 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is to promote and support the Irish language. What factors account for the historical resurgence prior to 1916, and the cultural revival of the Irish language in the latter half of the 20th Century? What influences may have undermined or enhanced the revival of the language? Discuss the role the Irish language has played in shaping Irish national identity and the global Irish diaspora.
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.
8. TOPIC & MANNER OF PRESENTATION – HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
TOPIC: With the upcoming celebrations expected next year for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, how did the Irish support the fight for independence during the American Revolution? Who were the leading Irish figures of that time? Discuss the prominent roles that the Irish played in this conflict with England.
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.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Scholarship Committee for 2025 is comprised of the following members: Catherine Tully Muscente, Co-Chairperson, Hilary Beirne, Co-Chairperson, Michael Boyle, Jack Calcado, Laura Collins, Ann Garvey, Catherine Hogan, Mary Hogan, Susan Gordon Ryan, Dr. Mary Pat Kelly, Ruth Riddick, and Raymond Solga.
• Funding for the scholarship is made possible by the generosity of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Foundation.
• It shall be understood that no award from this scholarship contest shall cause any other financial aid received by any students to be in any way diminished.
• All entries become the property of the St Patrick’s Day Parade Scholarship.
• If there are any additional questions, contact Catherine Muscente – cmuscente@molloy.edu.
All are encouraged to publicize the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Scholarship contests, and to duplicate this announcement and the accompanying application, in order that the maximum number of eligible students might avail themselves of this opportunity.