ORONO — The University of Maine System awards one full George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship or two one-semester scholarships per year which allow students to study at University College Cork in Ireland. This year — for the third time — both winners are from the Orono campus.

The competitive merit-based scholarship is made possible by an agreement between Maine and Ireland for a student exchange at the university level. It honors the 1998 Northern Ireland peace accord brokered by Sen. Mitchell between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Bailey West, from Stockton Springs, has been awarded a Peace Scholarship and will make the trip in spring 2020.

West, is a double major in biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology at the University of Maine. She will study in Ireland for a semester as part of the student exchange program.

West, a student in the Honors College, is looking forward to courses that will allow her to explore Irish folklore and language while immersing herself in the local culture, according to UMaine, in a news release. She also plans to get involved in groups at the University College Cork, such as the International Students Society.

“I am most looking forward to the relationships I will form with locals in Cork and other international students. I predict that these friendships will be one of the most valuable aspects of my experience,” said West, who expects to graduate in May 2021.

At UMaine, she is a student researcher in the lab of microbiology professor Julie Gosse. She studies toxicological effects of chemicals on the immune system. She also is a teaching assistant for general chemistry and is a member of the Screamin’ Black Bear Pep Band.

The other UMaine student, Madison Riley, is a double major in history and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies from Williamsport, Maryland, and will study in Ireland for the fall 2019 semester.

While in Ireland, Riley plans to take advantage of resources on the University College Cork campus, as well as better understand and appreciate the culture.

“I am most looking forward to the local travel in Cork, Ireland and will hopefully take the opportunity to travel to other countries in Europe,” said Riley, in the release.

She expects to graduate in December 2020.

“The University of College Cork is a beautiful campus that I cannot wait to explore, especially the activities and clubs on campus,” she said.

At UMaine, Riley is the secretary for the Feminist Collective and Student Alliance for Sexual Health. She also volunteers at the Women’s Resource Center.

More about the George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship and other scholarship opportunities are listed on the Office of Major Scholarships website. Other study abroad opportunities can be found on the Office of International Programs website.