AUBURN — Brianna Mae Crosby, recent graduate of Central Maine Community College, has been awarded the prestigious George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship.

The Maine Community College System bestows the scholarship to two students every year with the purpose of creating exchange opportunities between Maine and Ireland. It is named after former Maine Senator George Mitchell, who played an historic role in brokering peace accords between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Starting in January, Crosby will spend a semester studying at the Cork Institute of Technology located on the southern coast of Ireland. All tuition, fees, books, and room and board costs will be covered by the scholarship.

“Just the idea that I was nominated was very special to me. But to be chosen? I was ecstatic!” said Crosby.

While addressing her fellow graduates at CMCC’s commencement on May 14, Crosby said she was honored to be named a Mitchell Scholar.

“In a few months, as one of the recipients of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship, I will be heading to Ireland to study. However, I will not be going there alone. I will be going with every one of you. This is because at Central Maine Community College, we don’t just earn an education. We build a family, a network of friends and faculty.”

A resident of Wayne, Crosby earned an associate degree with highest honors in Business Administration and Management with a concentration in Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management. A member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, she completed her studies at CMCC with a perfect 4.0 GPA. In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments, she was honored as CMCC’s 2015 Student of the Year by the Maine Community College System’s Board of Trustees in April.

Before her semester in Ireland, Crosby plans to continue her studies in International Studies at the baccalaureate level in the fall.