2026 Choctaw – Ireland Scholars Announced

The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin warmly congratulates Molly Cornett and Kirstyn Smith of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma on their selection as the 2026 Choctaw-Ireland Scholars.

Both Scholars will pursue one-year master’s programmes at University College Cork (UCC) this autumn through the Choctaw Ireland Scholarship Programme.

Established by the Government of Ireland in 2017, the scholarship commemorates the Choctaw Nation's act of generosity during Ireland's Great Famine. Delivered in partnership with the Chahta Foundation, the programme enables members of the Choctaw Nation to pursue taught master's degrees at UCC while strengthening the enduring friendship between Ireland and the Choctaw Nation. Alumni of the programme have consistently highlighted the personal, academic, and cultural value of the experience.

Cornett, a graduate of Western Kentucky University, earned a bachelor’s degrees in anthropology with an archaeology concentration and Spanish. Cornett will pursue a Master of Arts in Anthropology at UCC. Drawn to anthropology because of its emphasis on understanding people and cultures, Cornett looks forward to studying in a program that values cultural preservation and revitalization.

Smith, a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, earned a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary, Jazz and Popular Music. At UCC, Smith will pursue a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology. Passionate about music, travel, and cultural exchange, Smith hopes to build a career researching, preserving, and teaching music from cultures around the world.

Read more via the Chahta Foundation’s press release: Press Release - 2026 Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship Recipients - Chahta Foundation