William J. Sullivan serves as National Chairman of the AOH National Board’s Irish Way Program’s Scholarship and the AOH National Board’s Study Abroad Scholarships, as well as the National Chairman of the AOH National Board’s Hunger Project. The AOH National Board Scholarship initiatives provide opportunities for AOH members children and grandchildren to study in Ireland, while our Hunger Project provides for community outreach by our Divisions to exemplify the AOH motto of “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity.”
Bill Sullivan, a native of Lawrence, MA and graduate of Central Catholic High School, Salem State University and Cambridge College, retired from the Lawrence Public Schools in 2009 where he served for 35 years as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and District Administrator.
A member of the Rev. James T. O’Reilly OSA Division 8 AOH in his hometown for 47 years, he has served on the AOH National Board, the Massachusetts AOH State Board, the Essex County AOH Board, and Division 8 AOH in a variety of elective and appointive offices, most recently as an AOH National Director.
Besides being a member of the AOH, Bill is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Irish Cultural Centre of New England, and the Boston Irish Network, just to note a few. He was selected by Division 8 as their Irishman of the Year in 1982 and was the 2014 recipient of the David R. Burke Golden Bridges Award by the Irish Echo Newspaper of New York. In May 2018, he was awarded the Saint Marcellin Champagnat Award for Humanitarian and Community Service by Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA.
In December 2009, he was awarded National Life Membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In addition to his other Irish activities and commitments, he serves as the Volunteer Director of Division 8’s Hibernian Irish Collection; a collection of over 20,000 Irish books, Irish media, Irish Exbibits and Irish memorabilia that is housed in the David R. Burke Memorial Room at the South Lawrence Library in Lawrence, MA.
Irish Way & Study Abroad Scholarships Report – Jan/Feb/Mar 2025
Is one of your children or grandchildren thinking of studying abroad in Ireland within the next year? If so, now is the time to apply to the school that they are interested in. The AOH National Board offers scholarships for high school or college students who plan to study in Ireland.
Last spring the AOH National Board awarded four college students $1,500 scholarships for a semester of study, and one college student a $3,000 scholarship for a full year of study in Ireland. If you have a member of your family who wants to study at the graduate or undergraduate college level in Ireland, we hope that you will take advantage of the scholarship opportunities that the AOH National Board offers just as these five individuals did. Please check out the AOH National Board website for our latest scholarship application and other pertinent information on studying abroad.
Irish Way
The Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI) in collaboration with the AOH National Board, offers an opportunity for high school students to study in Ireland during the summer through the Irish Way Program.
Naturally, like many, you just may be wondering what exactly this program is. In a nutshell, it is a unique cultural and educational program for American high school students that was established in the mid 1970s. During the summer, students travel to Ireland for a three-plus week stay to participate in a comprehensive program involving the Irish language, literature, culture and history under the guidance of the (IACI) Irish Way Coordinator, who leads the trip. Students return home with a new and better understanding and appreciation of their Irish heritage.
Last summer the National Board had two students who participated in the Irish Way and received an Irish Way Scholarship. The dates for the 2025 Irish Way Program are June 29 – July 23. Information on the Irish Way Program, as well as a direct link to the IACI Irish Way Program’s website and Irish Way application are posted on the AOH National Board website under Scholarships. The National Board offers a $1,000 scholarship for the Irish Way to help offset some of the cost of the program.
Still have questions about the Irish way or our study abroad scholarship? Please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you! My email address is:
williamjsullivan@verizon.net Happy Saint Patrick’s Day and a Happy and Blessed Easter!