Scholarships

All Hallows High School

111 164th Street

The Bronx, NY

10452

CO DAVID J. LEAHY SCHOLARSHIP David J. Leahy, a Correction Officer for 29 years and Emerald Society Irishman of the Year, founded the Emerald Society Scholarship program in 1972. Dave continued to run the Emerald Society scholarship program with his wife, Peggy Anne Leahy, until he died in 2005. Dave proudly served in the US Army from 1951 to 1953, was an usher at St. Eugene’s RC for 39 years, and was an active member of the Holy Name Society, Emerald Society, Parents Association of Iona Prep & Ursuline School, and the Henry S. Richards Little League. In addition, Dave was instrumental in creating and passing Kiernan’s Law, named in honor of his grandson Kiernan Dunne, which provided the ability to do backgrounds on caregivers. Dave was born and raised in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland, and emigrated to the US in 1948.

The Applicant must be a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, sibling (brother or sister), niece, or nephew of a Regular Member as defined in the By-Laws of the NYCD Emerald Society Inc. In addition, the Applicant’s sponsor must be a member of the Society in good standing at the time of the application and for two consecutive years before January 1 of the year to the 2023 examination. Exception: a member of NYCD who has joined the Emerald Society within one year and who otherwise meets the requirements stated may be considered eligible.

The Applicant must be in the 8th grade and entering Catholic/Private high school for the 2024-2025 school year. The scholarship award is sent directly to the Applicant (s) High School’s account. The Award recipient(s) are selected based on a written test conducted by the Scholarship Committee on March 4, 2023. The last day to submit this application is February 28, 2023.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact the Scholarship Chairman, Brian J. Sharkey,

One scholarship award of $1250 (1 to 6 applicants)
Two scholarship awards of $1250 (7 applicants or more)

The exam is on the first Saturday in March.

Regular and Associate members of the Emerald Society in “good standing” are eligible for the NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and NCLEES Scholarships.

NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Scholarship 2024

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. 

MARGARET O’ROURKE SCHOLARSHIP Margaret O’Rourke was the Parade Secretary in the 1980s & 1990s and a close personal friend of Francis P. Beirne. Both of them worked together to protect the Parade. Margaret was 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. 

ROSEMARY LOMBARD SCHOLARSHIP 

Rosemary Lombard was an award-winning educator, President of the American Irish Teachers Association, Board member at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, Chair of the United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc. Irish History Essay Contest, NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade Treasurer, and member of the scholarship committee.

Rosemary actively preserved and promoted Irish heritage and culture in the Tri-State area.

AWARD AMOUNTS

FOR COLLEGE-LEVEL ESSAYS There will be one award for each of the above scholarships: $3,250, $2,000, and $1,500. Determination of the amount will be on those achieving first, second, or third place in the contest based on the scores of the independent judges. 

FOR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL ESSAYS There will be one award for each of the scholarships named above in $1,500, $1,000, and $750. Determination of the amount will be on those achieving first, second, or third place in the contest based on the scores of the independent judges.

Applicants must have completed and emailed their research paper with the official application form scanned and attached no later than Tuesday, APRIL 5, 2023, at 11:00 pm.

All winners will be announced in May 2024.

2024 application

NCLEES College Scholarship

The National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies will be awarding four scholarships to eligible students. Students must be in their senior year of High School and planning to attend College on a full-time basis for the 2024-2025 school year and must be the child of a member in good standing of any member organization that is in good standing a member of NCLEES.

Only one application per student is allowed; however, more than one student per family may apply. The scholarship winners will be selected (by lottery) at the May 2025 NCLEES meeting.

Download Application

If you have any questions about our scholarship programs, please contact

Brian J. Sharkey, Scholarship Chairman

NYCD EMERALD SOCIETY INC.
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization EIN:85-3661787