Press Release – 2026 Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship Recipients
Two Choctaw Students Earn 2026 Choctaw-Ireland Scholarships
DURANT, Okla. – Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma tribal members Molly Cornett and Kirstyn Smith have been named the 2026 Choctaw-Ireland Scholars. The two will begin classes this fall at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland, where they will pursue master’s degrees in their chosen fields while continuing the enduring friendship between the Choctaw Nation and the people of Ireland.
Cornett, a graduate of Western Kentucky University, earned bachelor’s degrees in anthropology with an archaeology concentration and Spanish. This fall, 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. “Receiving the Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship is truly life-changing for me, and I am inexpressibly grateful to the Choctaw Nation for making it possible,” Cornett said. “I hope to prove myself worthy of such an honor by sharing the culture I come from, representing the Choctaw people with an eagerness to learn about my host country and serve the people there.” After completing the master’s degree, Cornett plans to attend law school and study tribal law. Cornett believes anthropology’s focus on interdisciplinary thinking and cross-cultural communication will provide a strong foundation for advocating on behalf of tribal nations. Cornett credits an internship with the Choctaw Nation Cultural Center and work as an Indigenous textiles educator with Living Archaeology Weekend of Kentucky for inspiring Cornett’s educational journey and deepening their connection to Choctaw heritage.
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 while bringing Indigenous music into mainstream academic study. “When I received the call, I had to pull over,” Smith said. “I was overwhelmed by gratitude and joy. With this scholarship, I can accomplish my dreams in academia. It is such an honor to be selected as a representative for my tribe. I want to make the Choctaw Nation proud.” Growing up with an Irish mother and a Choctaw father, Smith said the scholarship carries special meaning because it reflects the longstanding relationship between the two cultures. Following graduate school, Smith plans to pursue a doctorate and become a professor and researcher focused on preserving Indigenous musical traditions and expanding their presence in music education.
The Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship was established in 2017 by the Government of Ireland in recognition of the Choctaw Nation’s humanitarian gift to the Irish people during the Great Famine of 1847. Despite facing hardships of their own following the Trail of Tears, Choctaw people donated what they could to help those suffering across the Atlantic. Today, the scholarship continues that legacy by supporting graduate education while strengthening the historic bond between the Choctaw Nation and Ireland. Each year, the scholarship provides two Choctaw students the opportunity to study at University College Cork while serving as ambassadors for the Choctaw Nation through cultural exchange, education, and service.
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