Trumbull's Ryan Carroll and Catherine White Earn Scholarships

The Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee announced the winners of the 2021 Mr. Shamrock Scholarship Program. They were selected among over many applicants. 2021 Mr. Shamrock Runner-Up is Ryan Carroll and 2021 Miss Shamrock Runner-Up is Catherine White. Both are Trumbull residents.

Ryan Carroll grew up attending the Bridgeport St. Patrick's Day parade and once at Fairfield Prep marched with the Irish Cultural Club. At Prep, Ryan is Student Council President, National Honor Society and a pitcher on the baseball team. He volunteers for the Challenger Division of Trumbull Little League.

Ryan's maternal family is from Galway where they were fishermen and had a special stitching pattern woven into their Knit Sweaters to identify them. His parents are Maggie and Sean Carroll. Ryan's paternal grandfather, the late William 'Billy' Carroll, was grand marshal of the parade in 1992. Two of his great uncles, Frank Carroll, Jr. and Peter Carroll also served as grand marshals.

Catherine White is a senior at Lauralton Hall where she is National Honor Society and on the Varsity ski and swim teams. Catherine started Irish step dancing at age six with Lenihan School of Irish Dance at the Gaelic-American Club and has danced her way through many of our parades. She plans to attend Marist College and has applied for their Freshman Dublin Experience. Her parents are Elizabeth and Richard White.

Mr. & Miss Shamrock Runners-Up will participate in the Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick's Day Parade festivities including the Virtual Parade and Battle of Pipe Bands competition on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at Noon on the Bridgeport Parade's YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

The Mr. & Miss Shamrock Scholarship Contest is held annually. All high school seniors of Irish descent in the greater Bridgeport area are encouraged to submit an application to the Parade Committee. All candidates are interviewed by an independent panel of judges and winners are chosen based upon their knowledge of their Irish heritage, traditions, history, the meaning of St. Patrick's Day, their involvement in their community, their interests and activities.

The winners receive a monetary scholarship award of $4,000 for future educational endeavors. Runners-up also are awarded a monetary scholarship of $2,000. The awards will be presented by the 2021 Grand Marshal Mary Ann Doonan of Stratford on March 17, 2021 at the Gaelic American Club.
For more information visit, http://stpatricksdaybridgeport...