AUGUSTA – Four Maine college students will study in Ireland next year as the 2004 George J. Mitchell Peace Scholars.

The students, who were selected for academic and leadership abilities as well as a commitment to community service, will be honored at a luncheon ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m. May 19 at the Maple Hill Conference Center in Hallowell.

The 2004 George J. Mitchell Peace Scholars are:

. Rebecca Libby of Skowhegan, a first-year student in Kennebec Valley Community College’s liberal studies program.

. Kent Corey of Washburn, a May 2003 graduate of Northern Maine Community College’s business administration program.

. Thomas Merrill of Livermore, a sophomore majoring in computer science and geography at the University of Maine at Farmington.

. Sally Merritt of Auburn, a junior majoring in economics at the University of Southern Maine.

Libby and Merritt will travel to Ireland this fall, while Corey and Merrill will go abroad next spring. The students will study at University College Cork or Cork Institute of Technology.

The George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship was created in 1998 as a tribute to Mitchell for his work in helping to facilitate a peace accord for Ireland and Northern Ireland.