Department of French

McCarthy Mission Statement

Mr. McCarthy (1901-1993) was an entrepreneur who began his life in the stockroom of A. G. Walton Co., a shoe factory in Massachusetts.  He never had the opportunity to attend college but was a great benefactor of higher education.

In 1996, E. Joseph McCarthy bequeathed over $900,000 to Georgetown University's French Department at the request of his niece, Maureen Gavel a French Department alumna and long-time employee.

In his memory, the E. Joseph McCarthy Endowment Fund will benefit students and faculty through scholarships and enhanced academic programs in the French Department.

I. Board

A board was appointed to designate, distribute and monitor the funds (endowment and current use), select projects and proposals and review the progress thereof. 

The founder of the E. Joseph McCarthy Endowment Fund, Maureen Gavel, appointed the first board with Professor Jean-Max Guieu as its chairperson.  Since the creation of the Endowment Fund, Prof. Guieu has served in that capacity with Ms. Gavel as its treasurer.  In September 2009, Professor Deborah Lesko Baker was appointmented the succeeding chairperson to the E. J. McCarthy Endowment Fund.

Each year, a new committee of three professors from the French department, elected by their peers, serves under the direction of Prof. Guieu to distribute, designate, and monitor McCarthy funds. Maureen Gavel reserves the right to nominate the chairman of the Board.  Although the chairperson of the French department is an ex officio member of all departmental committees, he or she does not vote on committee decisions.

II. Goals

The objectives of the McCarthy Endowment Fund are:

    A.  Help deserving students learn French through scholarships for Georgetown overseas  programs.

                B.  Provide financial support for French faculty. 

    C.  Provide funds to build the McCarthy Room (the “Espace McCarthy”) and maintain and update its equipment and furniture.

A.  Distribution and Designation of Funds for Students

Student Scholarship Criteria and Applications:  Three different scholarships are offered to Georgetown students:

• The E. Joseph McCarthy Overseas Study Scholarship for French Majors
• The E. Joseph McCarthy Summer Program in Tours Scholarship (open to all French students)
• The E. Joseph McCarthy Summer Program in Paris Scholarship (open to all French students)
• The Award at Tropaia

1.  The E. Joseph McCarthy Overseas Study Scholarships for French Majors

These scholarships consist of up to 4 scholarships for a spring semester or a full year abroad.  Students may receive up to $ 2,500 per semester.

These competitive scholarships are offered to students who are planning to study in a Francophone country for one or two semesters and who can demonstrate financial need.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• A scholarship application (either the spring program form or the academic year program form).
• A personal statement describing the student’s commitment to, and serious motivation for French studies.
• Two letters of recommendation from the student’s French Department professors, submitted directly to the Committee.
• The student’s official academic transcript.
• A financial aid award letter documenting the applicant’s financial assistance package obtained from the Office of Student Financial Services.

Deadline for applications for the following spring semester is October 31st.

Deadline for applications for the following fall or academic year is March 15^th.

2.  The E. Joseph McCarthy Summer Program in Tours Scholarship (open to all students of French)

These scholarships consist of up to 4 grants.  Students may receive up to $2,500 each.

These competitive scholarships are offered to students who are planning to study in the Georgetown University Summer Program in Tours and who can demonstrate financial need.

The applications for the Summer grants should be received by the 15th of March. 

Applicants must submit the following documents:

A scholarship application (please see attached form).

• A personal statement describing the applicant’s commitment to, and serious motivation for French studies.
• A letter of recommendation from at least one of the student’s French professors, submitted directly to the Committee.
• The student’s official academic transcript.
• An official statement from the Office of Student Financial Services documenting the applicant’s financial assistance package.

Deadline for applications for the Summer in Tours is March 15th.

3.  The E. Joseph McCarthy Summer Program in Paris Scholarship (open to all students of French)

This scholarship consists of one grant of up to $2,500. 

This competitive scholarship is offered to a student who is planning to study in the Georgetown University Summer Program in Paris and who can demonstrate financial need.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• A scholarship application (please see attached form).
• A personal statement describing the applicant’s commitment to, and serious motivation for French studies.
• A letter of recommendation from at least one of the student’s French professors, submitted directly to the Committee.
• The student’s official academic transcript.
• An official statement from the Office of Student Financial Services documenting the applicant’s financial assistance package.

Deadline for applications for the summer grant is March 15th.

4.  Award at Tropaia

This consists of one award of $400.

The Department recommends to the McCarthy Endowment Committee candidates for this award.  It will be offered to an outstanding graduating senior who will pursue an activity that promotes French or Francophone studies in either the academic or the professional realm.  The award will be presented at the Tropaia ceremony in May.