NAWF Scholarship & Grant Awarded ~ North American Students

Exchange Scholarships 2024
  • David McBride, Aberystwyth University
  • Joel Meredith, Bangor University
  • Abigail Larson, The University of Wales Trinity Saint David

 The Lloyd Travel Scholarship 2024
  • Anastasia Llewellyn, Ottawa University

NAWF Organizational Grant 2024
  • Birmingham Sister Cities
  • Red Dragon America
  • Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Exchange Scholarships 2023
  • Joel Meredith ~ Lansing, Michigan, is pursuing an MA in Arthurian Studies at Bangor University. Joel has received an MA in French literature and anticipates to pursue a PhD in English literature, focusing on Arthurian literature and post colonial studies.
  • Claire Lober ~ Canal Fulton, Ohio,  is pursuing her PhD Astudiaethau Celtaidd at Bangor University researching how medieval redactors of Brut Brenhenydd used prophecy to counter Ango-Norman.
  • Brendan Conn ~ Indianappolis, Indiana, seeking a second Masters degree by attending Bangor University, his first, a Masters in Science in School Counsiling and a Liscense in Mental Health Counciling, practicing cognitive therapy, a key componant to his research intrests. Specifically choosing Bangor to research inner speech and language processing.
Exchange Scholarships 2022
  • David McBride from Westampton, New Jersey is pursuing a Ph.D. at Aberystwyth University after receiving an MA in Welsh and Celtic studies. His doctoral research analyzes how poets addressed Welsh kings and their kindred in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
  • Megan Kimmelshue from Jackson, Oregon is entering the second year of her doctoral research at Bangor University after receiving a master's degree in Celtic archeology. Her field work is allowing her to conceptualize childhood life in the Celtic Iron Age.

NAWF Organizational Grant
  • Heddwch Nain/Mamgu ~ The grant supports a visit to descendants of Elined Prys, one of three delegates who a century ago brought a peace petition signed by 390,000 Welsh women to America urging the US to join the League of Nations.
Exchange Scholarships 2021
  • Andrew Edwards – Zeeland, Michigan, graduated (in Welsh) from Bangor University and will continue there in a master’s program, studying linguistic policy, focusing on sociolinguistics (in Welsh) in the field of the Welsh language for adults.
  •  Kelly Evans – Santa Barbara, California, will read for her master’s degree in the forestry program at Bangor, focusing on environmental and climate issues. 
  • Megan Kimmelshue – Jacksonville, Oregon, received her master’s degree in Celtic archaeology at Bangor and will continue there in a PhD program studying the role of children in historic Celtic cultures.
  • Brooke Martin – continues in her final year of PhD research at Bangor examining Welsh opera between 1875 and 1928, especially 42 little-known or studied works by Welsh composers.  
Grants 2020
  •  Peniel Welsh Chapel Association in Ripon, Wisconsin, will receive a full grant of $1000 to be used towards the cost of exterior renovations to the building.
  • Mari Morgan will receive a full grant award of $1000 towards publication of her PhD thesis on Welsh-American composers Daniel Prothero and Joseph Parry. The work is titled Braids of Song ~ Gwead y Gan and is to be released in the United States. This award is contingent upon the acquisition of additional funding towards publication costs.
Exchange Scholarships 2020
  • Brooke Martin will receive the $5000 award to continue her PhD studies on Welsh opera at Bangor University. She has recently made great progress and new discoveries in the area of Welsh musicology, uncovering several Welsh and Welsh-American composers whose music output had not been uncovered.
  • Andrew Edwards will receive a $5000 award to continue his studies in Welsh at Bangor University. He will begin writing his BA dissertation on the abolitionists of German and Welsh communities in America before and during the Civil War and the radical beliefs of both groups expressed in the German and Welsh newspapers of the time.
Lloyd Travel Scholarship 2020
  • There were no applications for this scholarship.
NAWF Grant Award 2019
  • The Avondale Mine Disaster Preservation Committee will utilize NAWF funding to hold the 150th anniversary of the Avondale Mine Disaster on September 6-8, 2019. The Avondale disaster, which occurred in 1869, stands as the one of the deadliest anthracite mining disasters in history, with 110 victims, 69 of which were of Welsh descent.  Ceremonies will be held at the disaster site in Plymouth Township and at the Washburn Street Cemetery. A full conference will be held at the Anthracite Heritage Museum as well, with featured speakers Professor Bill Jones and Professor Richard Healey, both from the UK.
  •  Rimrock Opera Foundation utilized funding from NAWF to support the considerable expense to mount the American production of Joseph Parry’s opera, Blodwen, which was performed in Welsh from May 11-19, 2019, at the NOVA Center for the Performing Arts in Billings, Montana. Welsh native, Dr. Dulais Rhys, adapted the opera for chamber ensemble, and conducted the orchestra. Blodwen has already received universal praise for its creation and performance. Dr. Rhys hopes to find other venues in North America for the opera.
Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship 2019
  • Hope Kohtala (Received the Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship + partial Exchange Scholarship) from Mechanic Falls, Maine, spent spring semester 2018 studying at Bangor University and realized how similar Wales and Maine were in physical beauty and cultural experiences. She earned her BSc in Parks, Recreation and Tourism at University of Maine and will continue studies towards her MA in Tourism at Bangor University. Building upon her previous research project from her study abroad experience, Hope will compare similarities and differences between New England and Wales in the seasonal tourism industry.
Exchange Scholarships 2019
  • Rebecca Blok from Kalamazoo, Michigan, will study at Bangor University towards her MA in Welsh. In preparing for her thesis, Rebecca will identify the complex structure of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi and how this structure communicates the message of the work as a whole.
  • Brooke Martin from Clarkesville, Georgia, continues her studies, now towards a doctorate, at Bangor University, researching contemporary minority and Welsh-language opera. In the summer of 2018, she presented two papers, one at Wales Research Conference and the other at NAASWCH. Brooke has become a fluent Welsh speaker; this past March competing for the Chair in Eisteddfod y Dysgwyr (Learners) and was placed third. he Year. 
  • Kelsey Weber from Portland, Maine, received her BFA in Ceramics from the Maine College of Art. Her next step is to complete a Masters in Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan University, researching the history, myths and folktales of Maine and Wales to find commonalities and historical links. She will then illustrate these tales on pottery.
  •  Andrew Edwards from Zeeland, Michigan, continues his studies in Welsh Literature at Bangor University. He is passionate about his Welsh heritage and has fallen in love with Wales and the beautiful Welsh language. Andrew has become a fluent Welsh speaker and his courses are in the Welsh language. He has received much attention from the Welsh media as an American thriving in Wales.
  • Hope Kohtala-(Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship + partial Exchange Scholarship) see above.
NAWF Grant Award 2018
  • Slate Valley Museum, Granville, NY. Concerts and lectures featuring Welsh musical performances and history
  • Congregants of the Welsh Church New York, NY. Casting and professional direction of a community reading of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood.
  • Gwenan Davies, Abergele, Wales. An artist studying for her Master of Fine Arts at the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard Co.
  • Mackenzie Hornsby, Rio Grande, Ohio. Study Performing Arts at the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Carmarthen.         
Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship 2018
  • Anna King - Guysville, Ohio. Inspired by her grandparents, she will research the creation, documentation, and history and of Welsh lovespoons. Department of Fine Arts Trinity St David’s University Swansea Campus.         
Exchange Scholarships 2018
  • James Sevitt - City University of New York. Doctoral research examining how individuals in Merthyr Tydfil are experiencing and coping with long-accumulating divisions and inequalities, recently exposed and exacerbated by Brexit.
  • Andrew Edwards - Zeeland, MI. Pursuing a degree at Bangor University, majoring in Welsh, Intercollegiate Welsh Learner of the Year.
  • Coral Lumbley - Champaign, Illinois- Doctoral studies on Medieval Welsh Culture and Literature. Intensive Welsh language course at Aberystwyth University