Auburn University Master of Business Administration student Lauren Little will be the university's nominee for the prestigious Mitchell Scholarship.

Awarded annually, the Mitchell Scholarship gives 12 students nationwide the opportunity to pursue one year of postgraduate study in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

A native of Decatur, Ala., Little earned a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies from Auburn in May 2013. During her senior year, she was president of the Committee of 19, an initiative aimed at creating awareness and solutions for the war on hunger.

The Mitchell Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S.-Ireland Alliance, is named in honor of former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process. Applicants are judged on three criteria: scholarship, leadership and a sustained commitment to community and public service. The scholarship provides tuition, accommodations, a living expenses stipend and an international travel stipend.