Helen P. O’Reilly was among 2010’s chosen 30 to receive a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which honors the contributions that immigrants and the children of immigrants have made to shaping this country.

Helen, the daughter of immigrants from counties Clare and Kerry, grew up in Queens, New York. From an early age, she exhibited compassion and community awareness, working at Advocates for Children of New York, an organization aimed at providing children with education services and solutions to rising juvenile detention rates. She went on to graduate, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University with a BS in foreign service, and is currently in her second year at Yale Law School. More great things are sure to come.