Honoring Celtic Heritage: Bill Millin Scholarship & Fund Established at Iona University
Iona University Piper Margaret Gray ’27 selected as inaugural scholarship recipient
The Learned Kindred of Currie, a Scottish non-profit cultural and educational organization with a mission to preserve Celtic heritage and promote education, recently established the Bill Millin Scholarship & Fund at Iona University. The organization aims to perpetuate the legacy of Bill Millin by awarding a scholarship in his name.
Margaret Gray ’27, a member of the Iona University Pipe Band, expressed her gratitude as the inaugural recipient of this scholarship.
“This award means so much to me because my heritage is such a big part of my life. My family is from Ireland – specifically, Co. Meath, Longford, Louth, and Antrim – and this scholarship reminds me of all the immigrants in my family who have worked hard to preserve our culture.”
Margaret Gray ’27
Gray serves as the social media chair for the Pipe Band and also plays the tenor drum. "My college experience would not be the same without the band and the culture it upholds; it has truly given me my best friends,” Gray said.
On behalf of the organization, Robert Currie, Commander of the Name and Arms of Currie, said, "The Learned Kindred of Currie is delighted to be providing this educational scholarship in memory of Bill Millin. Our programs and bursaries support students in their studies and appreciation of our Celtic heritage. We look forward to growing with Iona in the years to come.”
The History of Bill Millin
Provided by the Learned Kindred of Currie
On June 6, 1944, during the D-Day invasion of World War II, Bill Millin, a Scottish soldier, was assigned to play the bagpipes while landing on Sword Beach. This act displayed heroism and created an iconic moment in history linking the traditions of the past to the current conflict and inspiring the troops. His performances of “Hielan' Laddie” and “The Road to the Isles” provided a morale boost and ensured that Scottish heritage was present amid the chaos of battle. The event secured “Piper Bill’s” place in history.
Bill Millin was assigned to play the bagpipes while landing on Sword Beach.
Millin was born in Canada on July 14, 1922, but his family moved back to Scotland when he was three. Having volunteered for military service, he found himself among the troops landing at Normandy at age 21. As the story is told, bagpipers were forbidden in combat in World War II, and when ordered to lead the troops, he cited this regulation, but his commanding officer said, “…that was from the English war office…” and that it didn’t apply to them. Millin stated later that talking to captured German snipers, they claimed they had avoided shooting him because they thought he had gone mad.
Millin's action on D-Day was portrayed in the 1962 film, “The Longest Day.” He passed on August 18, 2010, at age 88.
The Bill Millin Scholarship & Fund preserves a historic legacy and connects past heroism with present opportunities at Iona University.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.