Details from a BCG Press Release on this unique opportunity for African American genealogists!
Applications for scholarships for African Americans to participate in national genealogical institutes are due 15 March 2021, the Board for Certification of Genealogists® (BCG) announced today. This scholarship, established in 2020, is named after the first board-certified African American genealogist, Paul Edward Sluby Sr.
Scholarships will be awarded to up to three students who are African American, to cover up to $1,700 of the tuition, travel, and lodging expense of attending one of five premier national institutes. BCG will also waive its final application fee of $300 for scholarship recipients who submit portfolios of work to be considered for certification within three years of the announcement of an award.
The application form and supporting material is posted on BCG’s website at www.bcgcertification.org/african-american-scholarship. Applicants are required to submit an essay and a sample of their genealogical research. It is anticipated that scholarship recipients will be awarded in May 2021, so that recipients can take part in institutes scheduled for 2022. Those wishing to apply should fill out the required application form and submit with supporting materials to office@bcgcertification.org.
The five institutes eligible for scholarships for tuition, travel, and lodging expenses (where applicable) are:
- Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), held annually at the National Archives and other locations in Washington, DC, and College Park, Maryland. The 2022 session is scheduled for July 2022.
- Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, provides two separate week-long sessions in June and July.
- Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR), held in Athens, Georgia, in July, under the auspices of the Georgia Genealogical Society.
- Midwest African American Genealogical Institute (MAAGI), based at the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, currently offered for three days in early July.
- Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), sponsored by the Utah Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City held in January each year.
Where a scholarship is announced after the close of registration for a particular institute, BCG will work with the institute to make available seats for scholarship recipients in the specific course of his or her choice. Applicants can be of any age, but should exhibit intermediate or higher skills that have prepared them for an in-depth learning experience. There is no age limit or income requirement.
“The Board for Certification of Genealogists is pleased to sponsor attendance at these high-quality educational offerings,” said President LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL. “This scholarship program is designed to increase the number of under-represented communities in the ranks of Certified Genealogists®, in line with BCG’s mission.”
© 2021, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.
