Applications for scholarships for African Americans to participate in national genealogical institutes are due 8 September 2020, the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) announced today.
In June, BCG announced that it would award scholarships to up to three African American students, 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 October 2020, so that recipients can take part in institutes scheduled for 2021. Those wishing to apply should fill out the required application form and submit with supporting materials as required to . 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 next session is scheduled for July 2021.
- 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. January 2021 sessions will be virtual.</li>
BCG is working with institutes to make available seats for scholarship recipients, as well as 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.”
The words Certified Genealogist and letters CG are registered certification marks, and the designations CGL and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.
