An early morning crowd of family historians attended the annual SCGS Genealogy Jamboree Scholarship Breakfast Sunday, June 8, 2014 to congratulate Utah student Paul Woodbury, recipient of the 2014 Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant and the Jamboree Scholarship.
Paul is a senior at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and a native of Colorado. He will graduate in June with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Genetics and Biotechnology and a Minor in Family History. He has conducted on-site research in France and Italy, and plans a return trip to Europe later this summer.
Thank You to Breakfast Sponsor FindMyPast
Jen Baldwin welcomed everyone to the breakfast on behalf of FindMyPast, sponsor for the event and student attendees. Jen is the Outreach Manager and works closely with societies and organizations. She announced a new benefit for SCGS society members who will receive a discounted FindMyPast subscription rate. She also reminded attendees of FindMyPast’s new access to the PERSI database, a rich research source.
Paul Woodbury Receives $500 Cash Grant
It was my pleasure to introducing Paul to the breakfast attendees and present him with the $500 cash award. He plans to use the funds toward research expenses on his forthcoming visit to France. Paul’s name will be added to a new perpetual plaque honoring recipients of the Winsor Student Grant to be displayed at the SCGS Research Library.
Paul shared his personal experience with the audience, mentioning that he first became interested in genealogy when he was eight years old and his grandparents presented each of their thirty five grandchildren with a family history binder for Christmas. The stories of his ancestors captured his imagination beginning a journey to learn more about his family. Paul plans to pursue a career in genetic genealogy and work to help reunite families separated through adoption or loss, and assist researchers solve tough brick-wall problems.
Gold Rush Stories
The featured breakfast presentation “Of Elephants, Gold, and Dashed Dreams: Researching the California Gold Rush,” by Gena Philibert-Ortega, scholar and blogger, was an inspirational subject for the event. Gena’s stories of Forty Niners and Gold Fever history, followed by extensive research tips and suggested repositories was enthusiastically received by the audience.
Support Student Genealogists
The Freeman Student Genealogy Grant was established in 2010 in memory of Suzanne Winsor Freeman, family historian and life-long volunteer, and an enthusiastic annual attendee at the SCGS Jamboree.
Since that time, five student genealogists have received the annual $500 cash award and three-day registration to the Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree in Burbank, California: Elyse Doerflinger (Lomita, California), A.C. Ivory (Salt Lake City, Utah), Anthony Ray (Palmdale, California), and Michael Savoca (Toms River, New Jersey), and Paul Woodbury (Provo, Utah). I was delighted that 2012 grantee Elyse Doerflinger was also able to join us for the Scholarship Breakfast.
The grant program is funded entirely by individual contributions and family and friends of Suzanne Freeman. Please join us!
Support the Future of Genealogy
Contribute to the
Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Fund
