Laura G. Prescott Scholarship Winners for 2021

The following has been received from the Laura G. Prescott SLIG Scholarship committee:

We are pleased to announce that Desiree Funston and Sherri Hessick are the recipients of this year’s Laura G. Prescott SLIG Scholarship. Tuition to their course of choice at the 2021 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) or the 2021 SLIG Academy will be paid out of scholarship funds generously donated by the genealogical community. 

The scholarship honors Laura G. Prescott, a genealogy professional who enriched the field with her talents as a teacher, writer, researcher, mentor, society leader and volunteer, and as director of Ancestry Academy—Ancestry’s collection of instructional webinars presented by leading genealogical educators. Laura was also especially known for her bright smile, positive attitude, and encouraging nature.

Scholarship winners are chosen by a committee with Laura’s attributes in mind. Their short essay applications include information about what they hope to gain from attending SLIG, why they deserve the scholarship (not necessarily financial reasons), and how they intend to use what they learn. Those chosen embody Laura’s passion for and service to the genealogical community and thus will further her legacy. 

Desiree Funston is a reference librarian at Missoula Public Library in Missoula, Montana, where she helps patrons discover their family history. She earned the Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate in May 2019 and is working toward the BCG Certified Genealogist credential. She is a proud seventh-generation Montanan who enjoys researching westward expansion, gold discoveries, and steamboat navigation on the Upper Missouri River. In addition to her career as a librarian/genealogist, she also owns and operates a farm growing hops for Montana's craft beer industry.

Sherri Hessick started on her genealogical journey 23 years ago, and in the past ten years has been able to devote almost her full time to it. She loves learning and sharing what she has learned with others. She has plenty of opportunities with her volunteer work at the local Family History Center where she helps patrons get started building their trees, breaking down their brick walls, finding biological parents, working with DNA matches, and teaching them to use the technology available to them for genealogy. Sherri also serves as Vice President, webmaster, blogger, and on several committees for the Pima County Genealogy Society where she lectures and teaches classes. She discovered SLIG in 2019 when seeking a course for Native American research, a specialty sorely needed in her geographic area, fell in love with genealogy institutes, and has never looked back.

Congratulations to these two deserving candidates!