The Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) Alumni Association sponsors the Richard S. Lackey Memorial Scholarship. The Gen-Fed Alumni Association’s purpose is to promote, conduct, and foster education, research, study, and analysis related to genealogy and to disseminate information and support other similar undertakings.
Richard Stephen Lackey (1941–1983) of Mississippi was a leader in the drive to improve the professionalization of the genealogical community. In addition to lecturing and teaching, he was an author/compiler of standards for genealogical writing, and of Mississippi source material. His work exemplified the highest standards of competent research and scholarly citation of sources. He was a fellow of the Association of the American Society of Genealogists (FASG) in 1976. At the time of his death, Richard was President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. In 2001, he was elected to the National Genealogical Society Hall of Fame.
The Lackey Scholarship is awarded annually to an experienced researcher active in a paid or volunteer position which directly benefits the genealogical community. The scholarship awards $1,000, which covers full tuition for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), and partly defrays hotel and/or meal costs, and a ticket to the Alumni reception.
The 2026 Scholarship Application is due by midnight, January 15th, 2026.
All applications and additional attachments must be submitted in PDF format, combined in a single file. The completed application form and attachments should be emailed to Jonathan Deiss at jdeiss@soldiersource.com with “Lackey Scholarship 2026” in the subject line. The PDF file name should include your last name and first initial, such as “DoeJ Lackey Scholarship 2026 Application.” The winner will be notified by 1 March 2026. Other applicants will be notified shortly after that date. The scholarship winner will automatically be accepted for the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records to be held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., from 30 August to 5 September 2026. This year’s news announcement is here. Updates on this and other scholarships are at https://www.gen-fed.org/home/scholarship/.
Past Scholarship Awardees
2025
Brenda R. Leyndyke, Kalamazoo, Michigan
2024
Julie Huffman, Los Angeles, California
2023
Aungelic “Gigi” Nelson, Washington, D.C.
2022
Susan E. Schuler, New Port Richey, Florida
2020
Nancy L. Gaynor, Crystal Lake, Illinois
2019
Rhonda Hoffman, Buffalo, New York
2018
Linda MacIver, Boston, Massachusetts
2017
Nancy Calhoun, Muskogee, Oklahoma
2016
Angela Lucas, Huntsville, Alabama
2014
Debbie Bloom, Columbia, South Carolina
2013
Carissa Kellerby, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2012
Julie Michutka, Burlington, Massachusetts
2010
Amy E. K. Arner, Cranberry Township, Pennnsylvania
2009
Kim V. Garvey, Sarasota, Florida
2008
Elizabeth Walker, Jenks, Oklahoma
2007
Martha Orsborn Gerdeman, Dixon, Tennessee
2006
Ginger Frere, Chicago, Illinois
2005
Jewell Lorenz Dunn, Turnwater, Washington
2004
Christine Merseal, St. Louis, Missouri
2003
Keith F. Rose, AG, Lehi, Utah
2002
Evie Bresette, Kansas City, Missouri
2001
Cherel Bolin Henderson, Knoxville, Tennessee
2000
Diane E. Greene, AG, Boulder City, Nevada
1999
Jonathan D. Galli, CGRS, Cranston, Rhode Island
1998
Kathy Huber, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1997
Kimberly Marie Anderson Cumber, Raleigh, North Carolina
1996
Roger Torbert, Birmingham, Alabama
1995
Zoe Collier, Brooklyn, New York
1994
Catherine A. Wittmer, Alden, New York
1993
Rhonda S. Norris, Russellville, Arkansas
1992
Robin Rader, Lexington, Kentucky
1991
Beth Treaster, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1990
Isabel Wood Egan, Burke, Virginia
1989
Sandra E. Boyd, Mt. Olive, Mississippi
1988
Mary Glenn Hearne, Nashville, Tennessee
1987
Brian E. Michaels, Palatka, Florida
1986
Sandra J. Boling, Atlanta, Georgia
1985
George F. Sanborn, Jr., Boston, Massachsetts*
1984
Marilyn Adams, Atlanta, Georgia
*Institute not held in 1985; winner attended in 1986.
The ICAPGenSM service mark and the Accredited Genealogist® and AG® registered marks are the sole property of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.
CGRS, Certified Genealogical Records Specialist, was a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by the Board’s associates after periodic evaluation.