LAURINBURG – The annual Charles Bascombe Shaw Memorial Scottish Heritage Symposium will be March 19 – 21 on the St. Andrews Presbyterian College campus in Laurinburg.

“Since its inception in 1989, the symposium has provided a forum for those interested in Scottish history, culture and genealogy to learn from top scholars in their fields,” said Bill Caudill, director of the Scottish Heritage Center. “Our symposium is nationally considered a leader in the exploration of Scottish culture.”

The weekend of activities will begin with the Scottish Heritage Center open for visitors to explore during the late morning of March 19.

After registration and opening remarks in Avinger Auditorium, Dr. David Dobson will present his first lecture, “Emigration from the Western Highlands to the Americas before 1800.” A native of Carnoustie, Fife, Dobson was educated at Dundee College of Technology, the University of St. Andrews and the University of Aberdeen. He taught Economics and Business Studies at Madras College, University of St. Andrews and was on the staff of the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies at King’s College, Aberdeen. His published works include The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1785, Scottish Emigration to Colonial America, 16070-1785, Directory of Scots in the Carolinas 1680-1830, and Scottish Trade with Colonial Charleston, 1683-1783. He will present “Scottish Trade with the Colonial Carolinas” Saturday afternoon.

Michael Dziennik will present “Through an Imperial Prism: Land, Liberty and the Political Philosophy of Highland Loyalism, 1770-1783” Friday afternoon and “A Perfect Purgatory: The Recruitment of the Highland Regiments for America, 1756-1783” Saturday morning.

Dziennik is a doctoral candidate a the University of Edinburgh who previously trained as an officer cadet with the British Army and worked for the U.S. National Park Service at the Yorktown Battlefield in Virginia. His dissertation examines the impact of colonial American conflicts in shaping the loyalty, identity and internal dynamics of the Scottish Highlands during the period following the Jacobite rebellions. He has had two chapters on the Highland regiments published in edited volumes and is currently working on a comparative article about recruitment and civil authority in Scotland and America.

The third speaker for the weekend is local historian and writer Roy Parker Jr., who will present “Fighting Cape Fear Scots: ‘I have strength in my arm for many a round, and purpose in plenty tae guide it’” Saturday morning. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he is the retired contributing editor of the Fayetteville Observer and was the founding editor of the Fayetteville Times. He received the Sam Ragan Award for distinguished service to the arts from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in 1983 and received the North Carolina Award for Public Service in 2006. He is the author of Cumberland County, A Brief History, published by the North Carolina Department of Archives and History.

In addition to the educational activities of the weekend, three additional events have joined the symposium tradition.

Friday evening, the Scottish Heritage Awards Banquet will feature the presentation of the Scottish Heritage Center Award for outstanding contributions to the preservation and perpetuation of Scottish History culture and traditions and the Flora Macdonald Award given to a woman of Scottish descent who has made an outstanding contribution either to Scottish affairs or to the human community.

This year, Robert W. Murdoch will receive the Scottish Heritage Center Service Award. Murdoch was the first National Chairman for Tartan Day, celebrated annually on April 6. He has been involved in Scottish activities and organizations for over 40 years and currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board to the Scottish Coalition.

Scotty K. Gallamore will receive the Flora Macdonald Award. She has been involved in the Scottish-American community since the 1950s and has served as a North Carolina Convener for Clan Donald and President of the Robert Burns Society of Charlotte. In 1995, she originated and established a national system for the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations to have representatives at Scottish events.

“We are honored to be able to present these awards to individuals who have so strongly impacted the Scottish Heritage activities throughout the country,” said Caudill.

Saturday evening the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Pipe Band will give their annual live concert. This free event, which is open to the public in addition to symposium attendees, will also include the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Choir while doubling as a recording session for an upcoming CD.

The weekend’s activities will end with the Kirkin of the Tartans Worship Service at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church. Reservations are required for the lunch following the service.

For a full schedule of events and registration information, please go to http://www.sapc.edu/shc/scottishheritagesymposium.php or call the Scottish Heritage Center at 910-277-5236. Email reservations are also taken at rsvp@sapc.edu. Please remember to include Scottish Heritage in the subject line and include names of all participants.