The annual Charles Bascombe Shaw Memorial Scottish Heritage Symposium is being held this weekend on the St. Andrews Presbyterian College campus in Laurinburg.

This event, now in its 19th year, will feature scholars from Scotland and the United States. All interested are invited to attend.

"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."

Five guest speakers headline this year's event.

Eleanor Harris, a native of St. Andrews, Fife, will present "Local Sources for Global Communities: An Overview of the Local Collections Held by Argyll and Bute Library Service Highlight-ing Resources Pertaining to Early Emigrants from Argyll."

Dr. Philip D. Smith Jr., who serves as president of the Scottish Tartans Authority, will present "Tartan Since Proscription."

Patrick King is a writer, director, and producer making documentary films for international broadcasters including PBS, The History Channel, A&E and BBC Channel 4. He will present "Bagpipes in the Movies."

Bridget O'Brien's presentation on "Early Scottish Farmsteads in the Eastern Carolinas" will focus on the floor plans, building materials, and construction methods of several emigrant homesteads from the Highland settlements as well as the genealogical information relative to the families who built them.

Isla St. Clair will present "The Songs of Scotland." She is a native of North East of Scotland, growing up in Buckie, Findochty and Aberdeen.

Three additional events continue to accompany the symposium.

Tonight (Friday), the annual Scottish Heritage Awards Banquet features three people receiving awards.

Smith Jr. will receive the Scottish Heritage Center Service Award. He has devoted much of his personal research and educational efforts toward Scottish topics including the Gaelic language and the history, culture and lore of Scottish tartans.

Betty Holmes and Pinny Geffert will jointly receive the Flora MacDonald Award this year.

Holmes is a retired librarian for St. Andrews where she first began stirring interest in the college's Scottish connections due to numerous library inquiries from individuals and societies who were interested in Scottish connections. Geffert is the retired archivist for St. Andrews. She was caretaker and custodian for the collections which were later to become the nucleus of the Scottish Heritage Center.

On Saturday night, the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Pipe Band will give its much-celebrated annual live concert. This year, the band will be joined by folk singer and recording artist Isla St. Clair. The concert is free and open to the public.

On Sunday, the traditional Kirkin of the Tartans Worship Service will be held at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church.

Reservations are required for the lunch following the service.

For a schedule of events and registration information, visit www.sapc.edu/shc/scottishheritagesymposium.php or call the Scottish Heritage Center at (910) 277-5236.