When Helen and Doane '27 Comstock included Hamilton in their estate plans, Sarah Ziegler '05 was a student in Clinton Elementary School with a dream to attend "The College on the Hill." The Comstock Scholarship, among others, made her Hamilton education possible where she, similar to Mr. Comstock, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with honors.
Providing a superior education to students who may not otherwise be able to afford it is a tradition that dates to the founding of the Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793. Doane Comstock benefited from the generosity of those benefactors that came before him, and he and his wife, Helen, ensured that future Hamilton students would have similar opportunities. You may wish to join the Comstocks as well as hundreds of donors who have established endowed funds.
"Without my annual Siuda scholarship, Dixon-Comstock scholarship and Dana scholarship, my entire second and third years would not have been possible. And now, in my senior year, Hamilton gives me the greatest gift of all: full tuition, board and private music lessons through the Fillius-Drown and Madeleine Wild Bristol prize scholarships. I thank this institution, its faculty, administration and its benefactors for the never-ceasing support throughout all the valuable stages of my Hamilton journey," stated Sarah Ziegler '05 at The Helen and Doane Comstock '27 Memorial Luncheon in Celebration of Student Scholarships held in October 2004. A Phi Beta Kappa, Dean's List student from Clinton, Sarah Ziegler graduated this past May and is currently pursuing graduate studies in voice at the Boston Conservatory. During her time on the Hill, Sarah received nine scholarships, including:
"I thank this institution, its faculty, administration and its benefactors for the never-ceasing support throughout all the valuable stages of my Hamilton journey," stated Sarah Ziegler '05 at The Helen and Doane Comstock '27 Memorial Luncheon in Celebration of Student Sholarships held in October 2004.
Perhaps not the typical scholarship student, after all she was selected to speak at the Comstock luncheon, Sarah Ziegler, similar to nearly 60 percent of all Hamilton students, was able to attend and remain on the Hill because of the financial aid she received.The generosity of alumni, parents and friends, who have established hundreds of endowed scholarship funds, is gratefully acknowledged and deeply appreciated.
Doane C. Comstock was born in Brewster, N.Y., in 1903. Because his father, William, died when Doane was a boy, he was reared by his mother, Julia Dixon Comstock, and her parents, Edwin and Mary Dixon, on the family dairy farm.
Doane Comstock's family believed that he should have the opportunity to attend college; however, the Dixons and the Comstocks were of modest means. They sacrificed much, including mortgaging the family farm, to send Doane to Hamilton from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with honors in both philosophy and political science.
After working for a time on the family farm, Doane enrolled in law school at New York University, receiving his LL.B. degree in 1933. Returning to Brewster after a brief period of practicing corporate law in New York City, he opened the practice in which he continued to work as a self-described "country lawyer" until his death on June 13, 1994, at age 90.
Through their estates, Doane and Helen established an endowed fund, The Edwin W. Dixon, Mary E. Dixon, Julia D. Comstock, Helen B. Comstock and Doane C. Comstock Scholarship to honor his mother and her parents for making his education possible. It is awarded annually to a number of Hamilton students who have demonstrated outstanding ability and a need for financial assistance.
The scholarships from which Sarah Ziegler and Doane Comstock benefited were established by donors during their lifetimes and through their estate plans.A variety of gift options are available to you. Regardless of when and how you choose to complete your contribution, you and Hamilton will sign an endowment agreement that will govern the scholarship in perpetuity.
If you are interested in establishing a scholarship endowment to assist Hamilton students, either during your lifetime or through your estate plan, please call Ben Madonia '74 or Joni Chizzonite at 866-729-0317.
