Index
Scholarships
The Leavenworth Scholarship
The Leavenworth Scholarship, established by Elias W. Leavenworth in 1882, is awarded to students with the name of Leavenworth.
Elias Warner Leavenworth was a prominent businessman, lawyer, and politician from Syracuse, N.Y. He served as the second mayor of Syracuse in 1849, and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Hamilton in 1872.
In an open letter to his family included in a volume titled A Genealogy of the Leavenworth Family in the United States, published in 1873, Leavenworth wrote: “A thorough education is an almost indispensable requisite to any valuable success in life, and to the accomplishment of any great good.” In an effort to encourage future generations of Leavenworths to broaden their minds and opportunities, he indicated, in that same letter, his intent to establish three scholarships, via his will, at Yale College, Hamilton College and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Elias sought geographic representation in the institutions he selected, feeling this would ensure that at least one was within accessible reach of his descendants.
Elias did not wait until his death for the Leavenworth Scholarship at Hamilton to become a reality. In 1882, he made a generous gift to the College to establish the fund. Since 1886, multiple generations of Leavenworths have attended Hamilton. Carrying the Leavenworth name does not ensure admission to the College; all applicants must meet the criteria established for undergraduate candidates, as determined by the Admission Committee and the Dean of Admission and Financial Aid. The primary criteria for admission are academic achievement, intellectual potential, demonstrated leadership and a strong commitment to extracurricular and community activities.
June 2014
Please note: The named scholarships profiled on these pages are awarded as part of the College’s need-based financial aid packages. These funds help ensure the Hamilton Promise of keeping education affordable through meeting a student’s full demonstrated financial need.
Materials published here were diligently researched and written by students who strived for historical accuracy.
