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The John and Melissa Klauberg Scholarship

The John and Melissa Klauberg Scholarship was established by John Klauberg, Class of 1978 and his wife Melissa T. Klauberg.

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John Klauberg is a graduate of Hamilton College, Class of 1978.  He grew up in an economically underprivileged family in Wantagh, Long Island, in a single-parent household headed by his mother who worked as a secretary while raising two children.  Neither of his parents attended college.  John attended Hamilton from 1974-1978 and at his graduation was awarded the James Soper Merrill Prize, which is awarded at Commencement to the graduating senior “who, in character and influence, best typifies the highest ideals of the College.”  He played intercollegiate basketball for the College for 4 years on some of the most successful teams in the College’s history.  John received financial aid each year he was a student at Hamilton and believes he could never have attended Hamilton without the generous financial support he received from the College.

After graduating from Hamilton, John attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, receiving his law degree in 1981.  He then went on to receive a Masters of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law in New York City.  He has practiced law in New York City for almost 40 years as of the date of establishment of this scholarship fund.  John credits his years at Hamilton, the relationships and friendships he developed there, with students, faculty and, in particular, Tom Murphy, the men’s basketball coach, and the College’s overall positive impact on his development as a student and person as the springboard for the successes he was able to achieve after his years on the Hill.  Hamilton, he feels, taught him how to think and gave him the confidence to pursue his academic and professional objectives.  While his years at Georgetown and NYU were beneficial to his career development as a lawyer, he attributes his years at Hamilton as being the most important building blocks for his overall personal and professional development.

The establishment of this scholarship fund by John and, his wife Melissa, is intended to make possible each year, the same type of opportunity for a “high need” Hamilton student that the College provided to him more than 45 years ago as of the date of establishment of this scholarship fund.  John fully appreciates that many of his successes later in life would never have been possible without having been provided the opportunity to attend Hamilton and the incredible education and overall learning experience that he was so fortunate to receive.