Index

Search Scholarships

The Parker Family Scholarship

The Parker Family Scholarship honors four successive generations of Hamiltonians, spanning over 100 years. It was established in memory of James C. Parker, a member of Hamilton’s centennial Class of 1912, in gratitude for beginning this legacy. To date, subsequent Parker family Hamiltonians include David L., Class of 1945 and his twin brother, Allan J., Class of 1945; David’s daughters, Julie F., Class of 1983, Kathryn L. “Kate,” Class of 1984, and Valerie G., Class of 1989; and David’s grandson, and Kate’s son, Eli Parker-Burgard, Class of 2016.

---

The Parker Family Scholarship was established to honor the memory of James C. Parker, Class of 1912, through the generosity of his son, David L. Parker, Class of 1945.

James C. Parker was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1892, the son of a milkman and a homemaker. Jim went to Boys High School in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, where one of his teachers was a Hamilton alumnus, who encouraged Jim to attend his alma mater. Jim came to the Hill in 1908 at 16 years old (having skipped two grades), majored in physics, and graduated in Hamilton’s centennial class. He worked as a physics teacher and married Eleanor Louise Lecour, Vassar Class of 1911. Most of Jim’s career was spent as an insurance agent. Jim and Eleanor had three children: Eleanor, and Allan and David, who were fraternal twins.

Both Allan J. Parker and David L. Parker were in Hamilton’s Class of 1945, but graduated in 1947 after serving in World War II. In 1947, Hamilton held one graduation for all three classes; Allan Parker was the valedictorian of this combined graduation. Hamilton had just become co-ed when David’s children, all daughters, were applying to college. All three went to Hamilton: Julie Parker, Class of 1983; Kate Parker-Burgard, Class of 1984; and Valerie Parker, Class of 1989. One of David’s grandchildren, Eli Parker-Burgard, is also an alumnus, Class of 2016, continuing a Parker family tradition of four generations of Hamiltonians (and counting). Julie Faith Parker, Kate Parker-Burgard, and Valerie G. Parker created this scholarship in memory of their grandfather in accordance with their father’s wishes, upon his death.

David L. Parker was an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church throughout his adult life; his simple and difficult goal was to “do good in the world.” He was a gifted musician, playing the piano with signature vigor, and a strong advocate for justice, especially concerned about civil rights, women’s rights, and inter-religious cooperation. David was also a faithful Hamilton graduate, eagerly attending reunions and supporting the college financially. His wife, Merolyn Graham Parker, adopted Hamilton emotionally and joyfully went to reunions with him throughout their life-long marriage. She also worked very hard as a massage therapist to help put all three of their daughters through Hamilton.

David was proud of his Hamilton education and believed that it transformed his life. He wanted to assist future Hamiltonians in gaining a stellar education that would strengthen their influence and ability to “do good in the world.” With faith in its future recipients, his daughters are honored to establish this scholarship.

October 2017