Central College announces the establishment of the Janice Ellen Van Doorninck Rempe Hamilton Scholarship, a new endowed fund honoring a 1961 graduate who was a pioneer for women in scientific research.
The scholarship was created through a gift from the estate of Janice “Ellen” Rempe Hamilton, organized by her daughters, Mary Hamilton Giro and Holly Hamilton Inurreta. The fund received additional support from Hamilton’s cousins, Fred Van Doorninck, Jr. and William “Bill” Van Doorninck, Jr., a 1963 Central graduate. The gift continues a philanthropic tradition for the family, whose members have established several scholarships at Central.
“We all are interested in supporting students coming through the Central experience,” explains Bill Van Doorninck. “We all received support as students, and it was much appreciated. I enjoy contributing to Central and its endowments because it was a very important experience for me.”
The scholarship celebrates Hamilton’s trailblazing career and will support students who demonstrate high aptitude and passion for research, particularly in the sciences. She is remembered for her honesty, integrity and her devotion to service. She was a member of the board of directors of the Meadows Foundation dedicated to the preservation of historic sites and Dutch heritage in Somerset, New Jersey. She also founded the Van Wickle Dutch Dancers that performed in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
A Pioneer in Science
At Central, Hamilton majored in zoology and showed a distinct talent for research. In 1960, she was one of just three students selected for a National Science Foundation grant to research wheat rust organisms under the guidance of the late Maxine Huffman, professor of biology and head of the natural science division. That same year, Hamilton studied abroad with a group led by the late Bill Wing, professor of French, before the college had formalized its international study programs.
“She was pursuing the sciences in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which made her a pioneer in many ways,” Giro says of her mother. “She worked in male-dominated careers in science labs and at engineering firms.”
After earning a master’s of science from Penn State University, Hamilton’s ambition led her to earn a second bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Rutgers University/Cook College at age 39. She later became one of the first women to pass the certified landscape architect exam in New Jersey. She and her husband, Bruce Hamilton, professor in the department of landscape architecture, at Rutgers University, ran a landscape business in Somerset, New Jersey.
Multi-Generational Legacy
Hamilton’s family has deep, multi-generational roots at Central. Her grandmother, Cornelia Lubberden Van Doorninck, attended the Central College Academy in the late 1800s. Her mother, Wilma Van Doorninck Rempe, served as secretary of the alumni association and was named college registrar in 1952.
“This gift is especially meaningful because it represents a family legacy that spans generations at Central,” says Sunny Gonzales Eighmy, vice president for advancement and a 1999 Central graduate. “Ellen Hamilton’s story of breaking barriers in science perfectly embodies the spirit of inquiry and determination Central encourages in our students. This endowment will create incredible opportunities for today’s students to follow in her footsteps, empowering the next generation of researchers and innovators, particularly women in STEM.”
Including Central College in an estate plan provides students with a lifetime of educational opportunities. Legacy gifts open doors for students to become leaders in their chosen industries and communities, helping them do a world of good.
For information about establishing an endowment or other legacy gifts, contact Deb Calderwood, senior planned giving and major gifts officer, at calderwoodd@central.edu or 641-628-5138.
