Fifty years ago, Eleanor DuPuy Merrick established a scholarship in honor of her son, Herbert D. Merrick ’39 (pictured left). Herb and his wife Barbara (Bobbi), whose father George Haines Lathrope was a member of the Class of 1900, both felt very strongly about giving back to Princeton. During their lifetimes they provided additional gifts for the family scholarship and were strong supporters of Annual Giving, a tradition Barbara continued for many years after Herb passed away in 1973.

The Merrick family’s remarkable half-century of giving has been capped by Barbara’s recent bequest: she designated Princeton as the beneficiary of the entire residuary of her estate. The tiger’s share went towards the Merrick Scholarship, and in addition, $25,000 was allocated to the Class of 1939 Scholarship Fund. In the last 25 years alone, 55 students have benefitted from the Merrick Scholarship. Thanks to the recent bequest, the Merrick Scholarship currently supports four freshman students and will support many more over the next fifty years.

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