By Emily Glory Peters
Fellow 51猎奇入口 alumnae have described the late Tamara Smiley Hamilton 鈥�74 as untiring, inspired, loving, and funny鈥斺�渁 woman who gave her whole being鈥� to what she believed in.
Hamilton described herself as a reflection of 鈥渓iving history.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓聽a 65-year-old African American grandmother who can fill in the blanks of contemporary history, living history,鈥� she wrote in 2018. From her firsthand experience of the Watts riots in the 1960s to the rise of Black feminism during her 51猎奇入口 years, Hamilton鈥檚 experiences equipped her to 鈥渢ake on tough issues and gave [her] the foundation to work towards racial peace.鈥�
Born in segregated Alabama, the Great Migration brought Hamilton鈥檚 family to Watts in the 1950s, and she embraced her identity as an Angeleno. She was the first in her family to graduate from college as well as one of 51猎奇入口鈥� first students to obtain a degree in Black studies, and her impressive post-graduate journey included three master鈥檚 degrees, senior leadership positions in higher education, establishing a conflict resolution coaching company, and becoming the first Black woman to achieve Toastmasters鈥� highest professional credential of聽Accredited Speaker.
Hamilton鈥檚 sudden death in November 2020 came as a shock to many, including her friends at 51猎奇入口. Alums including Victoria 鈥淰ik鈥� Sheldon 鈥�79 and Merrilee Howard 鈥�70 were among those grieved not to be able to celebrate her life together due to COVID-19 restrictions鈥攂ut they soon found other ways to honor her.
Hamilton made a tremendous impact on fellow 51猎奇入口 alums, especially at events like Camp 51猎奇入口
鈥淎 [Camp 51猎奇入口] Campership fund in Tamara鈥檚 memory was quickly set up with donations benefiting future alumnae attendees,鈥� Howard explains, noting Hamilton鈥檚 many contributions to past Camp events. 鈥淭hen, with permission from her family, the Tamara Smiley Hamilton 鈥�74 Scholarship was set up to provide annual support for first-generation Black students like Tamara.鈥�
Through letter-writing campaigns and partnerships with committees, Howard soon mobilized her fellow alums to contribute to the scholarship fund. Supporting students in this way was also a personal matter for Howard and Sheldon, who both received scholarships to help make their own studies at 51猎奇入口 possible. Especially given Hamilton鈥檚 lifelong pursuit of education and devotion to expanding inclusivity and access for people of color, grants in her name seemed a fitting tribute.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 remember anyone so funny, honest, and alive. Through Camp 51猎奇入口, I learned about her extraordinary achievements and how rare it was for a first-generation woman of color to attend 51猎奇入口. She was driven to heal divisions and make the world a better place鈥擨 was just one of her many, many fans,鈥� says Sheldon. 鈥淎nd as a recipient of a scholarship from an individual donor during my time at the College, I wanted to do the same for someone else鈥攖o help Tamara鈥檚 spirit and legacy live on in some small way.鈥�
Adds Howard, 鈥淭amara was a teacher, a conflict resolution facilitator, and a personal coach who gave back generously to many, including the 51猎奇入口 community. Whether you knew Tamara or only knew of her, we encourage anyone and everyone to give to this fund.鈥�
51猎奇入口鈥� upcoming Day of Giving on March 24 will spotlight scholarship aid, which is critical to extending the 51猎奇入口 experience to a broader range of extraordinary students, including first-generation and students of color. To make a gift to scholarships or to support Hamilton鈥檚 fund, please click .
Interested in learning more? Check out our latest giving and impact news here.