The class has received the following information from the University's Office of the Recording Secretary.  Click names to view their letters to the class.

Dear Mr. George A. Brakeley III,
I am writing to thank you for providing me with the Class of 1961 Scholarship and to also tell you a little about myself. Born in New York City, I attended Hunter College High School before coming to Princeton University. I am a senior majoring in chemistry and thus I am in the middle of completing my thesis in the Jeffry Stock Biochemistry Lab. My primary research interests are in the treatment and study of cancer and to that end I am entering an MD/PhD program in the summer of 2009.

As a whole, my time at Princeton has been wonderful. In my four years here, I have befriended incredible people and engaged in unique activities that I would not have had the chance to do otherwise. Thus, I have no doubt that my undergraduate experience at Princeton has been an integral part of my life, one that has challenged and stimulated me to grow as both an academic and as a person. Thank you once again for your generous support and have a wonderful new year!
Sincerely,
Walter Chen

3079 Frist Center,
Princeton 08544 NJ

George A. Brakeley III
138 East Avenue,
New Canaan, CT 06840-5612

30th November 2008

Dear Mr. Brakeley,
My name is Teck Hsien Ho, an undergraduate at Princeton receiving a grant from class of 1961 scholarship. I am writlng to express my thanks for your financial aid. The grant from your scholarship has greatly eased the financial burden on my family and made it less painful on the books.

Currently I am pursuing a BSE degree in Operations Research and Financial Engineering and a certificate in Finance. On campus, I play on the badminton team for the Princeton Badminton club. This academic year, we have played against Penn, Penn State, Cornell, Columbia and NYU with reasonable success. I am also the captain of the Kendo club. For my academic achievements during my freshman year, I was awarded the Shapiro Prize. I also regularly receive Academic Achievement awards from the SEAS.

For the moment, I plan to apply for positions at financial institutions after graduation. I am also considering applying to certain consulting firms. Should that not pan out, I shall look into graduate school.

Since I have arrived here, I have been happy and satisfied with life in Princeton. I do not regret applying to Princeton (I was accepted under Early Decision). I am a member of Mathey College and take most of my meals at the dining hall, although on occasion I have dinner at the Rocky dining hall.

The financial burden on my family has been greatly reduced, thanks to the Class of 1961 Scholarship. For that, I am grateful to the class of 1961.

Yours sincerely,
Teck Hsien Ho

January 16,2009

Dear Mr. Brakeley and the Class of 1961,

Thank you for your generosity in providing the Class of 1961 scholarship, which has made attending Princeton possible for me. 

I am currently a freshman living in beautiful Mathey College. Prior to coming to Princeton I attended high school in Orange County, California, where I first became interested in mathematics and philosophy, both of which are potential majors that I am exploring. I find my classes at Princeton to be very demanding but also intellectually stimulating - for me, the perfect combination! 

Beyond academia, one of my foremost passions is tango dancing (and ballroom dance in general). I started doing ballroom dance in high school and I feel very fortunate to have the chance to pursue this interest in college. I am also serving as Social Chair for the Princeton Society of Physics Students. 

Princeton has introduced to me to some of the foremost scholars in the world and has given me the chance to meet and work with some of the great thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. However, without your generous gift none of this would have been possible. So, again, thank you so much for giving me the chance to strrdy at this amazing university! 

Sincerely,
Anna B.Patej '12

February 14, 2009

Dear Mr. Brakeley,

I am writing this letter in order to express my thanks to you and your classmates for helping me attend Princeton with the Class of 1961 Scholarship. Without this generous grant, it may not have been possible for me to come here. Although it is only my second semester, Princeton already feels like home to me in some sense. One of the main ways I am involved on campus is through music: as a clarinetist, I play in a couple small chamber ensembles, as well as the Princeton University Orchestra. Over intersession I went abroad on tour with the orchestra, playing concerts in Munich, Pilsen, and Prague. Not only was this an amazing way to experience a different culture as my first time traveling overseas, but it allowed me to bond with a large portion of the musical community on campus. Overall, music has been a great social and creative outlet for me in these first few months of college.

In academics, I am planning on concentrating in the arts. My prospective major is English, and I am hoping to earn a certificate in either Musical Performance or French Language & Culture. I am constantly amazed at how experienced and engaging the professors are here at Princeton, and I know that I am fortunate to have this opportunity. Again, I would like to thank you and the class of 1961 for your generosity, which has helped enormously in giving me access to the great and diverse education I am receiving at Princeton.
Sincerely yours,
Matthew Goff '12

2009 The Princeton University Class of 1961 Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Webmaster: Len Berton '61