Kenyon Alumni Volunteer Bulletin

Shout Outs // Victories // Announcements // News // Events

Volunteer Shout Out //
DANIEL J. ROOKER '12

We'd like to give a shout out to Dan Rooker '12, who has been coming back to campus for Delta Tau Delta mentorship gatherings since 2013. In the spring of 2019, he became an official Kenyon volunteer at the Alumni of Color Mentoring Weekend.

"While at Kenyon I sought and found short-term mentors in the form of upperclassmen, coaches, professors, and (occasionally) alumni. It wasn't difficult to find someone willing to listen and give advice. So I feel that by volunteering, I am passing the gift of mentorship forward."

As part of the committee that brought the Kenyon Alumni Mentorship Program (KAMP) to the Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving team earlier this year, Dan is proud to have helped to recruit about 60 alumni volunteer mentors who will work with current students through graduation. So far, KAMP for Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving has matched participants from the classes of 2022 and most of 2023, with additional mentors in reserve for next year.

Dan was a physics major at Kenyon. He now spends his time working as an advisor for Private Vista, LLC in Chicago. In his free time, Dan enjoys going on evening walks with his wife and their four-year-old Newfoundland, Moose.

Thank you, Dan, for all you do to support Kenyon. We couldn't do this work without you and our entire group of dedicated alumni volunteers!

Victories // BY THE NUMBERS

Kenyon Fund — Up 16%
As of last Friday, the Kenyon Fund is up 16% and we are seeing a great response to our fall appeal, which hit mailboxes last month. We also dipped our toe into the directed giving/crowdfunding space with a targeted student-driven and YA-focused campaign during LGBTQ+ History Month that helped raise almost $1,000 for additional LGBTQ+ programming for Kenyon students.

Family Month — 25 Virtual Events
In the month of October, Kenyon celebrated families by hosting Family Month, which included a wide variety of virtual events that replaced a traditional in-person Family Weekend. Since the beginning of October, 25 virtual events have engaged more than 1,300 alumni, parents and friends. There are many exciting events remaining in 2020, which you can learn more about at: kenyon.edu/alumnievents.

Class Agent Lunch Chats & Happy Hours — 4 and counting!
In recent months, we have held four class agent lunch chats and happy hours on topics of interest to our volunteers. So far, 43 class agents have joined us for these informal training sessions. (Some have even joined multiple sessions!) Register for an upcoming training by using the links listed in the event block below.

*Opportunity for Improvement*
Alumni participation has declined steadily between 2014 when 43% of alumni made a gift to the College and 2020 when 32% made a gift, the lowest figure since 1967. Alumni participation rates are considered by U.S. News & World Report in their college rankings, by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s when evaluating Kenyon’s bond rating, and by many foundations when considering grants to the College. Most importantly, a broad base of alumni supporters is crucial to the financial health of the College. We’ve set our sights on a return to 43% participation this year, and we ask all volunteers to encourage their peers to support the College each year. See the “Ten Minutes for Kenyon” section below for more.

Announcements

STRATEGY SESSION // Alumni volunteers are invited to join President Decatur and our strategy consultants on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 7-8:30 p.m. ET. We’ll start with a strategy overview, discuss how Kenyon can continue to thrive in the future and break into smaller groups to provide feedback. More >>

LOWRY CENTER // In case you missed it, the Kenyon Athletic Center was renamed the Lowry Center in honor of William E. Lowry Jr. ‘56 H’99. An endowed scholarship to support underrepresented students was also created to honor Lowry, and an annual fund companion scholarship makes it easy for Kenyon Fund donors to support underrepresented students at Kenyon. More >>

NEW STAFF MEMBER // The Annual Giving staff is pleased to welcome Isabelle Rivers-McCue as our new associate director of annual giving, with a start date later this month. Isabelle graduated magna cum laude from Carleton College before earning her masters degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She served as senior assistant director of admissions at the University of Chicago before accepting the role at Kenyon. Isabelle will coordinate the reunion giving program and work closely with the Kenyon Parents Fund.

Campus News & Events

COVID-19 Update: Spring 2021 plans
More >>

Kenyon recognized by College Magazine for COVID-19 response
More >>

Why I Vote by President Sean Decatur
More >>

Craving Middle Path by Jayne Gelman ’22
More >>

More Stories from Along Middle Path
Kenyon's Full Calendar of Events

Virtual Alumni Events

NOVEMBER //
10 | America Voted. What’s Next?*
12 | An Evening with Tom Stamp
17 | Virtual Discussion with David Lynn
17 | 1980-99 Class Agent Happy Hour
19 | Pittsburgh Regional Assocation Book Club
19 | An Evening with Bruce Hardy
19 | Class Agent Lunch Chat

DECEMBER //
3 | Planning for the Bicentennial and Beyond
10 | Alumni Town Hall with President Decatur
15 | An Evening with Fred Baumann
15 | 2000-15 Class Agent Happy Hour

* Part of the six-part weekly Hill to Hill series hosted in partnership with the Center for the Study of American Democracy.

Full Alumni Event Calendar
Virtual Event Promotion Request

10 Minutes for Kenyon

We know that inspiring more Kenyon alumni to give to the College — increasing participation in giving — is vital to our future. And we know that you, our alumni volunteers, are the ones best positioned to help. Fundraising research continually finds peer-to-peer solicitations are among the most effective, which is why the work of class agents is so vital.

But you don't have to be a class agent to inspire your Kenyon friends to give! Even something simple like sharing that you have made your gift to Kenyon on social media helps. Our new gift processing site even creates posts for you after you give! This #GivingTuesday, on Dec. 1, you can amplify your gift of any size by sharing that you gave to motivate and encourage your friends. It works!