| Kenyon Class of 2009 Fall Class Letter
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Dear classmates,
Lately, I know it can seem like good news is in short supply. So as I sat down to write this class letter, and started to make a list of the many positive updates I had to share with you, I felt a welcome sense of gratitude for our alma mater. Even during the most challenging of years, Kenyon has remained a bright spot and a point of connection and positivity for its community.
While keeping up with Kenyon news, an article written by President Sean Decatur really resonated with me. I encourage you to check out the news archive on the College’s website and read “Being Generous With Grace.” The challenges and obstacles in our way to embrace graciousness vary greatly by our personal experiences. The importance of it, especially now, is no less though. I hope that we can lean on our experiences at Kenyon and the strong networks we have developed to lead a life of empathy that strengthens our communities and our own personal health and wellbeing.
In-person instruction just wrapped up for the approximately 950 first-years, sophomores and international students who studied on campus this fall, numbers intentionally kept low so no one would share a room. (Yes, it took a pandemic for a freshman to score a North Campus Apartment for one.) The College developed clear COVID-related policies and protocols that included regular testing for those on campus and the implementation of the “Kenyon College Commitment,” a personal pledge developed in cooperation with the student council that emphasized the well-being of the entire community. Life on campus looked a bit different as Kenyon adapted its many facilities to ensure safe access to dining, athletics, research and more.
In addition to adaptations for on-campus instruction, juniors and seniors and members of the faculty discovered new ways to learn and teach remotely. Check out our new faculty notes section to hear how your favorite faculty members dealt with the shift to Zoom classes, virtual office hours and online assignments.
Our alumni community has shifted to meet the challenges of 2020 with an equal degree of innovation — organizing and attending virtual events, connecting with current students and new graduates as volunteer mentors, and giving back during June’s record-breaking online giving challenge, Kenyon Together. (BTW — well done us for being part of the incredible young alumni response to that challenge. We spoke up and the College responded with new gift designations for the things that matter most to us. Let’s keep that momentum going and continue to look for ways to make the most of our dollars when we give to Kenyon.) Planning is underway for Reunion Weekend 2021 and, if conditions allow, it could be the biggest alumni gathering in Kenyon history! (We’ll be sharing more details in the months to come, as all alumni will be invited back for the festivities.)
Yes, good things are happening at Kenyon and that is why I support it every year with a gift to the Kenyon Fund — to keep the good news coming. I give to bolster the student emergency assistance fund, which helped dozens of students get home when the spring semester unexpectedly went virtual. I give to make it possible for the College to award more in financial aid this year, when many families’ budgets are strained. And I give to help fund new scholarships like the Kenyon Women’s Annual Scholarship and the Lowry Annual Scholarship for underrepresented students, which was announced just last month along with the renaming of the Kenyon Athletic Center to honor Emeritus Trustee William E. Lowry Jr. ’56 H’99. Scroll on to read full details on this exciting piece of Kenyon news!
During challenging times like these, alumni support is more critical than ever. Join me in making your gift to the Kenyon Fund at gift.kenyon.edu to ensure good things continue to happen on the Hill this year, and in the years to come.
Thank you and stay well!
Sincerely,
Austin Faught
P.S. Scroll down to read our fall class notes.
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| Introducing the Lowry Center & Scholarship
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William E. Lowry Jr. ’56 H’99 was the first Black student in the nation initiated into Beta Theta Pi, was student body president and captained the football, basketball and baseball teams. He went on to serve in many volunteer roles at Kenyon, including as trustee. In honor of Bill’s accomplishments and impact at Kenyon, the Board of Trustees decided to rename the Kenyon Athletic Center in his honor.
Recognizing his legacy, Board Vice Chair Joseph E. Lipscomb ’87 has created an endowed scholarship in Bill’s name to help bring more underrepresented students to Kenyon. Anyone can make a gift to the annual fund portion of this scholarship, or one of many other scholarships at Kenyon, and provide an immediate benefit to a current student.
Support currents students now with a gift to scholarships
Despite a challenging year, the College remains committed to continuing to meet 100% of students’ increased demonstrated need, with donor support. Every dollar you give goes directly to support students this academic year.
Consider giving today in support of:
- Hannah More Scholarship for first generation students
- Kenyon Women’s Annual Scholarship for female students
- Lowry Annual Scholarship for underrepresented students
- Pope Memorial Annual Scholarship for students from urban Ohio public school
And, of course, you can make a gift to the Kenyon Fund’s scholarships and financial aid designation, which supports the education of every single Kenyon student.
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| Upcoming Virtual Events for Alumni
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You're invited to join us this winter at these free events for alumni.
- Alumni Town Halls with President Decatur
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. ET and Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. ET
- Five-week mini class with Professor Emerita Pam Jensen
"Democracy & Education: An Introduction to Rousseau's Emile"
Tuesdays, Jan. 5 – Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. ET
- A Celebration of Kenyon Green Initiatives (two-part series)
Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. ET
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Class AgentsClass agents are your connection to campus. If you would like to learn more about becoming a class agent, contact Terry Dunnavant at dunnavantt@kenyon.edu.
• Katie Argall
• Sarah Carter
• Yancy Edwards
• Austin Faught
• Dan Gajewski
• Prabhat Gautam
• Hunter Judson
• Shrochis Karki
• David Mastrangelo
• Adrienne Amador Oddi
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Caleb Ruopp: The big news from me this year is that my wife and I just had a baby boy, Graham Tanager Ruopp, welcomed into the world on September 21st. In other news, I'm still working on my certification to become an English Language Learner teacher, hoping to do student teaching in the spring semester.
Dan Gajewski: After 11 years in NYC, I’ve sought refuge in Cold Spring, NY. Loving the Hudson River Valley area and would welcome any guest who come up this way. Just recently had Tyler Williams ‘08 up to visit.
Paige Markham: I am continuing to run both acupuncture practices in Hawai'i and California, and recently launched a Chinese facial tool line named "Yang Face." Yang Face is committed to honoring Traditional Chinese Medicine, providing production transparency, being environmentally conscious and promoting social change. 5% of all proceeds are also given back to my Alma mater, Punahou School's, Hawaiian Studies program so that our youth can have a strong sense of self and belonging in this world.
Courtney Coleman: I recently moved back to South Florida and am working as a Managing Partner at Clark & Coleman Museum Consultancy.
I also spent my summer reconnecting with other alumni through Kenyon Alumni Student Collective (KASC), an organization created to uplift BIPOC voices and support students at Kenyon while working to address Kenyon’s inadequacies. Kenyon has consistently failed to provide a safe and equitable environment for BIPOC, international, queer, trans, low-income, disabled, and first-generation students along with other marginalized groups.
Most recently, the Business Finance Committee has given $0 in funding to several affinity groups this semester, including BSU, KAI (Kenyon Asian Identities), FIGLI (First Generation and Low Income), and Indigenous Nations at Kenyon. If you would like to help affinity groups have funding you can donate to KASC’s mutual aid fund at https://kascmutualaid.carrd.co/. To join our efforts in holding Kenyon accountable for its continued neglect and the harm it inflicts upon students you can contact kasckenyon@gmail.com.
Editor’s Note: There are myriad resources at Kenyon that exist specifically to address the needs of our BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) and other underrepresented students and the Division of Student Affairs is always available to address any concerns brought forth by current students. In a typical year, what student affinity groups receive is consistent with the percentage of student organizations they represent on campus, not 10 times less. This year, many requests from numerous organizations were denied because they did not meet specific health & safety guidelines that the College has established due to COVID-19. A gift to the Kenyon Fund is the only way to make a safe, secure and tax-deductible gift to the designation of your choosing at Kenyon.
Alex Lastowski: On July 24, 2020, Alex Lastowski and fellow 09er Andrew Hoagland welcomed their daughter and Kenyon class of 2042 grad Claire Susan Lastowski Hoagland in Philadelphia.
Diana (Ruskin) Black: David and Diana Black welcomed their second child, daughter Rosalind "Rosie" Black, on March 26th, 2020. Although there were many questions surrounding the pandemic, Dave was a fantastic doula, or Dude-la, and Rosie is happy and healthy, with bright red hair.
Natalia Leroux: Hello everyone! I've started taking graduate courses from the Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (unsam). My classes are related to the topics of culture and society. I've decided that I'll probably seek a Master's as I'm enjoying these courses and it would be nice to have something to show for my postgraduate work along with having something that shows my mastery of Spanish as these courses are all in Spanish. Things are starting to open up. I hope to get back into horseback riding once the pandemic is over and tour some local places including Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Uruguay. I'm so happy that I've been able to make Argentina my new home and that everything has been going well for me personally. I also got a new stable job with Open English. If any of you ever are planning a trip to Argentina, don't hesitate to contact me!
Emma Fedor (Mueller): Emma recently signed a book deal with Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Her debut novel, AT SEA, is scheduled for release around Summer 2022.
Michael Machala: My husband, Jonas, and I moved from California to Seattle this summer. We're liking the green-ness, mountains, and lakes so far. If anyone is around, let me know. It's tough meeting people in the pandemic. In my spare time, I've been working on election - and voting - related things and hope many of us have been, too.
Jonathan Lawrence: Alyssa Gomez Lawrence ’10, our four-year-old daughter Evie and I introduced a new family member this year! Aurelian (Ari) Arthur is four months old now and loves Pink Floyd.
Max Reisman: I sold my first movie to Universal Pictures, which will be all the more exciting once movie theaters exist again! Also, got a puppy. His name is Bean and he is the best.
Marielle Ebersol: This year has brought with it many changes and although some of them have been very uncomfortable, many of them have pushed me out of my comfort zone and in a very good direction. This year marks 11 years since I have lived in Venice, California and I am still loving it. I have moved almost all of my yoga classes online to Zoom and I would love to have any Kenyon alumni in my classes! Please feel free to send me an e-mail for more information and I can send you the class links. My e-mail is brighteyes41187@gmail.com. Sending lots of sunshine your way!
Austin Faught: Early this spring my wife Jackie and I welcomed our first child, a son, into the world. While new parenting in a pandemic doesn’t come without any stress, we are thankful for the added time we get to spend with him at home. We both continue to work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. We look forward to being able to welcome guests to the Mid-South when the pandemic has settled down.
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If you missed the chance to share your news for this letter, you can submit a class note at any time via class.letters@kenyon.edu.
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Kenyon is grateful to the following donors for their generous support of the College, including the Kenyon Fund, during the 2019-20 fiscal year. An asterisk (*) indicates a donor is a member of the Henry J. Abraham Society for loyal and consecutive giving. An obelisk (†) indicates an individual who is deceased. Please note that as of July 1, 2019 Kenyon’s annual giving societies have changed. Visit kenyon.edu/societies for more information.
2009
Annual Fund Total: $19,335
Class Participation: 20.86%
President's Society
Donors of $50,000 or more
Hunter N. Wright
Bexley Society
Donors of $2,500 to $9,999
Arianna I. Blaine*
Christopher J. Blaine*
Gambier Society
Gifts of $1,200 to $2,499 (10-14 years post-graduation)
Daniel A. Gajewski*
David W. Mastrangelo*
Kenyon Society
Donors of $1 to $1199
Anonymous (2)
Robert A. Alef
Adrienne Amador Oddi*
Corrine D. Anderson
Stephen N. Badgley*
Victoria A. Baumann P'19*
Allen J. Bediako
Alison G. Beyrle*
Leah M. Boersig*
James T. Boston*
Jacob G. Calcei*
Aileen C. Caldwell*
Sarah E. Carter
A. Devin Catlin*
LaDean M. Cooley*
Justin M. Cox*
Michael R. Dunford
Eric M. Dunn*
Marielle L. Ebersol*
Yancy Edwards Jr.*
Lisa H. Elliott
Priscilla A. Erickson*
Austin M. Faught*
Nathan D. Fedor
Sarah K. Fernquest
Cari D. Ficken
Rebecca G. Fischman*
Jessica E. Francois*
Prabhat Gautam*
Amy M. Goshe*
Christopher C. Guerrieri
Caroline M. Haggerty*
Matthew L. Harris*
Andrew C. Hoagland*
Jennifer L. Howard
Hunter R. Judson Jr.*
Kaleb I. Keyserling*
S. John M. Kling
Lauren R. Koffler
Alexandra M. Lastowski*
Sarah O. Lautar*
Jonathan N. Lawrence*
Elizabeth C. Lithio
Michael L. Machala*
Nicko E. Margolies*
Sarah E. Masel*
Colleen M. McLellan
Toni J. Metcalf
Emma Mueller Fedor
Catherine D. Norbeck*
Nina L. O'Keefe
Linda T. Pear*
Ann Pedtke*
Lovey H. M. Peissig*
Daniel T. Prager
Emily O. Prager
Kate Ono Rahel*
Johanna Ralsten-Cox*
Max D. Reisman
Alexandra P. R. Armstrong
Adam Shoop*
Patrick B. Smyth
Shaina Stewart
Kara S. Stiles*
David T. Still*
Ashley Stone*
Helle A. Sun
Daniel A. Takacs*
Ryotaro Tashiro
Mark J. Wicks*
Mackenzie A. Worrall
Rebecca L. Yarbrough
Bryan C. Yelvington*
Sarah A. Zukowski*
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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