Our Path Forward: The Campaign for Kenyon

Kenyon Class of 2006 Fall Class Letter
Dear classmates,
 
Lately, I know it can seem like good news is in short supply. Many of you have been managing working from home or as an essential worker, navigating the challenges of virtual learning for your little ones, or even giving birth during the pandemic (four close Kenyon friends from our class gave birth in the last seven months alone, including myself!) And while it may seem like things will never be the same, I find myself grateful for the connections I made at Kenyon as they are the friendships that have most sustained me during these unprecedented times.

Personally, working for a university during the pandemic has been a challenge, to say the least. So, when I heard about the hard work that Kenyon has put into keeping the campus operating safely and effectively, I was more than impressed. 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.
 
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. (Yes, it took a pandemic to make sweatpants acceptable classroom attire for even the professors - and let’s be honest, my Kenyon sweatpants have made an appearance or two in my own work from home virtual meetings!) 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. And, though  
it was heartbreaking to see Reunion Weekend 2020 postponed, we’ve shifted our focus to Reunion Weekend 2021. Planning is underway 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 regarding the special celebrations we are planning for our milestone reunion this year.)
 
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,
Maeba Jonas

P.S. Scroll down to read our fall class notes.

Introducing the Lowry Center & Scholarship
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.

Make a Gift

Upcoming Virtual Events for Alumni
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
Visit kenyon.edu/alumnievents to register and view our full alumni event calendar.

Reunion Committee

Reunion Committee members are your connection to campus. If you would like to learn more about becoming one, contact Terry Dunnavant at dunnavantt@kenyon.edu.

• Kaley Bell
• Max Bunzel 
• Maeba Jonas
• Jon Stein
• Mary Todd
• Hayes Wong

Class of 2006 Fall Notes
Weronika Costas (Kowalczyk) and Henry Costas have moved the fam to Houston, TX where they're enjoying the sun, and are looking forward to not enduring another dreary Ohio winter. They would love to catch up with anyone in the area!

Joanna Gohmann: My husband, Jon and I are expecting our second son in January 2021 and couldn't be more excited! I've also begun a new position at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, the Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, where I work as a provenance specialist! If you are ever in the DC area, please say hello! 

Ryan Johnson: My tribe and I are somehow surviving both remote learning and remote work in the Boston suburbs. I am definitely getting a strong refresher in both 8th grade and 5th grade topics, and being reminded how little algebra I actually remember. I recently began a new position in the Providence area, and am working to find daily positivity in these strange times.

Maeba Jonas: My husband and I welcomed a baby boy in early March (along with the start of the pandemic) so we can count the quarantine days by his age. I have been keeping up with fellow Kenyon moms virtually for support and laughs during this tough time. I still work as an Interfaith Chaplain at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Hope to see folks on the Hill in May!

Andrew Kingsley: Allison O’Flinn and Andrew Kingsley can’t say it enough:  Black lives matter.

Chris Loud: In August we welcomed our second daughter, Olivia, to the family. She's doing very well. I'm hoping to bring her and my two-year old along for their first college visit this spring. See you all soon. I hope.

Julia Bright Moran: It's hard to know what to say in a year as tumultuous as 2020, but we are making it through ok. Our big kid started kindergarten this year (virtually) and our baby turns one in November. For a year that's lasted forever, it still feels unbelievable that he's one! I hope you and your loved ones are well. Hopefully, we'll be able to get together again soon! 

Karly Murphy (Burke): My husband Derek and I welcomed baby Cian on Aug 6. He's been a main source of entertainment and joy in 2020.

Mandy Rantz (Cole): Hello, fellow '06s! I hope this finds you all well, even in the midst of the year that is 2020. I've been fortunate that not much has changed for my immediate family (hubs, Alex Rantz '08, is working from home, & our daughter, Claire is loving it). We are still in Charlotte, NC. I am homeschooling Claire this year (kindergarten) since our school district decided on fully virtual. It's going very well thus far! In true fashion, she is flying through the curriculum. Sadly, I did lose my dad to B cell lymphoma/metastasized cancer of the spine at the end of April. It's been a hard season, but I'm also learning who I really am through it. I'm taking it as it comes and learning to be content with it all. I hope we all get to be together next May for Reunion! Be well, friends. Sending all my love!

Johnny Sadoff: I'm still living in Somerville, MA. I recently started my own chess tutoring business, "ChessMate Tutors."  Due to the current pandemic, I'm teaching all online. I teach chess to both children and adults. I'm still running as much as I can. If any Kenyon Alums are in the Boston area - would love to catch up.  I'm always up for a game of chess.

Sarah Spiegler: I am continuing to work for North Carolina Sea Grant, and started in my new position as Coastal Resilience Specialist this past August.

Annie Valuska: Happy to report that I've still got my dream job working as an animal behaviorist at Purina in St. Louis, MO! In the Before Times, I was keeping busy acting with several St. Louis theatre groups, but now my favorite quarantine hobby is decorating sugar cookies (shameless plug: @zoeyscookies on IG) to the dulcet tones of some grisly true crime podcast or absolute garbage reality television. Helping me hold down the fort in STL is my dog/chupacabra Arya, my cat Jack, and my foster dog, Samba. Would be happy to hear from any Kenyon friends (near or far, in these days of Zoom), and hope to see many of you at the reunion next year! 

Whitney Vendt (Bratton): This May, Daniel and I welcomed baby Maxine into our lives. Despite plenty of anxiety about going to the hospital in the middle of a pandemic, everything went smoothly and our 3yo, Martin, is happy to have a little sister. We’ve since decided to quaranteam with family, and it has been the best thing we could have done for our mental health.

William Walker recently welcomed his third child (that makes three) to the family.  He is working in corporate restructuring in Houston, Texas. While business has remained strong during the pandemic, William is looking forward to 2021 and the end of the hysteria. 
Read notes from the Class of 2005 and the Class of 2007.
New this year! Read notes from faculty.
Support Kenyon
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.

Class Listing
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.

2006
Annual Fund Total: $17,798
Class Participation: 23.31%

Bexley Society
Donors of $2,500 to $9,999
Orlee Rabin*
Erick R. Taft*
Joanna E. Taft*

Gambier Society
Gifts of $1,200 to $2,499 (10-14 years post-graduation)
Zachary J. Weber*

Kenyon Society 
Donors of $1 to $1199
Anonymous (6)
Amy E. Aloe*
Nena F. Anderson*
Samuel W. Anderson*
Amy R. Austin*
Megan E. Barrett 
Kaley P. Bell*
Lauren A. Bernstein 
Julia S. Blizzard*
Katharine E. Boicourt*
Travis P. Brennion*
Daniel J. Brigham*
Jenna E. Brubaker*
Maxwell D. Bunzel*
Kathryn Cameron McMillan*
Ryan A. Cates 
Thomas M. Cirillo*
Michael G. Coe 
Katherine L. Coens 
Sarah Cooley Trinkle*
Charmayne G. Cooley*
Kathryn Cosse 
Jason Cory Cowles*
Julianne I. Day*
Joanna Ekstrom 
David Ginzer*
Jennifer M. Glaeser 
Joanna M. Gohmann*
Abigail E. Haddad 
Stephen L. K. Hands*
Rebecca E. Helton 
Mary K. Hostenske 
Bethany S. Hurley*
Anne Marie A. Johnson*
Maeba Jonas*
Andrue J. Kahn 
Megan K. Karklins*
Adam S. Kleinman*
Anna W. Kliner 
Christopher A. Kliner 
Marissa Kuzirian*
Justin N. Lacaillade*
Meredith R. Lacaillade*
Samantha L. Lawrence*
Elizabeth A. Lopatto*
Christopher F. Loud*
Lindsay C. Madaras*
Stewart H. Martin*
Chandra E. McClelland 
Matthew C. McCormick*
Molly E. Mickinak*
Jennie C. Miller 
Rubin J. Miller 
William S. Moller*
Emily E. Morgan 
Natalie Mrak 
Karly A. Murphy*
Molly S. Murray*
Joseph M. G. Neilsen*
Kate D. B. Neilsen*
Stephanie R. Newman*
Erika J. Niemi*
Allison E. O'Flinn 
J. David Palchak 
Lauren B. Rand*
Amy K. Ream 
Laura L. Richardson 
Abigail P. Rollins*
Blair A. Rush 
John D. Sadoff*
Kelsey R. Schagemann*
Suzanne M. Schatz 
Margaret M. Schmid*
Ellen R. Schuler 
Sam Shopinski*
Eric W. Siegel*
Tracey C. Siegrist 
Colin L. Smith*
Sarah E. Spiegler*
Jonathan A. Stein*
Alexandra D. Stetson-Lee*
Debra L. Stone 
Mary M. Todd 
Grace Twesigye*
Whitney A. Vendt*
Alison M. Vicroy*
Katie Walker*
Catherine P. White*
C. Hayes Wong*

George Wharton Mariott Society
These alumni have included Kenyon in their estate plans or have made other planned gifts.
Alexandra D. Stetson-Lee 
Kenyon College
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