Kenyon Class of 2000 Fall Class Letter

Dear Class of 2000 -

As a teacher, I normally look forward to my summers with my kids, ages 8 and 11. We fill our days with camps, days by the pool, and bonfires. But this year, I looked at my calendar with nothing on it, wondering how we would fill the time. We went on a few trips and saw family, but mostly, my major parenting responsibility was negotiating how much screen time I’d permit my kids to have.

But one day, late in the summer, I decided that we’d take a road trip to Gambier. We live in Columbus, so my kids have been to Kenyon many times and are familiar with the campus. That day, they loved running down the hill to the fields and seeing where Uncle Josh ‘96 got his acting start. I made them pose like the sculpture of the man and woman dancing and showed them my old dorm rooms. They cracked up imagining my dad (Alan Radnor ‘67) pushing a piano out of Leonard with his fellow Betas. And of course, we spent a good bit of time in the upside down tree (a site I somehow neglected to appreciate while I was a student). Afterwards, we drove down the Hill and across the street to have a picnic by the Kokosing River.

At the end of the day, after we had returned home, my 11 year old son, whom we affectionately refer to as a grumpy old man caught in an 11 year old’s body, declared it was a good day!

I might be romanticizing my time at Kenyon, but as I recall, most of my days there were good days. That Hill has got a little magic sprinkled on it.

Like most of you, I was saddened when our reunion got cancelled this past spring. I was looking forward to catching up with everyone and talking about all those good days we had when we were students at Kenyon. I can be a bit of a Pollyanna, but I’m hopeful we’ll get that opportunity this spring.

I know there are so many organizations and causes to donate to right now, but if, like myself, you had lots of good days at Kenyon, I hope you’ll consider giving to the College. Our donations help bolster the student emergency assistance fund, which helped dozens of students get home when the spring semester unexpectedly went virtual. They also make it possible for the College to award more in financial aid this year, when many families’ budgets are strained. There are also exciting new scholarships like the Kenyon Women’s Annual Scholarship and the Lowry Annual Scholarship for underrepresented students to support. The Lowry Annual Scholarship is a new fund 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 students will continue to have good days on the Hill this year, and in the years to come.

Thank you and stay well,

Sincerely,

Joanna Radnor Vilensky

P.S. Scroll down to see our 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.

Class of 2000 Fall Notes

Charles Green: This fall I started my first course in the online in MA in Writing program at Johns Hopkins University, specializing in fiction. I'm enjoying learning new techniques and trying them out in my own work.

Mike Lewis: Doing ok.

Sonja Thomsen: Hello friends, I’ve been in the midst of the Covid work parent juggle here in Milwaukee, WI. My two sons (9 & 4) are doing their best with Montessori substitute teacher mom & dad tag team. I commute to teach photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I’ve been there for the last 5 years. My new artist book, You Will Find It Where It Is: A Reader published by Poor Farm Press, edited by Christina Labey and designed by Elana Schlenker will launch this fall. I was reunited with Mary Teague, Caroline Smitherman Henry and Carrie Brueck Morris in May 2019 in Chicago to celebrate Carrie’s new choreography - Yes Kenyon College Dance! Kenyon friends are such a blessing - I look forward to visiting campus and friends on the other side of the pandemic. I hope you all stay safe and imagine radical inclusive futures.

Rachel Leber: Rachel Leber just began her second year at NUNM (the National University of Natural Medicine) in Portland, Oregon, of a four year program to become a Naturopathic Doctor (ND). After her intensely rigorous first year of med school, and the previous year of a self-induced science prerequisite marathon, Rachel fully enjoyed the entire summer off this year to recoup her energy—and has a fully functioning brain again—woo hoo!

The summer included a week in Orcas Island with an old Kenyon friend, a weeklong camping road trip along the Oregon Coast, and a trip back to Colorado to visit dear friends and community. Exploring local hikes and nature spots in the Portland local and surrounding area included lots of swimming in nature and cycling to Sauvie Island. Finally feeling rested, landed and at home in her new city, Rachel is ready for year two of school in beautiful Portland. Hooray!

Emily Leachman: I am now in my 15th year of living in Charlotte, NC. I continue to enjoy my job as a library manager at the local community college, though working a public service job from home is a bit of a challenge. I live with my husband Alejandro and our 7-year-old son Elliot, and we recently added a fish tank to the family. My best stress relief during the pandemic has been making quilts, a hobby I started at the Craft Center at Kenyon that, like much of my time at Kenyon, has stayed with me long after leaving Gambier.

Elizabeth (Yates) Keizner: It's been a challenging time in New York City, to put it mildly, but I'm thankful that my family (husband Anthony, son James, and daughter Alexandra) are all healthy and well, and we're committed to staying here. James is now in first grade at our local public school and Alexandra will join him there in pre-K next fall. I've published a few pieces on humor websites in the past few months (McSweeney's and Little Old Lady Comedy), and hope to continue doing that.

Eliza Andrews: I have spent most of this year working from home or from my empty office, not going to the gym, not traveling, not going to concerts or other social events, and generally learning how to navigate the new normal of life during both a pandemic and a political crisis. Frequent Zoom calls with Kenyon friends have been a silver lining during these troubling times. In addition to my day job, I continue to consult for Beautycounter, a company dedicated to getting cleaner, safer beauty products into the hands of everyone. beautycounter.com/elizaandrews. Sending wishes of peace, strength, and good health to my Kenyon classmates.

Molly Vogel: It's funny how time can go so slowly and quickly at the same time. My husband and I spent 164 days in a row with our two kids, almost every single hour of the day, not going anywhere except outdoor places and barely seeing family and friends. It was awful most of the time, especially when I had work and my kids didn't understand why mommy was yelling at them through the door. But we got through it and I am hopeful no one has been scarred for life. They're back in school, a mix of in-person and remote, and I have quiet for a few hours to continue my exhausting but rewarding work for Kenyon, with occasional pauses to scream into the void. I am grateful beyond measure that no one I love has gotten sick or died and infuriated that this was all preventable and I've been robbed of an entire year with my elderly parents. I have been reminded of the things that matter to me and that I am both stronger and weaker than I thought I was. I hope to see my friends, colleagues and family soon. Good health to all until then.

Beko Reblitz-Richardson: I recently returned to Oakland, California, after about 15 months of travel with my wife and two kids (now 12 and 10). We spent one year living in Spain, and we then spent about three months in rural Idaho with my wife's parents. It's good to finally be home in Oakland, but it is also strange and challenging with the pandemic, wildfires, and everything else. We're doing our best with remote work and online school for the kids, and I hope to see some of you in 2021!

Read notes from the Class of 1999 and the Class of 2001.

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.

2000

Annual Fund Total: $73,817

Class Participation: 27.17%

Kokosing Society

Donors of $25,000 to $49,999

Charles S. Green

Philander Chase Society

Donors of $10,000 to $24,999

Beth Bogner Miranda*

Bexley Society

Donors of $2,500 to $9,999

Paul R. Bienstock*

Jonathan P. Flaherty*

Charlotte Haas Prime*

Caarin Hertzwig Kogut*

James S. Kogut*

Maraleen D. Shields*

Kenyon Society

Donors of $1 to $2,499

Eliza Andrews

Emily Atwood Costello*

Austin D. Barger*

Margaret Beeler Stefani

Daniel W. Bowles*

Luke Bradbury MD

Amanda L. Bresie

Carrie Brueck Morris*

Kelly Kristina Castellon*

Rummi Laxmi Dake

Elissa L. David

Michael P. Davis

Holly Donahue Singh*

Stephany S. Dunmyer*

Erin L. Eckert*

Nathan F. Erickson*

Pierce J. Flanigan IV*

Kathleen S. Florea*

Elissa B. Fontenot

Jessica T. Fry

Poppy A. Fry

Colby M. Genrich, MD

Amanda K. Gilvin

Rachel T. Goldberg*

Seth T. Golden*

Heather Graber Stinson*

Evangeline W. Gray

Sarah Hall Wilson*

Trace J. Hancock

Nicole E. Harbauer*

Caroline Henry

Elisabeth A. Hire

Michael A. Holter*

Robert N. Johnson

Gretchen A. Kaluzny*

Rachel Kelley Perz

Scott M. Kenemore

Jennifer Kozak Rawlings*

Melanie A. Lachance*

K. Monica Lai

Emily Anne Leachman

Michael S. Lewis

Alexander J. Lourie*

Irene Loy

Gelsey Lynn Rellosa MD*

Thomas E. Magers

Lonnie D. Manns*

Laura M. Marx*

Erik C. Mazur*

Rebecca A. McCabe

Kristin Ann Meister*

Meredith J. Methlie*

Sarah Mills Kinsella*

Alexander A. Minard*

Aafreen W. Moses

Michael A. Moses

Daniel P. Nickerson*

Audrey S. Osuna*

Samuel L. Ottenhoff

Julia L. Pettus*

L. Benjamin Pomeroy*

Erika E. Prahl

Alison E. Pritchard

Joanna Radnor Vilensky

Meghan C. Rand

Beko O. Reblitz-Richardson*

Emily E. Robichaud*

Elizabeth Roche Griffin*

Alexander W. Ross*

Michelle Ross*

Pilar Rubin Prime*

Andrew S. Rushing*

Cherish H. Schabasser*

David W. Shearer*

James T. Sheridan*

Gerald W. Slevin*

Paul W. Stinson*

Seth J. Swihart*

Mary M. Teague

Neal J. Teague

Douglas D. Vaskas

Helen Zoe Veit*

Molly Vogel

Andrew G. Wallace*

Leah R. Wedul Maragos*

Rebecca White Newgren*

Walter W. Winnicki III*

Kerry E. Yun*

Kimberly Yungfleisch

George Wharton Mariott Society

These alumni have included Kenyon in their estate plans or have made other planned gifts.

Austin D. Barger

Michael P. Davis

Pierce J. Flanigan IV

Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022

Kenyon Class of 2000 Fall Class Letter

Introducing the Lowry Center & Scholarship

Upcoming Virtual Events for Alumni

Class Agents

Class of 2000 Fall Notes

Class Listing