| Kenyon Class of 1961 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.
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.
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, as all alumni will be invited back for the festivities, including those of us celebrating a post-50th reunion.)
Yes, good things are happening at Kenyon and that is why I support it year after 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. See below for 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,
Hutch Hodgson
P.S. It’s amazing that we are celebrating our 60th reunion year from Kenyon. To mark this wonderful occasion, John Woollam is once again offering the class of 1961 a matching gift challenge. For every gift made to the Kenyon Fund from now until June 30, 2021, John will match 2 to 1 each dollar donated up to $50,000. Please consider giving to triple your gift and a special thanks to John for making this possible!
P.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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John Baker: Sorry for a negative response - but my retirement "job" is photographer for several local non-profit organizations. Summer is the time of parties, balls, evening events, etc., where the groups earn most of their annual budget. And I take 1,000 photos of the best people in town. This summer I spent most of the time filling my 1961 KENYON beer mug with beer. Never want another summer like this one!
Dan Holland: October 1st marked our first-year anniversary of living in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Needless to say, it has been an eventful year.
A pandemic was not in our plans for exploring our part of Virginia, but we have managed some safe sorties into the Shenandoah National Forest, and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the south and west of Waynesboro.
With being largely housebound, I managed to complete the rewrite of my seventh novel, and composed and posted a poem on Facebook every day since March 15th. In addition, I also completed putting together a book of angling memorabilia.
Patty utilized her time to write a murder mystery. She will be playing in the Waynesboro Symphony when/if they are able to have a concert season.
I remain guardedly optimistic that we will be able to return to Kenyon for our 60th Reunion. Hope to see you there!
John “Fox” Symons: Wife of 50 years, Susan and I relocated in mid-March 2020 to the Knollwood Military Officers Retirement Home in Northwest Washington, DC, just days before the COVID-19 pandemic "struck." We find apartment to be most accommodating.
Following 21 years of active duty with the USAF, we retired to my original home in Chevy Chase, MD in 1982, and then worked several contractor jobs, with the Dept. of Energy and then for 22 years at the Pentagon, fully retiring in 2017. Travels include trips with Bob Riker, also a classmate/fraternity brother. Looking forward to returning to The Hill for a Reunion Weekend, once we overcome the current restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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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.
1961
Annual Fund Total: $107,829
Class Participation: 50.00%
President's Society
Donors of $50,000 or more
John A. Woollam H'08*
Philander Chase Society
Donors of $10,000 to $24,999
John S. Wells*
Bexley Society
Donors of $2,500 to $9,999
Timothy Fuller H'83*
Gilman R. King*
Robert G. Knott Jr. P'97*
A. Scott Leiper*
Philip S. Post P'91*
Harry E. Spain Jr.*
Kenyon Society
Donors of $1 to $2,499
Paul L. Abbott*
David C. Brown P'89*
Richard Carter
Donald W. Doerge
S. Bradley Gillaugh*
Norman R. Hane*
R. Hutchins Hodgson Jr.*
Larry J. Hofer
Daniel O. Holland
Geoffrey M. Howard *
Robert C. Howell*
John P. Kierzkowski*
David E. Lenz*
Nicholas K. Long *
Robert T. Riker*
Charles F. Stannard*
John J. Stetzer III †*
John Richard Symons*
Don T. Vidro*
Carol Woodworth (widow of Daniel K. Woodworth) *
George Wharton Mariott Society
These alumni have included Kenyon in their estate plans or have made other planned gifts.
S. Bradley Gillaugh
Norman R. Hane
John A. Hazelton
R. Hutchins Hodgson Jr.
Robert C. Howell
Robert G. Knott, Jr.
A. Scott Leiper
Robert T. Riker
John R. Symons
John S. Wells
John A. Woollam
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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