| Kenyon Class of 2005 Spring Class Letter
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Dear classmates,
After a year that felt like a decade, I am filled with hope and optimism as we head into the warmer months. As of mid-April, roughly one-quarter of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and life feels like it is inching back to “normal.”
Kenyon is also planning its return to normal operations, including having all four classes back on campus in the fall. And, due in no small part to our alumni support, the College is wrapping up a financially and logistically challenging year on track to balance the budget, just like they have the last 50 years.
After receiving a record number of applications, Kenyon has enrolled its Class of 2025. And Chalmers Library will be open to greet them when they move in.
In January, Kenyon received the largest gift in its history that will fund construction of three new South Campus residence halls, allowing the College to increase focus on growing resources for scholarships. This is where we come in! The success of the next part of the campaign, Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial, relies on our increased participation and continued support of scholarships for students.
If you haven’t heard, reunion is going virtual this year. The College is hosting two weeks of online programming from May 16-29 and most events are open to all alumni. Even though we aren’t celebrating a reunion this year, I encourage you to register for events with your favorite professors and reminisce with classmates at the online social gatherings. I’m planning to join the tour of Chalmers Library and take part in some of the fun things they have planned to bring the Hill to us virtually for this nontraditional reunion. I look forward to bumping into some of you on Zoom!
The College is also counting on us to show up (and break our record numbers!) for this year’s 36-hour Kenyon Together giving challenge kicking off the morning of Wednesday, May 19 as part of the virtual reunion. Mark your calendar for a fun chance to help Kenyon students today, score prizes, join in some good friendly competition and win bragging rights. After the success of 2020’s Kenyon Together giving challenge, the College knows just how impactful our alumni community can be when we work together to raise money for the causes at Kenyon that matter most to us.
As alumni, we can help today’s students by staying connected with the College and making gifts to scholarships that help Kenyon continue to meet the growing financial needs of students and their families. I invite you to join me in supporting the College in both of these ways. Our alma mater and all of you have contributed to the hope and optimism I feel for the future by providing regular points of connection during an isolating year. No matter how you choose to stay involved with Kenyon, I hope you too are breathing a sigh of relief as we prepare for better days ahead.
Take care,
Kelly Stowe
P.S. Scroll down to read our 2005 spring class notes.
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Support current students now with a gift to scholarships
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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 to:
- 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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| Virtual Events for Alumni
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All alumni are invited to join us at these virtual reunion events in May:
- Opening Ceremony/Virtual Hospitality Tent
4 p.m. ET Sunday, May 16
- Kenyon Together 36-Hour Giving Challenge
from 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, May 19 – 9 p.m. ET Thursday, May 20
- Town Hall with President Decatur
7 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 27
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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 Isabelle Rivers-McCue at riversmccuei@kenyon.edu.
• Caitlin Cody
• Kelly Stowe
• Megan Harvey
• Melzetta Moody
• Randeep Dhiman
• Becca Don
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Class of 2005 Spring Notes
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Sherry Cortes writes: “I have embraced my nomadic life since graduating in 2005. So far I have lived and worked in New York City, North Carolina, California and now am hopefully in my forever home in Arlington, Texas. I want to stay here as I now have a niece and nephew (twins!) and just need to be here for them and watch them grow. I obtained my Master in Library & Information Science with a focus in archival studies. I pursued mostly archival positions, and unfortunately my most recent job at University of Texas, Arlington, ended in February right at the start of the pandemic.
After that there was a dry spell of job openings. However, thanks to the move to online education, I was able to get a part-time position at Miami Regional University as its Distance Learning Librarian. I am absolutely loving life right now, because I can go visit my family in Dallas any time I want and I spend my days with my sweet Havanese, Max, although he doesn't fully understand when mom is in a meeting she doesn't want to play or hear him barking at people outside. Things are good here in Texas, despite the crazy weather (seriously, a foot of snow?) and burst water pipes. I have great friends who are as supportive as my family. Take care, fellow Kenyonites and stay safe!"
Liz (Palmer) O’Dore writes: “Exciting times for our family - we are expecting twin girls this summer, and just moved back to the Philadelphia area to be closer to family...and cheesesteaks!”
Caitlin (Looney) Landesberg shares: “My husband Stuart and I moved to Mill Valley, CA in 2020 with our 4-year old daughter, Frances, and 2-year old son, Hayes. I sold my beer company to Sierra Nevada Brewing Company last year and have started impact investing in businesses with social and environmental focus. I'm enjoying playing tennis and horseback riding again! I look forward to a class reunion in short order!”
Michelle (Oliver) Hay contributes: “I left private (legal) practice a few years back to serve as a magistrate at our local court of common pleas, which I enjoy. I live in Jackson Township, Ohio with my husband Joseph and our son. I am expecting our second son in April. I have enjoyed seeing fellow alum Megan Chambers (Hartshorn) a couple of times, who lives not too far away, and keeping in touch with my other girlfriends from the Hill via Zoom. In my free time I work with a nonprofit engaged in fighting human trafficking locally and internationally.”
Tom Coiner is a shadow of his former self.
Claudia (Masko) Smith continues to live in South Jersey with her husband, Colin Smith '06, and their daughter, Mariel, who will turn 4 in July. Claudia is the chair of Kenyon's Philadelphia Regional Association, which has been hosting virtual events throughout the pandemic. Reach out to Kenyonphl99@gmail.com if you'd like to get involved.
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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 College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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