Our Path Forward: The Campaign for Kenyon

Kenyon Class of 1999 Spring Class Letter
Hello, Class of 1999!

After a year that felt like a decade, I am filled with hope and optimism as we move past “The Pollening” as we like to call it here in Ohio, and into “Real Spring,” -- not to be confused with “Fool’s Spring,” or the “Spring of Deception.”  I know that many of us have received a COVID vaccination -- or have plans to -- and life feels like it is inching back to “normal.” (Baseball and Broadway are preparing to return this summer! My two-year old can have playdates!) 

Kenyon is also planning a return to normal operations, including having all four classes back on campus in the fall. And, due in no small part to 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’ll be there for most of it, so if you are planning to join the tour of Chalmers Library and take part in some of the fun things they have planned for this nontraditional reunion, I look forward to bumping into some of you on Zoom! [PS: For those of you who are keeping track, we will be celebrating our 25th reunion during Kenyon’s bicentennial! Who’s ready to party like it’s 1824...errr 1999?]

The College (and your friendly Annual Giving director) are 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. 

Cheers!
Molls

P.S. Scroll down to read our 1999 spring class notes.

Support current 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 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.

Make a Gift

Virtual Events for Alumni

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
Visit kenyon.edu/reunion to view our full virtual reunion schedule.

Class Agents

Class 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.

• Whitney Arnold
• John Sherck
• Molly Gutridge
• Becky Hoyt

Class of 1999 Spring Notes
Sarah Booth and Armando Inarritu were married on September 12, 2020 in Dobbs Ferry, New York where they currently live.

George Cook hopes this finds you all well and getting ready for a return to normalcy as vaccine shots are getting in arms and decent leadership nationwide puts us on track to hopefully beat back the pandemic. This has been a crazy year for him, as it has been for everyone, as he and his family have navigated working-from-home while trying to keep four kids focused, learning distantly, and sans the ability to enjoy activities like trampoline parks, summer sports, or even just hanging out with friends. But thankfully his kids have been able to keep themselves occupied together, which has been a blessing. Otherwise, he’s been doing what everyone else has been...binge watching a ton of shows, cooking in a lot, and enjoying family. He’s also virtually enjoyed the company of Kenyon friends on a couple of occasions as well, including seeing old friends during a Zoom FADC they had and also participating in a couple of Kenyon virtual discussions, including America Voted. What's Next?

He’s also kept himself very busy through accepting an offer to serve as the new Director of Legislative Affairs for MI Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He’s been in this new role since October. Back in the early 2000s, he worked in the OH state legislature for a state representative and a state senator, but this has proven to be an entirely different animal altogether! Joining the team during this pandemic, with everyone in the office working virtually, has proven to be a challenge, but one he’s now getting figured out. More challenging, however, is the divisive nature of politics currently and the struggle to engage in bipartisan collaboration. Although it's been a challenge, with all of the challenges currently facing us, it's one he’s very glad to be a part of.

Liz Dunning amidst all the turmoil, heaviness, activism and hope of the last year, learned to skateboard! She’s having a great time cruising around her neighborhood in DC with her two boys, ages 7 and 11, and husband, Paul.

Beth Fincke is living in the Jamaica Plain area of Boston, still teaching ESL for BU as well as kundalini yoga. She bikes everywhere, and hopes to be part of a community garden again this spring. She’s been doing outdoor acrofitness, and taking salsa dance classes in the city parks.

Molly (Harsh) Gutridge doesn’t know about everyone else, but this year has been....a lot! We are all feeling a little nervous about how to "people" again come this fall, but she thinks they’ll figure it out. Liam has loved having Mom and Dad both home all the time, and they’ve cherished a year together that would otherwise have been a footnote.

Rebecca Hoyt joined the Kenyon Fund Executive Committee as the Class Agent Chair. This opportunity has allowed her to combine her love of learning and Kenyon. Vivien (14) and Daniel (11) have been remote all year, as has Becky. Their dog, Quincy, keeps her feet warm as she works.

Susan (Kruman) Gorman and Mike welcomed their second child, Caleb Samuel Gorman, on March 15th. He joins big brother, Benjamin (3), at home.

Mark Revermann hopes everyone from the great class of '99 is safe, healthy and happy. In the Windy City he decided to make the most of 2020 and got engaged, married and bought a new house, all in about 2 months. Despite the many challenges that surround all of us, his wife, dog (The Duke) and he feel so fortunate to embark on this new life journey. Since days at Kenyon, he’s worked in the advertising agency business, but in the last 10 years specialized in multicultural and inclusive marketing - a field that has aligned with his academic, professional and cultural background. So stay well, everyone.

Jesse Reynolds, in Wichita, Kansas, has been living in the Midwest since graduating in '99. This year he celebrates his 20th year working at Laboratory Corporation of America. In his spare time he has been a long-time participant in the Society for Creative Anachronism, the historical recreation group to which he was introduced during his time at Kenyon.

Jordan (Schmidt) Kurella recently signed on with The Tobias Agency and is now being represented by literary agent Matt Belford. Mr. Belford is planning to take Jordan's novella about music, mythology, and college life to publishers. Wish them luck! Jordan is eager to connect with Kenyon friends.
Read notes from the Class of 2000 and the Class of 1998.
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.
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