| Kenyon Class of 1987 Spring Class Letter
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Dear classmates,
After a year that felt like a decade, it’s time for hope and optimism as we head into the warmer months. Here in Ohio, vaccines are available for our age group. Like most of you, I’ve been working from home the last year, and will hopefully go back to work soon. For me, that’s as an attorney in prison. As weird as it sounds, I can’t wait to get back to prison. I hope you folks are doing well. Here’s the update:
Kenyon is 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,
Dave Hanson
P.S. Scroll down to read our 1987 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 Molly Gutridge (gutridge1@kenyon.edu).
• David Hanson
• David Rosenthal
• Geoff Bennett
• Joe Lipscomb
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Class of 1987 Spring Notes
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If you are interested in serving, or would like to nominate a classmate, we are actively recruiting for the Class of 1987’s 35th reunion committee. If interested, please reach out to Molly Gutridge, Director of Annual Giving via email at gutridge1@kenyon.edu.
Joe Leone
The quarantine in Wisconsin left our home illegal from the get-go. For almost three months there were 11 under our roof: Elizabeth, me, our seven spawn, one college roommate, one boyfriend! While it brought its challenges, overall, everybody stepped up to the plate. (With all the help, we also planted our largest garden ever.) The grocery bills, though, were... intimidating! Fortunately, inventors just kept on inventing, virus be damned, and I kept writing patent applications on their inventions. So all-in-all, 2020 was a logistical nightmare, but far better than it could have been. (And our head count is down to 7.)
Sue (Reid) Herring
Good news in my pandemic year: I completed the journey to my master's in Occupational Therapy in December, graduating after 6 1/2-years of prerequisites, degree courses, fieldwork, and a mild run-in with the 'Rona. While I study for my boards, I'm spending my time reacquainting myself with a young-adult son and two teen-aged daughters, attending to life beyond the squeaky wheel, and discovering life after grad school! Best of health to you all.
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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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