Our Path Forward: The Campaign for Kenyon

Kenyon Class of 2018 Spring Class Letter
Dear classmates,

After a year that has felt like a decade, I am hopeful as we head into warmer months. As of mid-April, roughly one-quarter of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and Instagram tells me that some Kenyon students have been lucky enough to get vaccinated recently as well! Fingers crossed we can all get the jab sooner rather than later.   

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 we have for the last 50 years. 
 
Some Hill updates: Kenyon introduced a new program that brings graduate students from Kent State to be CAs. COVID fatigue is real and Kenyon students and faculty are feeling it. Spring Break was 2 days in lieu of the 2 weeks we all loved and needed. Sports are having a shortened season. K-SWOC (Kenyon Student Worker Organizing Committee) led the “first-ever-in-the-nation strike by student works”, love to see Kenyon students make big moves. 

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. Finally. No offense Kenyon. It’s because I miss the old library. 

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 continued alumni support for student scholarships. 

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. 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! 

And mark your calendars: This year’s 36-hour Kenyon Together giving challenge kicks off the morning of Wednesday, May 19th. Join in some friendly competition, win bragging rights, score prizes, and a chance to help out Kenyon students. After the success of 2020’s Kenyon Together giving challenge, the College knows just how impactful our young alumni community can be when we work together to raise money for the causes at Kenyon that matter most to us. They heard us when we asked to designate our gifts to things like diversity, equity and inclusion during Kenyon Together, and I have been pleased to see these designations remain on Kenyon’s main giving page ever since. 

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. Thank you all for everything you do! And take a minute to take a look at the Class Notes and catch up on what the classmates that you were like kind of class friends with but don’t talk to regularly are up to. I hope you all have the chance to enjoy some warmer weather and relax a little.

Take care,
Heather Pacheco

P.S. Scroll down to read our 2018 spring class notes.
Support current students now with your gift

With the Kenyon Fund’s many designation opportunities, you can direct your gift to the things at Kenyon that matter most to you, including our newest designation which supports mental health resources for students.

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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 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 Parker Subia at subiap@kenyon.edu.

• Hannah Weingold 
• Heather Pacheco
• Maya Lowenstein
• Parker Subia

Class of 2018 Spring Notes
Hannah Lee Leidy reports: I've been living on the Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands in North Carolina, since graduation. Work brought me here, but when I lost my job in a furlough last March, I felt so appreciative of my home. While my friends in the cities were isolating indoors, I was able to go for runs by the water, epic bike rides, and to the beach. I've been freelance writing for the past year and working in a fine dining restaurant. From running the floor, cooking on the line, slinging drinks at the bar, and busting out bread loaves with the pastry chef, I'm slowly learning every facet of the operation and what "hospitality" means during COVID.

Nick Navari reports: On March 25th, 2021, Nick Navari's first original musical Local Singles, for which he wrote the book, music & lyrics, made its national debut as a feature film. The show was awarded a grant for a full production, as Navari was named one of Pittsburgh's Community Supported Artists and began his residency at the New Hazlett Theater in July of 2020. The grant also afforded the show studio time to record the original cast recording, which is available now across all streaming platforms. The film is set to make its television debut later this year.

Clara Pinchbeck reports: After graduating with an MA in Digital Art History from Duke University in December 2020, I have landed in Brooklyn for a few months before I move to Cleveland where I will be attending an Art History doctoral program at Case Western Reserve University in the fall.

Paige Ballard reports: After a year’s delay, Paige and Sterling Nelson ’16 will FINALLY be getting married in May at a beautiful vineyard in Minnesota.

Natalie Kane reports: I've had the opportunity to work on a variety of virtual theatre projects this winter and spring, including directing a Zoom production of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale & the premiere of a new play which is being produced as a podcast! While I've learned a ton about the potential of virtual performances, I'm also eager to return to live theatre - which I hope to be able to do later this year as the Directing Apprentice at Gloucester Stage for their outdoor, socially-distanced summer season. Hope everyone is well!

Madeline Frank reports: Madeline is currently abroad on an English Teaching Fellowship in Haifa, Israel. She is excited to start graduate school in the fall either pursuing a dual masters degree in Social Work and Public Health or just a Masters in Public Health (TBD). Sending lots of well wishes and support to all the Kenyon people out there!

Evan Cree Gee reports: I am enjoying life in Austin, still living with Graeme Taylor. I was recently able to see Colin Cowperthwaite and we celebrated the departure of MHB from Kenyon.

Heather Pacheco reports: As a new DC resident, I am very excited to see the cherry blossoms bloom for the first time!

Parker Subia reports: Still living in Mount Vernon and working for Kenyon! If anyone plans on stopping by the campus, feel free to reach out!
Read notes from the Class of 2019 and the Class of 2017.
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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