Our Path Forward: The Campaign for Kenyon

Kenyon Class of 2014 Spring Class Letter

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 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. 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,

Your 2014 Class Agents

P.S. Scroll down to read our 2014 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.

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 Thursday, May 27

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

Class of 2014 Spring Notes

Jordi Alonso reports: It’s been a busy semester! By the time the class letter goes out, I will have gotten my second dose of Pfizer, graduated from the University of Missouri with a Ph.D. in English literature, and I’ll be getting ready to move to New York City this fall to start a Master’s program in Classical Studies at Columbia University. Hit me up, Kenyon @ NYC! I’d love to meet old (and new) friends this fall! (My Instagram is @woodlandfaun, if you all want to get in touch!)

Lauren Anderson attained a Master of Public Health (MPH) this past May from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in the Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences department. She has since accepted a position as a senior analyst working with CVS Health’s digital enterprise to maximize health service delivery for online customers, and recently moved (back) up to Providence, Rhode Island, with her trusty copilot cat, Calcifer. She is amazed to be the first woman in her family’s history to attain a graduate degree.

Kelly Boland gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Seamus Michael Rodino, on March 13, 2021! Kelly and her husband, Devin, are loving all the sweet baby snuggles this little one has to give. Kelly has also matched to Children’s Hospital of Michigan for her doctoral psychology internship for the 2021-2022 year and is looking forward to exploring Detroit!

Pádraig Dúna reports: Excited to announce that after a crazy year, I’ll be graduating from Babson College’s F.W. Olin School of Business with my MBA this May 15th! After that I’ll be relocating to join Accenture in their Strategy Consulting division in Columbus, Ohio. I’d love to catch up with anyone who’s in the area!

Jameyanne Fuller reports: I’m plugging along here in D.C. I’m still working as a space lawyer at the FCC and of course writing during all my free time. I’ve started a small creative writing group, including some Kenyon friends, that has continued virtually through the pandemic and it’s been great. I’m definitely lucky to be safe and healthy and employed during this time, but like everyone I miss the pre-pandemic world. I’m sorry to report that Mopsy, my first Seeing Eye dog who came to all my classes at Kenyon, passed away at the end of December. She was twelve and a half, and she had a nice retirement full of walks and naps in the sun. I was so glad I spent some time at home last year and was with her to the end.

Andrea Odegaard got engaged to William Giraldi in August 2020, and they are going to get married in a small ceremony in Hamilton, New Jersey, this May. Andrea is very excited to start this new chapter in her life with her soon-to-be husband. Andrea also passed her Ph.D. comprehensive exams in February, and submitted her proposal for her dissertation.

Read notes from the Class of 2015 and the Class of 2013.

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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