| Kenyon Class of 2020 Fall Class Letter
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| Dear classmates,
With cool breezes, crunchy leaves blanketing everything in autumn colors and many new and familiar faces on Middle Path – fall is in full swing at Kenyon. Whatever the season, I look forward to running into you on the Hill again soon, especially since we haven’t had a chance to reconnect there in some time.
As you’ve probably seen, the campus has many updates, including the opening of Chalmers Library. While I know we’ll all miss the Mods in the middle of campus, the new library is a beautiful addition to the campus with plenty of study spaces and natural light. All four classes are studying together again in Gambier (along with a first-year cohort finishing a semester in Copenhagen)! There are also plans taking shape for an unforgettable Reunion in 2022 on the Hill (mark your calendar for the weekend of May 27. All alumni are invited to attend).
In other exciting campus news, the College just shared its new strategic plan that will guide its planning and actions leading up to the bicentennial in 2024 and beyond. The plan includes progressive changes such as the development of a computer science program informed by the liberal arts; enrolling, retaining and graduating a student body that is representative of the talent and diversity of our nation and the world; implementing a holistic approach to health and wellness, with an emphasis on mental health; and expanding its commitment to environmental responsibility.
You may have also heard the announcement of the Kenyon Access Initiative, which will bring more high-achieving students to Kenyon thanks to a $25 million matching grant from the Schuler Education Foundation. Any amount we give through this Kenyon Access Initiative will be matched 1:1 and will go to a new scholarship for students from families with limited means and those ineligible for government aid — up to $25 million.
Scroll on to learn more about Kenyon’s strategic plan and the Kenyon Access Initiative (and how they fit into our 2024 bicentennial celebration). As you read about what’s in store for Kenyon’s future, I hope you’ll consider supporting today’s students with a gift to the Kenyon Fund and (if you have the ability) making an additional gift to the Kenyon Access Initiative that has the potential to bring 50 additional talented students to Kenyon each year.
Kenyon couldn’t be Kenyon without involved and supportive alumni like us. As the bicentennial draws closer, I challenge each of us to do a little more than we have in the past to help make Kenyon the special place it is. This could mean becoming an alumni volunteer, attending a College event, submitting a class note or setting up a recurring monthly gift.
Thank you!
Jake Zalenski
P.S. Don't forget to save the date for the Class of 2020's Commencement — May 22 on the Hill!
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| There's a lot happening at Kenyon today.
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We want you to be a part of it.
The Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial campaign is about building a strong foundation for Kenyon’s third century by growing our endowment and strengthening alumni connections. Get involved by:
Staying connected to Kenyon
You may only be a Kenyon student for four years, but you’re a member of our alumni community for life. The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement strives to make it easy — and fun — to stay connected. GET INVOLVED
Making a gift
Gifts of all sizes add up: every year, gifts of $100 or less to the Kenyon Fund total more than $250,000. Also, every dollar given to the Kenyon Access Initiative between now and June 2026 will be matched and used to create permanent new scholarship funds to enroll exceptional students with limited resources and those who are ineligible for government aid. MAKE A GIFT
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| Upcoming Events for Alumni
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Save the date for these upcoming events for alumni taking place online and on the Hill.
- Kenyon Women Giving Back
The quarterly event series continues on Tuesday, March 22 via Zoom.
- Kenyon Together
The 36-hour online giving challenge kicks off Tuesday, April 12.
- Class of 2020 Commencement
Join us May 22 on the Hill.
- Reunion Weekend
All alumni are invited to join us on the Hill May 27–29.
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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 Parker Subia at subiap@kenyon.edu.
• Tucker Bennett
• May Chen
• Jillian Countey
• Billy Hartman
• Blake Peck
• Jake Zalenski
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Emily Wirt is living in New York City, using her music degree to teach elementary schoolers in Washington Heights! She’s also been pursuing a Master’s of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine at Pacific College of Health and Science (NY campus). Once she graduates, she will be able to practice acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and she is loving everything she has learned so far!
Julia Adamo is back at Kenyon working as an admissions counselor! She commented that “being back on campus and walking Middle Path (particularly in autumn) is a dream come true. I look forward to connecting with students from CT, RI, and NY throughout the year and welcoming the next generation of Kenyon students to campus!”
Nina Samaan just started studying at the Atlantic Acting School Conservatory in NYC!
Sarah Campbell moved to Canterbury, England to start an MA in Autism Studies at the University of Kent.
Andrew Wedeking is in business school at Wake Forest.
Camila Wise currently lives in Bucaramanga, Colombia and is teaching English at Universidad Industrial de Santander as part of her year-long Fulbright Teaching Fellowship. “I look forward to traveling around the country and getting closer with my Colombian friends and community!”
Morgan Engmann married Ryan Cooper in July with a small group of family and friends. She is continuing her education in medical school at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and Ryan has begun his career in the Navy. “We wish you all health and happiness!”
Nate Gordon spent the last year teaching English to elementary school students in an Arabic-speaking school in Haifa, Israel. “During the year, I decided I want to stay in Israel, at least for the near future. I became a citizen in July and am currently in the process of drafting into the Israeli army where I will serve for the next two years.”
Anna Deryck is in her first year of veterinary school at Iowa State University. She hopes to graduate in 2025 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Kylie Milliken moved to Scotland and is working on her MSc in Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh. “The architecture here reminds me a lot of Kenyon and I've been lucky enough to meet students from all over the world.”
Chloe Hall is living in DC with Shara Morgan. She’s working as a nanny and applying to grad schools. “Miss you all so much and wishing everyone a better second year of post grad life than the first!!”
Joaquin Murrieta finished a temporary job with a baseball data company in the Lehigh Valley, now he works as an Assistant Varsity Baseball coach in Los Angeles. He adds, “I have also begun doing standup at open mics in my pursuit for world domination and fame, so be on the lookout for me in 5 years.”
Cat Smith noted, “I led backpacking trips in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks this summer for 6 weeks -- it was an amazing experience and I miss it dearly! Now I'm living in Ohio again, working virtually as part of the team for a non-profit awareness campaign called TextLess Live More. We're dedicated to ending distracted driving and promoting digital wellness. If you work in a school or with teenagers at all, you should check us out! Hope you're all doing well, sending much love.”
Carley Townsend lives in Brooklyn, NY participating in a 9-month nonprofit documentary film program at UnionDocs. She also works as a part-time assistant at WhiteBox, a nonprofit art space.
Quinn Adam has spent the bulk of this year serving in a Historic Preservation program with Student Conservation Association/AmeriCorps outside of Boston. Quinn says, “I've enjoyed learning some hands-on skills (lots of wooden window repairs) and living in a new part of the country. I will also be applying for graduate programs in Architecture over the next year. Looking forward to rejoining everyone for graduation next spring!”
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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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Did you know you can become a member of one of Kenyon's leadership giving societies by regularly making a gift of any size to the College? Benefits include society-specific favors, Reunion Weekend perks and camaraderie with Kenyon’s most loyal alumni. Visit kenyon.edu/societies for more information.
Kenyon is grateful to the following young alumni donors for their generous support of the College, including the Kenyon Fund, during the 2020-21 fiscal year. An asterisk (*) indicates a donor is a member of the Henry J. Abraham Society for loyal and consecutive giving.
Young Alumni Annual Fund Total: $15,905
Philander Chase Society
Donors of $10,000 to $24,999
Class of 2018
Julia T. Wilson*
Bexley Society
Donors of $2,500 to $9,999
Class of 2018
Isaiah Stavchansky
Class of 2021
Jennie E. VanMeter*
Gambier Society
Gifts of $120 to $1,000
(0-4 years post-graduation)
Class of 2017
Gabriel M. Avis*
Connor D. Bingham*
Brooke M. Cheney
Emma W. Conover-Crockett*
Madelyn K. Cook*
Lydia R. Felty*
Claire E. O'Donnell-McCarthy
Julia L. Plottel*
Nathaniel E. Shahan*
Elizabeth R. Siphron*
Elana S. Spivack
Leslie M. Taylor
David W. Thoensen
Emma J. Welsh-Huggins
Class of 2018
Matthew F. Carney
James W. Ernst
Houlder L. Hudgins*
Parker A. Subia*
Class of 2019
Caroline G. Daugherty*
Jack A. Fantini*
Nathan C. Grosh
Emma C. Hood*
Evangeline G. R. Warren*
Linda A. Wittenberg
Class of 2020
Jacob H. Barnett*
Lufeng Chen*
Megan L. Collins*
Jonathan A. Hammond*
William R. Hartman*
Patrick M. Kawakami*
Grace W. Moses*
Class of 2021
Henry W. Biedron*
Kenyon Society
Donors of $1 to $999
Class of 2017
Elizabeth W. Abrash
Zoe E. Andris
Avery D. Baldwin
Alton S. Barbehenn
Ben M. Berliner*
Christiana G. Binkley*
Caroline G. Burley*
Dominic W. Camperchioli*
Theresa A. Chmiel*
Samuel P. Clougher*
Abigail L. Coleman
Kenton J. DeBouter*
Laura E. Duncan
Taylor R. Eth*
Ines A. Forjaz de Lacerda
Kyra A. T. Green*
Nora D. Hamovit
Claire E. Hildebrandt
Guanyu Hu*
Taylor L. Jamil
Meredith A. Krieg
Sarah M. Lloyd*
Emily R. Margolin
Shannon E. Napier
Alexander J. O'Connor
Aubrianna M. Osorio*
Alison T. Pratt*
Henry M. Quillian IV
Seth T. Reichert
Alexander W. Seaver*
Emily K. Top*
Olivia E. Walsh
Julia R. Weinberg*
Class of 2018
Eliza M. Abendroth*
Brooks H. Alderman*
Ian D. Bell
Mary E. Brady*
Benjamin T. Campos*
Susannah D. Davies*
Jules A. Desroches
Meredith Gano*
Elinor P. Horn*
Katelyn N. Hutchinson*
Sarah P. Jensen
Natalie S. Kane*
Maia R. Leeds
Juliet E. Levy
Maya E. L. Lowenstein*
Jack Marooney
John McFarlane*
Juliette S. Moffroid
Madeleine C. Morgan
Nathan J. Novak*
Dana L. Oakes
Katilyn M. Perry*
Clara G. Pinchbeck*
Indigo L. Rinearson*
McKenna C. Trimble*
Joshua R. Walmer
Hannah E. Weingold
Class of 2019
Frances L. Alani
Clara L. Altfeld
Benjamin P. Bassett
Emma A. Braden*
Henry D. Brill*
Rachel I. Cohn
Emily A. Davis*
Alexandria R. Donnelly*
Benjamin W. Erjavac*
Luisa A. Estrada
Gabriella L. Eugenio*
Benjamin S. Gross
Taylor A. Hazan*
Dani N. Huffman
Alexandra L. Kanovsky
Michael J. Lahanas-Calderon
Sam A. Lipscomb
Andrea L. Ludwig
William J. Moran III
Pranav Mulpur*
Rachel N. Nguyen
Michaela N. Orr
Radclyffe W. Savage
Fiona M. Shearer
Sarah R. Sklar*
Charlotte N. Smithson
Peyton A. Thomas*
Lan Anh Tran
Alexandra T. Wilson
Juliana P. Withers
Class of 2020
Gail F. Anderson
Nicholas T. Bennett*
Nicholas V. Culbert
Jacob G. Fisher*
Jessica I. Gorovitz
Sarah M. Griswold*
Patrick F. Hudnut*
Baxter J. King-Epping*
Juexuan Wang*
Eleanor M. Wellik*
Class of 2021
Samantha G. Beck*
Amir K. Brivanlou*
Myanna L. Cook*
Emily N. Criss*
Mary M. Dierker*
Jorge D. Dumenigo*
Phu Duong*
Allegra G. Fass*
Molly W. Folks*
Jonathan Hernandez*
Dresden S. Lonergan*
Makena M. Markert*
Paulina A. Mendez*
Ruqin Mu*
Claire C. Murray*
Olivia G. O'Connell*
Hannah D. Petrich*
Elizabeth C. Quinn*
Andrew J. T. Smith*
Liana M. Valin*
Yang Wu*
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Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022
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