Our Path Forward: The Campaign for Kenyon

Kenyon Class of 2017 Fall Class Letter

Dear classmates,

Kenyon couldn’t be more Kenyon than it is in the fall. The cool breezes to balance out the afternoon sun, crunchy leaves blanketing everything in reds and oranges and yellows, and an endless supply of friendly faces to greet you along Middle Path. Whatever the season, hopefully we’ll all be on the Hill again soon.

And what a campus we’ll have to return to! The new Chalmers Library is open and beautiful. (Have you seen the disco ball-esque skylight feature?) All four classes are studying together again in Gambier (With a bonus first-year cohort finishing a semester in Copenhagen). And plans are taking shape for an unforgettable Reunion 2022 on the Hill. (Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 27!)

In other exciting campus news, the College just shared a new strategic plan that will guide its planning and actions leading up to the bicentennial in 2024 and beyond. You will be pleased to see it includes core elements like developing 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 have also likely 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 you to do a little more than you 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!
Nathaniel Shahan

There's a lot happening at Kenyon today.

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

Learn more about Kenyon today

Upcoming Events for Alumni

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.

  • Reunion Weekend
    All alumni are invited to join us on the Hill May 27–29.
Visit kenyon.edu/alumnievents to register and view our full alumni event calendar.

Reunion Committee Members

Reunion Committee Members are your connection to campus. If you would like to learn more about becoming one, contact Parker Subia at subiap@kenyon.edu.

• Sam Berten
• Sam Clougher
• Bailey Dominguez
• Kyra Green
• Nick Maryan
• Caitelin McCoy

• Julia Plottel
• Seth Reichert
• Nathaniel Shahan
• Lizzy Siphron

Class of 2017 Fall Notes

Gianna Anderson
Gianna (Biaggi) Anderson and Oscar Anderson received a production deal to create an Italian cartoon version of Stuart Little, featuring Stuart's adventures navigating Berlusconi's blocked Parliament!

Alex Ritter-Jenkins
I just started a master's program in viticulture and enology (basically wine science) at UC Davis. I also happened upon some grapes a few weeks ago and began my first independent wine project, Domaine Arjé, making very small production rosé of pinot noir--and you can bet your bottom dollar it's natural wine. If you would like to get on the mailing list ahead of the crowd, email me. Based on estimated costs so far, bottles will start at around $480 and $600 for the reserve vintner's blend (yes, a bit steep but think of it as a special bottle for your grandkids). Will be shipping as early as May 2022. Cheers!

Samantha Berten
I graduated law school in May and now am starting at a firm in downtown Cincinnati. I can’t believe it’s almost been five years since we were at Kenyon!

Bailey Dominguez
With my household’s latest addition (an Italian Greyhound named Roo) I’m on pace to have 4 tiny dogs by our 10 year reunion. Pursue your wildest dreams, everyone!!

Anna Schueler
This past December I earned my MSN from the University of Cincinnati. I am now working as an RN at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on the Bone Marrow Transplant unit. If you would like to join the Bone Marrow Registry, please go to bethematch.org!

Benjamin Adekunle-Raji
Moved to Silver Spring, MD in July. Kind of missing Baltimore, but I don't miss that B'more-DC commute. I've been working on a lot of music, writing a handful of verses/songs per week for the last couple of months, so I'm hoping I can start releasing some of it soon. Need to get better at networking though (kill me now); producing, recording, mixing, and mastering everything myself has been both painfully laborious and deeply educational.

Jenna Wendler
Jenna started her second year of graduate school at American University in Washington, D.C. Most of her time is spent writing or thinking about her thesis, about which she was selected to present at the annual American University/George Washington University Symposium for Art History in late October. When not having a quarter-life crisis about post-grad employment (round 2), Jenna runs on local trails, reads books, and explores DC's many museums.

Victoria Ungvarsky 
The more things change (I started my MFA in Theatre Management and Producing at Columbia University School of the Arts), the more they stay the same (still living with Amy Schatz and Julia Waldow).

Pankti Dalal
Pankti Dalal is going into her 5th year teaching mathematics at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH. She also advises the Indian/Hindu Society, is a dorm head, coaches, and is the co-facilitator of the newly formed Faculty DEI Council. Recently she has been taking a deep-dive into taking an equity stance in the mathematics classroom and developing culturally-responsive teaching practices. She also may or may not get a cat in the next year.

Kyra Green
Happy reunion year! I'm in my 5th academic cycle at Bowdoin College - time really has flown. After holding roles in both Admissions and The Center for Multicultural Life last year, I have fully transitioned into the role of Interim Director of the Center for Multicultural Life this year.

Ben Grannis
As I write this, I’m in Boulder, Colorado and am nearly one third done with my 10,000 mile bike trip to raise awareness for distracted driving. I am fundraising as I go for TextLess Live More and am traveling around the United States over the next few months. Check out my route and learn more at EyesUpRide.com - please feel free to reach out if I am going to be near you! #EyesUpRide

Caitelin McCoy
Caitelin is now a successful real estate agent in NYC and has loved being able to help some of her classmates find their home. She's looking forward to working with more Kenyon grads and seeing everyone at reunion.

Sam Clougher
Just started at the University of Michigan Law School. Today was still the best day of my life!

Ben Koses
2021, huh? Sure doesn't feel like it. I've been remotely working for U.S. News & World Report for more than a year now, and I've been focusing on self-care as well. Mainly through personal fitness. Sadly, the Mac 'n Cheese wedges (and, I hear, the Cove itself) are gone, but on the bright side, so are about 70 pounds of my weight. Hoping to maintain that still. Same goes for the job! I got a raise in February, and I'm happy where I am, at least for now.

Nathaniel Shahan
Nathaniel works for the strategic communications consulting firm Kekst CNC and was recently promoted to Associate. He resides in Manhattan.

Lizzy Siphron
Lizzy Siphron is currently working as an Assistant Director of Program Management in Executive Education at Georgetown University. She recently became a part of the Washington, D.C. Regional Committee and can't wait to connect with more Kenyon Alumni in the D.C. area. 
Read notes from the Class of 2018 and the Class of 2016.
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.

Class Listing

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*
Kenyon College
105 Chase Avenue, Gambier, OH 43022