To the Class of 1998,

Fall in Gambier. Kenyon couldn’t be more Kenyon than it is at this time of year: cool breezes balancing out the afternoon sun, crunchy leaves blanketing everything in autumn colors and an endless supply of friendly faces along Middle Path. Take a minute to soak in the nostalgia and perhaps you may even hear Kenyon’s bells. 

All four classes are studying together again in Gambier, experiencing similar fall treasures as well as the new Chalmers Library that apparently includes a disco ball-esque skylight feature. There’s a bonus first-year cohort finishing a semester in Copenhagen! Plans are taking shape for an unforgettable Reunion 2022 on the Hill. All alumni are invited back for the weekend of May 27th.

The College just shared a new strategic plan that will guide its planning and actions leading up to the bicentennial in 2024. 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.

The Kenyon Access Initiative 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 join me in 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. As the bicentennial draws closer, the challenge to each of us is to do a little 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.

To Kokosing, Old Kenyon, and the calling bell, 
Jonny Nicholson

P.S. Keep scrolling to see our 1998 class notes.