Hello Classmates,

As we emerge into the light from the dark craziness of the past two years, I trust that we all are ready to embrace a spring of new beginnings. Memories of Kenyon garnished with daffodils, iris, and the scent of lilac come wafting back into my consciousness and I feel as if we are all poised to appreciate the season’s beauty and each other all the more intensely. Even though this year isn’t technically a reunion year for us, I think it is wonderful that we can belatedly celebrate in person! All alumni are welcome back for Reunion Weekend this year (and in the future!) and the fact that alumni are FINALLY able to reunite on campus again after two years of virtual gatherings is something worth celebrating. The sense of isolation that has accompanied the past two years has been challenging to navigate, but having the support of you all, my Kenyon family, has continued to brighten the darkest parts of this pandemic for me — thank you! 

Last fall, I hope you heard about (and perhaps supported) the new Kenyon Access Initiative. Kenyon is eight months into a five-year partnership with the Schuler Education Foundation to increase access to Kenyon for exceptional students with limited resources. Our extended Kenyon community has enthusiastically responded by making more than 1,113 gifts to support this unique initiative, helping to create new scholarships that will be awarded to students who are enrolling now. On another note, applications this year hit another record, up 14% over last year!

Hopefully you saw the news from President Sean Decatur this winter that, in response to calls from students as we approach our Bicentennial, he agreed the time had come to look beyond Lords and Ladies. Thanks to all of you who have submitted suggestions or other feedback for the process to consider a new athletics moniker. This letter was finalized before the results were known, but you can visit kenyon.edu/moniker to learn the latest.

This spring, the College continued its commitment to integrating environmental stewardship into its curriculum, campus operations and campus culture. They also announced the news that the incomparable Lisa Schott ’80, who since 2010 has served as managing director of the College’s land trust, the Philander Chase Conservancy (PCC), will step down from that position at the end of June after a nearly 40-year career with Kenyon. This news and more was shared in Kenyon’s new quarterly Green Newsletter. If you don’t already receive it, I encourage you to sign up for it at bit.ly/Green-Kenyon.

As summer approaches, Kenyon is preparing to welcome several groups of alumni back to campus. First, more than 100 members of the Class of 2020 and their families have registered to attend their belated Commencement taking place on May 22. On May 26, the Classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972 will be kicking off Reunion Weekend a day early with special 50th Reunion programming. And then, as you know, all alumni are welcome back to campus May 27-29 for what promises to be the biggest alumni gathering in the College’s history! If you aren’t able to make it back for Reunion this year, I hope you’ll plan to attend one soon.

Finally, I want to commend all of you as well as our beloved Kenyon institution for showing such great depth of character and resiliency in its managing of the past two years with grace and fortitude. I, for one, am brimming with appreciation for my Kenyon community. Let us remember that all of the excitement and achievement at Kenyon today can be traced, in part, back to our support. Kenyon relies on our gifts to the Kenyon Fund to sustain every aspect of students’ experience today, from seminars to scholarships. I hope you’ll join me in making a gift today. We know first-hand how a Kenyon education can impact one’s future — not just professionally, but personally. When we support Kenyon’s current and future students, we help make a Kenyon family like ours a possibility for many more. I look forward to connecting with you, my Class of ’86 family, soon!

With warm purple wishes,
Sally Quillin Wagner

P.S. Scroll down to view the 1986 class notes.