Kenyon Alumni Volunteer Bulletin

Regional association volunteers met virtually in February for their first quarterly meeting of 2024. After talking through upcoming on-campus, regional and virtual events, the discussion moved to planning regional events this spring and summer. In April, we will celebrate Bicentennial Spirit Week and hold our giving challenge leading up to the inauguration of Kenyon's 20th president, Julie Kornfeld. The Hill will be buzzing with activity and we’d love to see that same Kenyon spirit in regions across the country! The alumni office would like to encourage you to plan an event in your city during the week of April 6-13 to coincide with the celebrations happening on campus. Funding is available to help with venue fees, appetizers and drinks. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out Kansas City’s Bicentennial Bocce & Bites scheduled for April 11. Ready to get something on the calendar? Reach out to Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement Emily Shackle at shackle1@kenyon.edu.

We had a great Lunch Chat session in February with Vice President for Advancement Colleen Garland. She shared campus updates and answered questions from class agents. You can watch it here. KFEC will be hosting our March volunteer lunch chat at the end of the month, where we’ll talk about how you can help Kenyon amplify the excitement surrounding Bicentennial Spirit Week. Most importantly, the deadline for spring class note submissions is Tuesday, March 12. Don’t forget to reach out to your classmates by email and social media. And don’t forget to lead by example and submit your own class note! 

KFEC: Members of the Kenyon Fund Executive Committee met virtually on Friday, Feb. 23 to hear college updates and celebrate some mid-year success, including the Kenyon Fund being up over 25% and overall alumni participation trending more than 400 donors higher than last fiscal year at this time. KFEC would like to thank all of our class agents and reunion committee members who participated in peer-to-peer engagement and fundraising outreach at the end of 2023. Your efforts make a difference!

Alumni Council: Members of Alumni Council met on campus Feb. 23-24 for a winter retreat. Friday activities included a presentation from President Kornfeld on the next steps in the College’s strategic plan, a Board of Trustees update from Matt Winkler ’77, information on the College’s financial health and fundraising priorities, committee meetings and a report on buildings and grounds. Alumni planning the 55th reunion of the Black Student Union joined Council that evening for a cocktail reception at the home of Will and Darnell Heywood ‘94 P’27, followed by dinner with students in Peirce. Saturday included updates on the bicentennial and oral history project, lunch with Thomas S. Turgeon Professor of Drama and Film Jonathan Tazewell '84 and his students in the class “August Wilson on Stage and Screen” and planning sessions for the BSU reunion.