New Class, Diverse Talents

GAMBIER, Ohio (August 20, 2009)

Kenyon looks forward to welcoming a new class of nearly 470 students who bring the College more diversity than ever before—in their geographical origin as well as in their backgrounds and passions.

Intellectually impressive and broadly talented, the 469 members of the Class of 2013 were selected from a pool of 3,992 applicants. American students of color constitute 19 percent of the class—the highest percentage in Kenyon's history—while 9 percent of the class is made up of first-generation students whose parents did not attend a four-year college.

"This class is not only accomplished," says Dean of Admissions Jennifer Delahunty, "they are intensely interested in defining and redefining themselves."

Members of the class include 13 Davis Scholars—exceptionally talented students from the United World Colleges, representing such countries as Colombia, Finland, India, Nepal, Swaziland, Sweden, and Zambia. Six percent of the first-year students have grown up or lived significant parts of their lives in countries outside the United States.

Academic indicators for this class are high, with an average combined SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1318 and average ACT score of 29.3. Thirty-two percent of the incoming class had a high-school grade-point average of 4.0 or higher, with the average GPA at 3.82.

Beyond the numbers, the Class of 2013 brings a multitude of experiences, strengths, and passions to the Kenyon community. Members of the class include:

A student who is self-taught in ancient Greek, and another who speaks or studies six different languages.
The director of a 1940s mafia setting of Macbeth.
An intern at the American Embassy in Rome, and another at the Joint Bio Energy Institute.
The producer of a short film to bring awareness to Navajo languages.
The choreographer of a dance inspired by Dante's Inferno.
A traveler who has visited more than fifty countries.
The winner of the National Orchestra Cup at Lincoln Center.
A biker who has pedaled all the way from Georgia to California.
A writer of a historical fiction novel set during the Haitian Revolution.
A student who beat the hazmat team in identifying the mysterious chemical in a chemical spill.
A former Senate page . . .

. . . and hundreds more adventurous and enterprising young adults. The Kenyon community eagerly looks forward to welcoming them.