And the winner of the Young Alumni Challenge is...

GAMBIER, Ohio (May 16, 2011)

The Class of 2009 boasted the best participation rate of the four classes competing in the Young Alumni Challenge, with 37 percent of its members making a gift to the Kenyon Fund. An incoming student in the Class of 2015 will be named the "Class of 2009 Scholarship" recipient in recognition of this significant accomplishment. The Class will have the opportunity to communicate with the student throughout his or her four years at Kenyon and may continue to support the scholarship with gifts to the Kenyon Fund.

The senior class, though sitting at 9 percent participation just days before the challenge ended, made a last minute rally to finish in a tie for second place with the Class of 2010. Their 35 percent participation rate marks the first time that current students have supported the Kenyon Fund in such numbers, and marks the highest participation rate for a first-year-out class in more than a decade. The Class of 2008 finished a close third with an impressive 34 percent of its members contributing to the Kenyon Fund.

The rally for participation among the senior class was led by the current members of the Alumni Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT). This is the third year of existence for ALOT—a group which consists of members of the Senior class who receive leadership training, participate in volunteer weekends with the Kenyon Fund Executive Committee and Parents Advisory Council, and help plan and conduct student events to raise awareness about staying connected to Kenyon and giving back to the College after graduation. In addition, as part of the ALOT program, these students (and future alumni leaders) meet with College officials to get a behind-the-scenes look at Kenyon. The Class of 2009 was the first class to participate in the ALOT program, and the Class Agents for 2009 and 2010 are all former ALOT members.