It was a celebration of past, present and future as the Kenyon community assembled for Founders’ Day on Oct. 29 to honor those who have supported the College since it was established more than two centuries ago.
The annual event, first held in 1880, looks back to those who helped Bishop Philander Chase establish the College in 1824. But it also highlights current members of the Kenyon family who have made important contributions as well as first-year students who will make their own mark moving forward.
“Founders’ Day is the final milestone as our community’s newest members transform into full-fledged Kenyon students,” President Julie Kornfeld said during a morning convocation in Rosse Hall, named for Lady Rosse, one of the British patrons who backed the creation of the College.
Kornfeld’s remarks came shortly before members of the Class of 2030 and transfer students recited the Matriculation Oath, pledging to devote themselves to a set of shared values at Kenyon.
Celso M. Villegas, NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor of Sociology, talked about the meaning of that oath, as well as other matriculation rites, during a special address.
“This is the ceremony when we are enjoined to remake ourselves as a Community,” he said. “Through promise, through devotion, through effort and through meaning, we look forward to all the resemblances yet to come.”
A number of distinguished awards were announced during the ceremony. These included six faculty members receiving the Kenyon Medal for Dedication to Teaching, Scholarship and Service as they celebrated 25 years of teaching at the College:
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Katherine Hedeen, professor of Spanish
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Mo Hunsen, professor of chemistry
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Dana Krieg, professor of psychology
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Glenn McNair, professor of history
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Frank Peiris, professor of physics
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David Rowe, Harry M. Clor Professor of Political Science
Two individuals received the Middle Path Medals, established in 2014 to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the Kenyon, Gambier or Knox County communities through volunteer or job-related activities. This year’s honorees were:
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Jerry Kelly ’96, solar power systems instructor
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Judith R. Sacks P’08, affiliated scholar in American studies
The Faculty Advising Award, which honors a tenured faculty member who has shown dedication, commitment and energy to academic advising for students, was given to Associate Professor of Chemistry Kerry Rouhier, whose promotion to full professor recently was approved by the Kenyon Board of Trustees.
Following an acknowledgement of Kenyon community members who died in the past year, the Chamber Singers led the assembly in “Kokosing Farewell” to close the convocation.
Afterwards, Kornfeld joined students from the Class of 2030 on the lawn in front of Chalmers Library for a tree-planting ceremony. The October Glory maple tree — named Chord of Harmotree — will serve as the group’s inaugural gift to the College. New students also were invited to sign the three-volume Matriculation Book in Chalmers, a tradition observed by every class since 1841.
Founders’ Day was full of other special activities as well. These included Middle Path Trick-or-Treat; a Community Sing on the steps of Rosse Hall featuring traditional Kenyon songs; and — of course — a celebration dinner featuring cake and ice cream in Peirce Hall.
