Impact of Giving Felt Year-Round

Generosity to Kenyon shapes each day and student experience.

By Molly Vogel '00
Date

With Kenyon’s fiscal year ending June 30, one doesn’t have to look far to see the impact of a year of giving. From student research over the summer to support for our talented faculty, every person, pebble and project on the Hill benefits from investment. Look back at each month below and learn more about giving to Kenyon year-round.

July

Nearly every summer research or internship opportunity on campus is supported by an endowed fund. Donors also fund Hoskins Frame Summer Science Writing Scholars, who meld their interests in science and creative expression with the aim of illuminating both for others. Read this Kenyon Alumni Magazine article by a 2024 scholar and see what else last summer’s scholars dove into. 

In addition, improvements to campus, like these to improve student spaces, are supported by the Kenyon Fund. 

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August

With each new academic year, faculty are appointed to endowed positions, which have permanent funding sources in the budget thanks to donors. Kenyon has 29 of these positions, including two with The Gund and one head coach.  

Along with students, faculty kickoff the academic year with Convocation. This and other campus events are funded in part through gifts to the Kenyon Fund. 

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September

As the year gets underway, fall sports are competing. At Kenyon, unlike elsewhere, varsity athletics are fortunate to be fully funded through the operating budget. Money raised for the Kenyon Fund goes to each team, including those who play over Homecoming Weekend. 

Last fall we announced names for the newest south campus housing, paid for almost entirely through donor funding and honoring two of Kenyon’s most generous alumni. 

The Career Development Office rolled out a new awards program — supported in part by Kenyon Fund giving — that encouraged students to tap into its resources. (The program is so cool, it even won an award.)

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October

October brings many campus events supported by giving, including Global Engagement Week, lectures through the Center for the Study of American Democracy (CSAD) and Founders’ Day, which honors Kenyon’s philanthropic tradition. Family Weekend is another highlight.

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  • Going Global

    A breadth of programs sponsored by students, faculty and staff highlight campus diversity during Global Engagement Week, taking place this year from Oct. 21-25.

  • Democracy in Action

    CSAD sponsored three recent discussions on the state of American politics.

  • A Founders Day for the Ages

    Founders’ Day during Kenyon’s bicentennial year celebrated two centuries of contributions to the College with a special speaker and new community-building events.

  • Family Fun

    Activities and events punctuated by perfect fall weather made for a memorable Family Weekend.

November

Kenyon recognizes the achievements of its talented faculty who are at the core of Kenyon students’ experiences.

December

Some donors choose to designate their giving to support the areas of Kenyon they care most about. Archon Auditorium in Oden Hall was named following a gift from Jon Katz ’62, in honor of the Greek service organization. 

The Wright family of Mount Vernon created a new scholarship to pave the way for a top Mount Vernon High School graduate to attend Kenyon College tuition-free for all four years.

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January

By making a gift to create a new endowed fund, Jack Au ’73, a former Kenyon trustee, has helped ensure the Lunar New Year celebration — one of the College’s biggest cultural events — will have a permanent source of funding. 

Many classes contain elements of experiential learning that gives students valuable hands-on experience for their future careers. Students in a political science course get hands-on experience researching information for immigration court cases affecting asylum seekers. These sorts of endeavors are coordinated through the Office for Community Partnerships.

February

Earlier this year, Kenyon was again named a “top producer” of students selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program, making the 18th time in the past 20 years that the College has received this designation. 

Ruth Heindel, holder of the endowed Dorothy and Thomas Jegla Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, discussed environmental factors behind the California wildfires and other natural disasters.

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March

Over spring break, two travel-embedded courses made international trips to connect classroom learning to real locations. This year was the first year they were free to students, thanks to donor gifts. Also over spring break, students and staff delivered 1,000 new and used books donated by the campus community to a Kentucky nonprofit, where they’ll begin a journey to Ukrainian refugees. The trip was inspired and funded by Byard Clemmons ’70 and Marci Barr Abbott ’73.

Kenyon Review Fellows work with the Kenyon Review, teach and have time for their own writing. Thanks to an anonymous gift, the two positions will now be permanently funded. 

More than a dozen scholars and other experts gathered for the CSAD conference “A Nation of Immigrants?” on March 26-27.

Student Advancement Officers make calls for Kenyon and educate about the valuable role of philanthropy. 

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April

Each year, the spring giving challenge invites everyone who loves Kenyon to join together to make a bigger impact. This year, with matches and challenges for the Kenyon Fund and Athletics, 1,740 gifts combined to $677,264 raised. Of those, 289 came from students, including 105 from seniors. See highlights at @KenyonAlumni on Instagram.

A $25 million lead gift from Trustee Matthew Voorhees ’95 is helping to launch a new interdisciplinary initiative as well as an effort to grow Kenyon’s endowment.

May

Commencement is the culmination of four years of hard work for students. Each year the senior class combines to give to Kenyon, striving to help begin each student’s philanthropic journey with the College. Senior Class President Will Bryant ’25 helped lead the charge and reflected on his own experience at the ceremony.

May 1 is when prospective students finalize their decisions to enroll at Kenyon. Many rely on financial aid to help make their decision. Support from generous donors — to the endowment and Kenyon Fund — allows Kenyon to provide 85% of Kenyon students with some form of aid. 

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June

Congratulations, you made it to the end of the academic year! As the fiscal year also comes to a close, we are grateful to the many people who love Kenyon who have given to make these moments and more possible. 

Make your gift today by visiting gift.kenyon.edu.