Kenyon’s Bell-A-Thon was a ringing success on Tuesday, March 27, with more than 1,000 alumni, parents and friends chiming in with gifts for the Kenyon Fund and Kenyon Parents Fund. With the help of a dollar-for-dollar match from the Board of Trustees, a total of $687,044 was raised to support academics, athletics, scholarships and student life at Kenyon.
Special guests from all areas of campus climbed the stairs to the Church of the Holy Spirit’s bell tower to ring the bells in honor of each gift to Kenyon. Here were some of the highlights:
Swimming and Diving Coaches Jess Book ’01, Fernando Rodriguez ’04 and Hannah Saiz ’13, along with NCAA Division III Women’s Swimmer of the Year Crile Hart ’21, discussed Kenyon’s swimming legacy and the results of this year’s national championship.
Professor of Music Benjamin “Doc” Locke reflected on his 34 years conducting choral music at Kenyon and led the Chamber Singers in a performance of “The Thrill” and other songs from the Kenyon and classical repertoires.
Ballroom Dance Club members Jack James ’18 and Indigo Rinearson ’18 demonstrated several styles of ballroom dance, and gave a crash-course lesson to host Yasmin Nesbat ’21.
Meredith Bonham ’92 and Marc Bragin, Kenyon’s vice president for student affairs and director of spiritual and religious life, reflected on how Kenyon has changed over its 200-year history in costume as Lord and Lady Kenyon.
The Chasers, Kenyon’s oldest a cappella group, performed its traditional closer of “Amazing Grace,” and the Owl Creeks, Kenyon’s only all-female a cappella group, performed a mashup of Taylor Swift’s “Style” and Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap.”
P.F. Kluge ’64 and Perry Lentz ’64, two of Kenyon’s best-known writers, describe how Kenyon has changed since their student days — and why it’s still a special place 50 years after graduation.
The Gospel Choir brought down the house with an inspiring performance that kicked off the Bell-A-Thon’s final hour.
The Kokosingers closed the show with their playful arrangement of “Kokosing Farewell,” thanking the day’s donors and announcing the Bell-A-Thon’s grand totals.