From Kenyon News - October 30, 2014
This year’s traditional Founders’ Day celebration included the inaugural presentation of the Middle Path Medal, given to three recipients who have made a significant contribution, either as an employee or volunteer, to the College, community or county.
“The idea is to honor folks who really stand out for the impact they’ve had on others here,” President Sean Decatur said. “Something we were missing was a way to recognize people who had a remarkable track record of unrecognized quiet work.”
Those eligible for the medal include Kenyon faculty and staff members, parents, trustees and community members not officially affiliated with the College. The first three medal winners are former Kenyon staff members. They are:
- Jacqueline Elliott Robbins ’73, a member of the first co-educational class at Kenyon, returned to her alma mater as a visiting instructor of history in 1981. She then made a career switch from instructor to development officer and helped manage the digitizing of the development office, where she was named director of advancement information services in 2000. “I was the beneficiary of a liberal arts education at Kenyon in which the skills I acquired were easily transferrable from one career area to another,” she said. “Besides, nothing intimidates the first class of women at Kenyon.”
- Karen Sheffield, a Mount Vernon, Ohio, native, was the first unofficial secretary of the Black Student Union and the mother of the first African American female from Knox County to graduate from Kenyon (Tamara V. Parson ’93). She spent most of her decades-long career as assistant director of career development, where she helped students explore careers through job-shadowing, internships, externships and other pursuits. “I’m so honored and humbled to receive this award,” she said. “Working with so many wonderful alumni, staff, students and parents is really all that matters and I’ve had that pleasure.”
- Dr. Tracy Schermer served Kenyon for 28 years as the college physician. He was known for seeing students at all hours and regularly driving out of town to visit hospitalized students. Shortly after his retirement from Kenyon, he was named Gambier Citizen of the Year in 2009 for his volunteer work with the College Township Fire Department, where he often went on ambulance runs and helped modernize the emergency department.
Also recognized during the Founders’ Day ceremony were the newest members of Beta of Ohio, Kenyon’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and the recipients of the Philander Chase Medal for Distinguished Service, including Lewis Hyde, Richard L. Thomas professor of creative writing, Ric Sheffield, professor of sociology and legal studies, and Patsy Vigderman, assistant professor of English. The Founders’ Day address was delivered by Professor of History Jeff Bowman and titled “Book Magic and Heathenish Rites.”