President Sean Decatur announced the Middle Path Medal, a new award to be given annually to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Kenyon, Gambier or Knox County communities through volunteer or job-related activities. The first recipients will be announced in the near future and honored at Founders' Day Convocation on Thursday, Oct. 30.
“The idea is to honor folks who really stand out for the impact they’ve had on others here,” Decatur said. “It feels like it was something that we were missing as a way to recognize people.”
The award commends extraordinary efforts that go beyond normal work responsibilities or show a recipient’s long-term history in volunteering and engagement to improve the character of the local environment.
“This is a way to take a step back and honor those people who have had a remarkable track record of unrecognized quiet work,” Decatur said.
Those eligible for the medal include Kenyon faculty and staff members, parents and trustees. It also may go to community members who are not officially affiliated with the College.
The medal’s recipients are selected by the honorary degree committee, which is led by the chair of the faculty. The committee solicits nominations from the campus and local community and also makes its own nominations.
The award includes a bronze medal imprinted with a representation of Old Kenyon, designed by Knox County artist Nan Black.