Return to the Hill

From Kenyon News - May 22, 2018

Just days after celebrating the College’s 190th Commencement, Kenyon welcomed back generations of alumni for Reunion Weekend, May 25-27. More than 1,300 people traveled to Gambier to attend the festivities, hailing from at least 40 states and five countries — from the United Kingdom to the United Arab Emirates — according to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement.

This year’s event hosted class years ending in three and eight, from 1968 to 2013 (older alumni were able to gather for a Post-50th Reunion in April). Members of three Kenyon a cappella groups — the Owl Creeks, Cornerstones and Stairwells — also reunited and marked the weekend with special performances.

“This year’s Reunion is remarkable in that for the first time, nine out of 10 reunions are being celebrated by modern, coeducational sized classes,” said Scott Baker ’94, associate vice president for alumni and parent engagement. “It is sure to be a record-breaker in terms of attendance.” Kenyon’s first fully coeducational class graduated 45 years ago, in 1973.

Notable activities for the weekend included:

• Seminars and special presentations on various topics — including diversity, sustainability, and what it’s like to travel the continent in a tiny vintage trailer — featuring alumni panelists and beloved Kenyon faculty.
• Music and dancing with Cleveland-based Beatles cover band Revolution Pie.
• A town hall meeting with President Sean Decatur and members of the Senior Staff.
• Family concert with Grammy nominee Zak Morgan ’94.

At a Saturday afternoon alumni awards luncheon in Peirce Dining Hall’s Great Hall, many dedicated Kenyon alumni were recognized for their service to the College, including:

• Carol Eyler ’73 won the D. Morgan Smith Award recognizing outstanding service as a class agent.
• Ramelle Brown ’13 won the Anne J. Robinson Award for her service as an outstanding regional association president for the New York City regional association.
• Janet Lord ’88 P’19 won the Alumni Council Humanitarian Service Award in recognition of her long record as a committed social activist with successes in several realms of human rights. 
• Associate Director of Student Accessibility and Support Services Liz Keeney won the Greenslade Award for demonstrating the qualities of affection for and loyalty to Kenyon exhibited by Thomas and Mary Greenslade in their many years of volunteer service to the College and its constituents.
• Marci Barr Abbot ’73 won the Gregg Cup, Kenyon’s highest alumni honor, in recognition of her long history of service to the College, including as a class agent, reunion planner, former trustee and member of Alumni Council and current board member of the Kenyon Review.

Download the Reunion Facebook banner for your class. Alumni are encouraged to share their favorite Reunion moments on Twitter and Instagram using #KenyonReunion.