Events
Bicentennial-themed events, including Homecoming, trivia nights organized by volunteers and the Bicentennial Tour with President Kornfeld, were attended by 2,351 people. The Bicentennial Tour, featuring Kornfeld in conversation with different pairs of faculty members following an interdisciplinary presentation, stopped in San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Columbus and Cleveland. Our virtual six-part series 200 Years of Learning in the Company of Friends highlighted some of Kenyon’s beloved faculty members.
Reunion Weekend 2024
A reunion 200 years in the making featured a cake in the shape of Old Kenyon, a keynote by an ambassador and countless moments for connection and celebration with 1,437 attendees. More than 100 members of the Class of 2019 returned to celebrate their 5th reunion, but it was the 50th reunion Class of 1974 that won the Peirce Cup for highest attendance with 30 percent — and the top giving award with a whopping $22,918,372.
Founders’ Day
Alexander Tyrell-Kenyon, Eighth Lord Kenyon and a descendent of the College’s namesake, visited campus to give the Founders’ Day address. He brought a healthy dose of self-effacing humor and his mother, Lady Sally Kenyon, with him, along with his family’s parliamentary robe worn in the House of Lords.$532 Million Campaign
During 2024, 5,269 people gave to Kenyon, including 70% of the senior Class of 2024. Our group of dedicated volunteers and alumni award winners making up the Bicentennial Ambassadors combined to raise $1 million in matching funds. All of this helped propel the Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial campaign, which was publicly launched in 2018, to $532 million for Kenyon.
Other Numbers of Note:
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37Joined the Marriott Park Society
Learn more about planned giving.
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5k+People who love Kenyon
5,269 people, to be precise, gave to Kenyon in 2024.
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$110mFor the Endowment
$110 million was added to the endowment for scholarships.
Bicentennial Special Project Grants
Members of the Kenyon community were eligible to apply for these special grants, designed to invite everyone to get creative during the bicentennial. And they did! From multiple presentations, including the Theatre of War, and visitors to campus, the grants also supported projects including:
- Sunset Trail restoration
- Sycamore Spring rejuvenation spearheaded by Associate Professor of History Stephen Volz
- Cataloguing of all the College’s Latin and Greek Inscriptions, by Professor of Classics Adam Serfass and with the assistance of Ellis Copley ’25 and Chiara Nevard ’25
- Restoration of the College Gates by David Kridler ’75
- Marriott Park Scavenger Hunt through the Office of Planned Giving
The Year in Books
Bicentennial Book
Guests at bicentennial events had the opportunity to sign the Bicentennial Book at each event they attended. Taking a figurative page from the Matriculation Book, this commemorative tome documented the participants at each occasion for posterity.
‘Place and Purpose: Kenyon at 200’
A new book published in spring 2024 celebrates Kenyon's beautiful campus, extraordinary history and powerful sense of belonging.“A campus such as Kenyon’s is a gift passed from one generation to the next. ... In the time we pass here, we need to be careful, thoughtful stewards of the buildings and grounds that helped create one of the country’s most beautiful environments for learning. We need to make sure that succeeding generations look back on this one with appreciation and pride in its accomplishments.”
