Celebrate Kenyon's past, present and future — and the College's bicentennial year — on Founders' Day, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. The main ceremony will take place at 11:10 a.m. in Rosse Hall Auditorium. This year's address will be given by Alexander Tyrell-Kenyon, 8th Lord Kenyon. The ceremony will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
Founders' Day Activities
All day: Wear Kenyon swag or purple for a chance to win prizes including a custom pair of Kenyon Nikes, a Kenyon windbreaker and more. Enter the raffle at the kick-off, bagelpalooza and other events.
8 - 9:30 a.m. Kick-off with free donuts and hot cider on the Advancement Center porch (Chase Avenue, beside the post office).
8:10 - 11 a.m. Adjusted schedule for morning classes:
- 8:10 - 9:30 a.m. class changes to 8:10 - 9:20 a.m.
- 8:10 - 11 a.m. class changes to 8:10 - 10:40 a.m.
- 9:40 - 11 a.m. class changes to 9:30 - 10:40 a.m.
10:40 - 11 a.m. Class of 2028 bagelpalooza in the Alumni Dining Room (Peirce Hall, lower level) with free Panera and Kahoot! Trivia with prizes. Students will then walk together to the Founders Day ceremony.
11:10 a.m. Founders’ Day ceremony in Rosse Hall. All students are invited to the ceremony where first-year and transfer students will take the Matriculation Oath; Alexander Tyrell-Kenyon, 8th Lord Kenyon, will give the Founders' Day address; faculty and staff who have contributed to Kenyon’s success will be recognized; and a memorial will be read for prominent alumni and members of the administration, faculty, staff and student body who have died in the preceding year.
Immediately following the ceremony, the Class of 2028 will plant and name their class tree.
Noon - 4:30 p.m. The Matriculation Book will be available for signing in the Norton Room of Ransom Hall until 4:30 p.m., and it will be available in Special Collections and Archives in Chalmers Library during the following week for any student who has not yet signed it.
4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Walking tour of Latin and Greek inscriptions. Meet at the College Gates to learn what the inscriptions tell us about Kenyon's 200-year history led by Professor of Classics Adam Serfass and two classics majors, Ellis Copley ’25 and Chiara Nevard ’25.
5 - 8 p.m. Cake and cupcakes in Peirce Hall atrium. Enjoy a giant birthday cake and cupcakes to cap off your celebration of Kenyon!