Kenyon siblings aren’t exactly uncommon. But four siblings in four consecutive class years give new meaning to the phrase “bleeding purple.” For Maximos “Maxi” ’23, Makarios “Kod” ’24, Kallinikos “Nike” ’25, and Eleutheria “Elle” ’26, children of Charissa McCune ’92, college is a family affair.

(Pictured above, from left: Charissa McCune ’92 with her children, Maximos “Maxi” ’23, Makarios “Kod” ’24, Kallinikos “Nike” ’25, and Eleutheria “Elle” ’26 at Family Weekend 2022.)

The family legacy began with their aunt, Irene Katzan ’89, who took some thought to decide on Kenyon for her undergraduate education. Despite growing up outside Cleveland, the school was something of an unknown entity. But her intuition told her to opt for the liberal arts school in Gambier.

Charissa, Irene’s younger sister, recalls visiting her sibling at college. “I was sitting on the Bushnell steps at the end of the year waiting to move her out as she finished a paper. We were the last ones on campus. I remember going to the bookstore and buying my first classic Coke, sharing it with our dad, and waiting for her to finish typing so we could drive home.” Though the two didn’t overlap on campus (Charissa moved in the August after Irene’s May graduation), their interests intersected. Both played in the Knox County Symphony, and both studied biology with then-Professors Dorothy and Thomas Jegla.

Ohio natives, the four younger McCunes grew up attending reunions, but a Kenyon education was by no means a familial requirement. “We took some trips the summer before Maxi started really getting into the college apps,” said Charissa. “Irene and I went with him and we just walked around. It was low pressure, just something to do for the day. And I think that’s when his mind started turning … and now here we are.”

Though the McCunes are a Kenyon rarity, the College has a strong history of sibling students. Notably, the Handels of Youngstown, Ohio, sent nine of their 12 children to Kenyon: Dan Handel ’73, Karen Handel Walker ’77, Bill Handel ’80, Meg Handel Williams ’81, Mike Handel ’83, Nora Handel Aton ’85, Kevin Handel ’89, Christine Handel Schmidt ’91, and Mark Handel ’95. (The other Handel siblings attended Harvard, Youngstown State and Yale.)

Once Maxi arrived on campus in 2019, Kod and Nike visited to get a feel for the College, shadowing their older brother and attending courses. “I introduced them to my chemistry professor, Dr. (John) Hofferberth,” said Maxi. “And he said something along the lines of, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I had both of you the next coming years?’” 

What he’d prophesied came to pass. Initially, it appeared that the youngest, Elle, might break the streak. “I think I was probably the most distant from Kenyon before deciding to come,” she said. Eventually, though, with her interests in biology and writing, she decided to join her three brothers in Gambier. 

All four siblings are on pre-health tracks, sharing a robust interest in the sciences. With overlapping academic interests and friend groups, the siblings often study together and congregate for meals. Though the siblings are a self-described pack, “they’re very different,” Irene said. “It’s so neat. They do get along, but all four of them have different personalities.” 

“They’re like a puzzle,” added Charissa. “There are different shapes and roles, but they all fit together.”

Three of those puzzle pieces added a new depth to Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Iris Levin’s Biology 261 course, “Animal Behaviors.” 

In the class, which focuses on behavioral ecology, she has a ready-made example of the topic of kin selection: three students who also happen to be siblings. “If you are related to individuals and you are behaving altruistically, then it actually increases your (evolutionary) fitness — it’s this idea of inclusive fitness,” says Levin. “And I had this built-in example of these siblings.”

Maxi, Kod, Nike and Elle all planned to take the course together in the fall 2022 semester. Though Elle, a first-year, was turned away for not having the necessary prerequisite courses, Levin was impressed by her tenacity, no doubt informed by knowledge gleaned from her brothers’ experience: “You can tell a first-year who knows the ropes.”

The three brothers took the course together (“there’s chalk flying everywhere,” said Maxi of their exam study sessions), an elective for all of them. 

“I’ve taught this class now four times at Kenyon, but every constellation of students brings a slightly different mood to the class,” said Levin. “I think when you have three incredibly kind, earnest students — and I have more than those three — that is part of the magic sauce.”

“They’re delightful,” she concluded. “Give me five more.” 

The special aspect of all four siblings being on campus at the same time is not lost on anyone (this year’s Family Weekend doubled as a family reunion). In a few months, Maximos is set to receive his diploma and go on to pursue medical school. But the siblings are making the most of their remaining time together. “Because of the size of the campus, one’s always bumping into the other,” said Charissa. “And it’s not uncommon for one to be talking to me on the phone and they’ll pass another one: “Oh, that was just Makarios or that was just Maxi.’”

Drawing from their own college experiences, the sisters have confidence that the younger generation will get a lot out of their time in Gambier. “I think that Kenyon is just unbelievable at making people change the way that they approach the world,” said Irene. “Their inquisitiveness and the way that they think: that will impact the rest of their lives.”

Even when not actively spending time with each other, the McCune students know their siblings are only so far away. “There’s always that social safety net of each other,” said Nike, going on to note: “We all have our own very different college experiences, despite all of us being here.”

“Like Galapagos finches with different beaks, Darwin’s birds from the Galapagos,” added Elle. “Different beaks because they’re from different niches, but all finches.”

Said Maxi: “Someone’s in intro bio.”

Sibling Wisdom 

The four McCune siblings impart advice onto one another. 

Maxi to Kod:
“I’d recommend getting involved in things that you don’t necessarily think you’ll enjoy, because you might just find something new. At Kenyon, there are so many things you can involve yourself in. Go play squash, go to a meeting of some random club that you might think is ridiculous.”

Kod to Nike:
“Leave it all out on the court. You only have four years here and they go by so quickly, so don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself or express yourself. Try experimenting with classes and things. As much as it’s a lot of work and a lot of pressure to be here, embrace it.”

Nike to Elle:
“If you see an email: ‘Free hot chocolate mugs’ or something — take it. Take the free things. Not just things you’re handed out, but also activities. You like art, you like reading and writing, you like science. You have all these different avenues you can explore. Now’s the time to experiment.” 

Elle to Maxi:
“You’ll be in your medical world. You’ll be fully in that sphere, but don’t forget goofy side projects. Remember that other spheres exist, and you can still go back to them even if it’s not your main component to life. That you’ll still play guitar and rock climb and talk to Sam about stupid nonsense.”