Also In This Edition

Leah Dunbar '20 captured campus during a morning stroll last fall: “There’ve been many perfect Kenyon mornings, but this one may have been the most magical."

Dannie Lane ’22 took this photo of the Henry Spencer Moore sculpture in the Science Quad before the campus closed in response to the pandemic.

A Drowning Dream

"I live in this moment, this breath," writes Laura Hillenbrand ’89 of her recovery from COVID-19.

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In Queerantine

A photo series by Ally Schmaling '14 celebrates queer personhood amid the pandemic.

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Book Shelf

Explore new releases from members of the Kenyon community.

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A New Medium

Senior studio art majors create a virtual gallery to showcase their final projects.

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Congratulations from John Green

Knowing that the newly admitted Class of 2024 would miss out on a traditional high school graduation, bestselling author John Green ’00 shared a message of encouragement and, as he’s apt to do, a good story. When Green missed his own Commencement, the late Professor of Religious Studies Donald Rogan threw him a non-traditional ceremony that was even more meaningful.

Watch Green’s message on YouTube.

The Best of Both Worlds

The “Music and Entrepreneurship” course taught by Professor of Music Ted Buehrer ’91 had a viral moment on TikTok thanks to a class visit from LA-based composer Kenneth Burgomaster ’91.

Maeve Griffin ’23 recorded a clip of the Zoom video conference in which Burgomaster explained how he used samples of Miley Cyrus’ voice to write a series of short transitional riffs for the TV show “Hannah Montana” — micro-compositions that have found fame in their own right as a popular TikTok sound. 

Read more about the class.

View Griffin's TikTok post.

Kenyon From Your Couch

Amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenyon has suspended all on- and off-campus alumni events. Stay connected with your fellow alumni by joining one of our virtual "Kenyon from Your Couch" events, which range from readings and discussions to campus tours and performances.

View the full list of virtual events.

Class Notes

Recent Class Notes
’76

Joel E. Turner and Timothy M. O’Neill ’77 recently visited Ben Drake, professor of English at Kenyon from 1972 to 1976, at his home in Peachtree City, Georgia. Their talk ranged from Shakespeare to Milton to the Kokosing to Ben’s work with the Highlander Center to the birds and trees in the woods behind Ben’s home. Ben revealed that he was using a replica/copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio as a stand for his computer — a copy he had bought from Terence W. McKiernan in 1976. Tim subsequently “delivered the folio back to Terry in Boston, a truly poetic reunion.”

’09

Elizabeth C. Wiener, her husband and three kids now live in Los Angeles, enjoying epic road trips, beach days and Disneyland. Lizzy is a tenure-track assistant professor of politics at Occidental College.

’15

Olubusola O. Olukoya and Samuel A. Justice married in Boston in “a small, intimate wedding attended virtually by Kenyon professors and in person by a few men’s soccer alums, including Anthony I. Amolo ’17. Daniel C. Akuma ’14 was the best MC, and Edna J. Kemboi ’16 was a glowing bridesmaid. It felt like an International Students at Kenyon (ISAK) reunion, with Iggee Marrero Hu designing the most beautiful boutonnieres and her husband, Hector L. Marrero, doing the absolute most to make the day go perfectly. Myself, Tony and Daniel opened the dance floor with Afrobeats music and, in our small venue, I was reminded of the many international formals I organized at Weaver Cottage. Here, however, my new husband became my forever dance partner. At my new home with Sam, I am slowly finding my Kenyon self again. I am very, very happy.”

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