Photo by Ayman Wadud ’25
A two-day admissions program aimed at prospective students from wide-ranging backgrounds recently drew 80 high school seniors to campus.
Known as Cultural Connections, the initiative offers participants an opportunity to tour campus, sit in on classes, interact with affinity groups, and meet students and faculty.
“This was one of the largest Cultural Connections programs that we’ve coordinated,” said Diane Anci, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions and financial aid. “It was a particularly joyous and cohesive group of students.”
The program brought in high school students from around the country for events Sunday, Nov. 5 and Monday, Nov. 6. Most received travel grants covering their transportation and accommodations.
“It’s about speaking to our mission and our institutional values — celebrating diversity in all its many forms,” Anci said.
Official activities began Sunday afternoon with a welcome President Julie Kornfeld and Anci. Subsequent events included a Q&A with current students; a panel with representatives from two programs — the Kenyon Educational Enrichment Program (KEEP) and STEM Scholars — and a dinner with faculty. In the evening, cultural organizations hosted open houses around campus, including a Men of Color game night and karaoke with Kenyon Asian Identities.
Lynn Hampton, director of diversity, equity and inclusion, coordinated an interactive session for participants. She had a simple goal for her workshop with the students.
“What I was hoping to do in that is find ways to highlight the uniqueness of who these students are, the things that they've already accomplished in their high school careers and their academic journey, and how — regardless of where they're coming from in terms of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or whether they are the first college student in their family — there is a place for them at Kenyon.”
Many already are working to address social issues and systemic problems, and Hampton said it’s important for them to know that they will have the tools, resources and support that they need to continue that work at Kenyon.
“They are incredibly engaged, bright, passionate and compassionate scholar-leaders,” she said.
On Monday, participants were able to customize their day, enjoying a wide range of specialty tours — focusing on anything from the arts to writing to science — and choose from among a vast number of courses to attend.
“This makes a very powerful statement about what we value here and also about the generosity and availability of our faculty,” Anci said.
Cultural Connections, which took place just days before the first Early Decision application deadline, is part of a wide range of recruitment efforts this fall that so far also has included close to 1,000 high school visits, hundreds of college fairs and hundreds of interviews on the road.