GAMBIER – Nearly as new as its name, Kenyon College’s Lowry Center now features award displays with more inclusive content and a revitalized design.
Originally tabbed the Kenyon Athletic Center when its doors first opened in January 2006, the 265,000-square-foot facility was renamed in October 2020 to honor William E. Lowry Jr. ’56. Lowry captained Kenyon’s football, basketball and baseball teams; was student body president; was just the fifth Black person to graduate from Kenyon and was the first Black man nationally initiated into Beta Theta Pi.
Lowry’s well-deserved honor coincides with the building’s redesigned interior, both serving as an enhanced way to celebrate and accentuate the countless accomplishments of Kenyon student-athletes.
“The original awards display in the Lowry Center was an amazing and unique look of glass panels and metal hardware,” said Justin Newell, assistant director of Athletics and director of the Lowry Center. “However, the displays proved cumbersome and costly to change out on a frequent basis. The work required a significant amount of time, labor and funds to update.”
As a result, the Athletics Department formed a committee to find solutions.
“Working with design and engineering experts, the committee decided to shift the locations and update the overall look to better tell the story of our athletic championships, Hall of Fame inductees and departmental accomplishments,” Newell added. “The new design can be updated regularly with reduced labor and financial impact. Additionally, it leaves room for continued growth for years to come.”
The most prominent changes include a revamped Hall of Fame with individual plaques for each inductee and an expanded Shawn M. Kelly Wall of Champions. Initially established to honor swimming and diving accomplishments, the Wall of Champions now includes all Kenyon student-athletes who won an individual, doubles and/or relay national title in any NCAA sport. Along the same wall, which runs along the north side of the Steen Aquatic Center, is a listing of all Kenyon teams that have placed fourth or better in NCAA Championship competition. Additionally, the Lords’ and Ladies’ North Coast Athletic Conference Championship exploits are on display.
Accompanying the Hall of Fame — which moved to the east wall overlooking Tomsich Arena — is a listing of Kenyon’s All-Americans, Academic All-Americans and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients. Above those displays, a refurbished and updated historical wall mural tells a more comprehensive story of Kenyon athletics.
Around the corner, a display titled Athletes of Distinction was installed. This area is one that provides a bit more flexibility, highlighting prestigious national awards like the NCAA Woman of the Year, as well as meaningful department honors like the Senior Athlete of the Year and Jess Falkenstine awards.
“The displays in the Lowry Center serve to share the living history of Kenyon athletics,” said Jill McCartney, director of Athletics, Fitness and Recreation. “They connect alumni with current student-athletes, showcasing the legacies of our programs even as they continue to be generated through the contributions of each new class. The displays bridge past and present in an impressive arc of achievement, ensuring that we remember and honor our past while using them as inspiration for new records and additional accolades. They are truly a powerful reminder that we are fortunate at Kenyon to have this rich history of athletics success.”
