GAMBIER – Kenyon College announced today it has partnered with the Schuler Education Foundation on a $25 million matching grant to increase access to highly selective liberal arts colleges for exceptional students with limited financial resources and those who are ineligible for government aid.
Kenyon is one of just five schools, and the only college located in Ohio, selected to partner with the Chicago-based Schuler Education Foundation on a new access initiative in which every dollar given between now and June 2026 will be matched dollar for dollar and used to create permanent new scholarship funds to enroll students who would otherwise be unable to attend due to a lack of financial resources. When the $25 million goal is met and combined with the matching gift from the Schuler Education Foundation, a total of $50 million in endowed scholarships will create permanent pathways to Kenyon for approximately 50 students each year – forever.
Kenyon College President Sean Decatur said the grant comes at an ideal time for Kenyon.
“This partnership moves us closer to our goal of enrolling the most talented students, regardless of their financial circumstances, which we see as crucial to the future of Kenyon," Decatur said. "It also provides an unprecedented opportunity to broaden our robust support of these students through the flagship programs Kenyon already has in place. This is an outstanding opportunity for anyone who cares about Kenyon and ensuring it remains open to all who would excel here.”
Kenyon has long prioritized diversity and access programs. It is, in fact, the school’s success in recruiting, retaining and graduating these students that drew the Schuler Education Foundation to select Kenyon for the initiative.
“We were looking for partners who showed commitment to serving underrepresented students, but perhaps couldn’t serve as many as they’d like due to financial constraints,” said Jason Patenaude, the foundation’s executive director.
“There’s tremendous benefit to colleges adding more underrepresented students to their campus and communities. These students bring experiences and insights that represented students often haven’t experienced, and that perspective makes a real difference in how every member of the community experiences college,” he said.
Kenyon has several pre-college programs, including the Kenyon Educational Enrichment Program (KEEP), aimed at supporting and empowering underrepresented students, as well as student support funds through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, that can be used for additional expenses related to attending Kenyon.
Diane Anci, vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid, hailed the initiative.
“Each year we have no choice but turn away some outstanding students simply because Kenyon cannot meet their full financial need,” she said. “Kenyon has a long way to go to be need-blind in its admissions process, but this match opportunity represents the chance to make a great leap forward.”
Melzetta Moody, of the Kenyon class of 2005, said financial assistance was life-changing for her and those close to her.
“When you find a student like me, a student of color from a low-income background, the impact is not only on that student. When you find a student who's really talented, shows grit and compassion, has leadership, is super talented, and you put them in an environment that cultivates all those qualities, then you send them off after graduation, there’s a proverbial blast radius that happens,” Moody said.
