Kenyon College students are engaging with the local community by volunteering and mentoring in Knox County schools. These efforts include helping elementary students at Wiggin Street Elementary in Gambier, where 150 to 200 Kenyon students volunteer each semester. They assist teachers and provide tutoring, which according to Principal Christy Grandstaff, improves academic outcomes by allowing for more personalized attention.
Amelia Russell, a sophomore biochemistry major from Cleveland, shared her positive experience as a math tutor and plans to introduce the Girls on the Run program at the school. "I have always enjoyed working with children," she said.
A new initiative called BEACON will begin this fall, focusing on first-generation high school seniors at Mount Vernon High School. The program was founded by Kenyon sophomore Laney Tullius, who aims to help these students navigate college applications. "Going through the application process was incredibly hard," Tullius said. She hopes to offer others the educational opportunities she found at Kenyon.
Kenyon's Office for Community Partnerships has facilitated collaborations with other local schools such as East and Dan Emmett elementary schools in Mount Vernon. Students participated in activities like square dancing and soccer clinics led by Kendin Basden, a senior from Bermuda. Basden emphasized the importance of giving back through sports: "Just to have people involved and on their feet and with a smile... that's a pretty powerful thing."
In addition to these programs, Kenyon faculty and staff donated thousands of dollars worth of school supplies last month. Supplies were delivered to several local schools including Wiggin Street Elementary and Mount Vernon Middle School.
Julian Lane, a senior from New York City, is involved with the Knox County Genius Hour Symposium, mentoring gifted students on passion projects across various schools in the county. He described his experience as deeply rewarding: "You get to go into the mind of a bright, curious fourth grader or seventh grader."
