Welcome to Gambier, Kenyon College, and our Owl Family!
We have 23 varsity sports with approximately 550 student-athletes who rely on supporters like you to help them succeed during their college careers. This success is not determined solely on the field, court, or in the pool, but rather by who they become as a result of their experiences at Kenyon. Their development as teammates, classmates and community leaders drives our coaches and staff to do what they do. As a result of that focus, we hope that champions are made on and off the fields of play.
As a Department…
Kenyon Athletics fosters learning and develops community through competitive sports, physical fitness, and recreation.
We focus on five key values within Kenyon's unique campus culture:
- Citizenship
- Competition
- Resiliency
- Sportsmanship
- Teamwork
As Individual Coaches and Staff…
We help student-athletes identify their roles in contributing to their team's success and toward a shared purpose. We partner with faculty, campus partners, and community members to help provide a comprehensive educational experience that both challenges and inspires our student-athletes to continuously learn and achieve more than imagined. We foster an atmosphere that promotes integrity, respect and self-control while also providing a positive and safe game-day experience for all involved. Through leadership development, engagement and commitment to social responsibility, we aim to develop and foster good citizens of our community.
Above all, we hope to use competitive sport to educate our student-athletes on becoming independent critical thinkers who can cope with difficulty, accept challenges, and learn from failure. As coaches and staff, we accept who we are as role models and ambassadors for our teams, the department, and the College.
As Student-Athletes…
Success can be defined broadly and is not always the same for each team or individual. We recognize that our athletes are over-achievers. They have achieved throughout high school in many of the activities they have tried, and college may be different for them. Some may continue to find that same level of accomplishment, while others may struggle in the classroom or to find playing time on their team. As parents, families and friends it is important to support our students as they transition into college. You can remind them that participating in athletics is a privilege and should be an extension of their education while in college. Every hurdle crossed, lap swum, tackle made, or basket missed is an opportunity to learn and grow with their teammates. These opportunities to work out issues on their own, or through connections on campus, will better educate them to be independent thinkers.
At Kenyon, we believe that the opportunity to participate in athletics expands on the liberal arts education to incorporate both mind and body to reward each individual with new skills, strategies and essential life experiences. These rewards will help them throughout their lives and encourage personal development in the five core values of the department: Citizenship, Competition, Resiliency, Sportsmanship, and Teamwork. Our belief is that focusing on the values will enable each student-athlete to thrive both on campus and later in life.
As Supporters, Fans, Family and Friends…
You have arrived on campus as the biggest champions of your students. You have served as team parents, coaches, chauffeurs, cooks, and providers. Now it is time for you to take a step back. We recognize that this may be as tough for each of you as it is for your student-athletes. After all, you have been there for them each step of the way over their last 17+ years. We promise that it gets easier each day and the experience will be more enjoyable and healthier for both you and your students when you allow them to experience growth for themselves.
We sincerely hope that each of you can make it to as many games as possible, both in Gambier and on the road. While in Gambier, each of our venues is unique and we certainly understand many of the traditions that each sport entertains. While alcohol and tailgating are permitted based on our campus tailgate policies (PDF), it is never permitted inside any venue. We want you to enjoy the games and cheer for the Owls and your student-athletes as loudly as possible, but please be sure to respect our opponents and officials during the game. If you are traveling to support our teams on the road, we ask that you follow the institutional policies that our colleagues have put forth. We all work hard to provide a safe game-day atmosphere and it is important that you represent Kenyon and our community when on the sidelines or in the bleachers.
Understanding Your Impact…
Kenyon's athletic budget covers the core operating expenses for each of our teams to participate in a complete season. These budgets come from the College's general operating expenses and from the donations made to the annual Kenyon Fund and Parent Fund. In some cases, students may be responsible for particular items such as shoes or additional team gear, depending on the sport. If any program need is seen as a financial hardship, we would encourage you to have your student communicate with their coach or an administrator.
We love our team parent groups. It is important to note, however, that participation in these groups is optional. If you choose, as parents, to get together for a tailgate, order team apparel, or provide a team meal, you should recognize that not everyone has the same ability to participate. These are 'extras' that many parents choose to do, but are not necessary for the program to succeed.
Finally, we understand that many parents and friends are excited about augmenting their student's experience while enrolled during their four years. Although this is certainly not an expectation, there are many opportunities to enhance a student or team experience through giving. If you are interested in giving to the department and/or a specific team, we are happy to discuss with you where you would like to make an impact. The Athletic Department has partnered with our colleagues in Alumni/Parent Relations and the Office of Advancement to ensure that we can help facilitate these conversations as they move forward. If you are interested, please feel free to contact your coach to set up a conversation.
Thank you for all you do…
Overall, these four years are transformative for your student-athlete. We fully expect them to be impacted deeply by the friendships they make, the achievements they capture, and the losses they pick themselves up from. However, these four years are also yours to celebrate along with them and to watch them grow into confident individuals who are ready to take on the world after Kenyon. We appreciate all you do for your student-athletes and for allowing us to play a small part in their lives while on this hill. Go Owls!
