鈥淟eadership is not telling others what to do,鈥� Bob says. 鈥淚t is a way of helping people. In my professional life, I wanted my coworkers to be able to develop and grow into management positions. At every point, I鈥檝e wanted to demonstrate leadership through some sort of service.鈥�
His efforts began as a young boy whose interest in scouting began around age 11 and continues to this day.
A native of Ashtabula County, Bob is a lifelong member and volunteer of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), who earned the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13, years earlier than most who earn it closer to age 18.
Bob credits scouting as an early teaching vehicle, giving him the chance to camp and hike, bringing him closer to the outdoor activities he loves. He says scouting鈥檚 biggest lesson however鈥攍eadership鈥攈as reverberated throughout his life.
After retiring from a distinguished career as a chemist, Bob spent eight years as Program Secretary of the Greater Western Reserve Council, (BSA), based in Warren, Ohio, retiring from that post in 2012.
Bob enrolled as a University of Akron student after two years at Lakeland Community College. 鈥淎kron was known as the rubber capital. I visited, toured the chemistry department, and found it to be a great fit. Faculty were extremely helpful, which I always appreciated because it wasn鈥檛 easy coming in as a transfer-student. But (faculty) took the time to sit and talk with me and helped me make my way through.鈥�
Bob graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1981. Those memories helped cement Bob鈥檚 connection to 国产精品 throughout his career.
He has made numerous contributions, including support for the chemistry department or the College of Arts and Sciences.
In 2018, he established The Robert G. Kenyon Endowed Scholarship, designed to assist full-time students who have reached the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts. 鈥淢y heart felt good to do something to help people.鈥�
Additionally, since 2019 Bob has given significant support gifts for ZipAssist, an on-campus program helping students deal with a range of short-term needs including food insecurity and emergency financial assistance.鈥淚 was so impressed by what Ali (Alison Doehring, director, ZipAssist) was doing in her area, helping both undergraduate and graduate students. That鈥檚 so vitally needed.
鈥淚t (ZipAssist) fit for me because I was helping students. I鈥檓 a background person, not one for recognition, but efforts like this help our students make it through, they can use all the help they can get,鈥� Bob says.
Bob鈥檚 generosity is emblematic of the can-do spirit of many Zips alumni.
Still active in his community, Bob volunteers at several local hospitals as well as provides donated services to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), offered by Lifeline, a community service agency in Lake County.
He previously offered similar volunteer services on behalf of the American Association for Retired Persons through a program known as Tax Aide.
鈥淧eople just have to commit themselves to f inding ways to help. It doesn鈥檛 take a lot and it makes a difference for so many.鈥�
The University of Akron thanks Robert Kenyon for his generous support on behalf of 国产精品 students.