131st Alumni Reunion: June 4-6, 2010
Even though the school year comes to a close at the end of May, the Grinnell College campus does not immediately go silent. Alumni of all ages and walks of life return for Grinnell’s annual Reunion, staying in residence halls and rekindling connections with classmates. As they explore the campus and revisit past classes and relationships, alumni discover the many attributes that continue to unite the Grinnell community.
This year’s 131st Reunion, scheduled for June 4-6, is no exception. Reunion kicks off on Friday with the honorary alumni lecture by Pete Ferrell ’74, a rancher and wind power advocate. That night, alumni of all ages gather for the luau-themed dinner, followed by numerous class and affinity group receptions. Grinnellians are united once again for the Alumni Assembly on Saturday afternoon. Individual class dinners are the highlight of Saturday evening, and the fun goes late into the night, especially at the Reunion Waltz and subsequent Harris Party. In between are a host of lectures, panels, and tours. For some, the weekend started even earlier with two days of lectures known as Alumni College, featuring professors from all three academic divisions.
Grinnell’s physical landscape may have changed, but the connections made and rekindled during Reunion prove that the core values of Grinnell have remained constant. Reunion’s events are a showcase for the actions and lives of Grinnellians during and after college, as symbolized by the annual Alumni Awards. Just as important, however, are the informal conversations and the nostalgia fostered through the weekend. Faculty, staff, and students are ready to help alumni enjoy a beautiful Iowa weekend, rekindle their college experiences and maintain the community that characterizes Grinnellians.
-Matthew Zmudka ’11
Generating for Generations to Come
What is the difference between proper and smart? What does society urge us to follow? What is better for the future?
As Pete Ferrell ’74 will share during his Alumni Lecture at this year’s Reunion, breaking the status quo and building a wind farm on his ranch has proven to be the ‘smart’ choice.
Ferrell grew up on his family’s “idyllic” 7,000-acre ranch outside of Beaumont, Kansas. The ranch, begun in the late 19th century, started and continues to be a cattle-grazing operation, and Ferrell’s life quest has been “to solidify the heritage of this place,” he says. Read More »
