2012 Alumni Senior Award Winner
Few students exemplify the spirit of Grinnell — engaged, purposeful, thoughtful, open — more than Wadzanai “Wadzi” K. Motsi ’12. She soaked up everything she could from classes and activities, and always gave back in equal measure.
Hailing from Harare, Zimbabwe, the international relations major became deeply involved in a number of groups, including Grinnell Christian Fellowship and International Student Organization. She worked several campus jobs. Her senior year, she was elected student government vice president.
She was able to build connections between her many interests. She spent time in Nashville as part of a Fischlowitz International Student Travel Fellowship. Later, when she heard about flooding in the city, she helped organize a ReNew fall break trip to Nashville for student volunteers.
She has done remarkable work in international development and on international issues. She served as a community-organizing intern for World Vision Zimbabwe, was also an education advising intern for the U.S. Embassy, and organized a Rosenfield symposium on African issues.
She will continue to pursue her international interests next year as one of only 40 students nationwide to receive a Watson Fellowship. Her work will take her to Tunisia, Ghana, the Czech Republic, and Cambodia to study student political activism.
Grinnell is pleased to recognize Wadzanai “Wadzi” K. Motsi ’12 for creating and accomplishing ambitious and meaningful goals.
