Alumni Award

Sometimes the most difficult history to tell is our own. For decades, Samuel R. Harris '58 rarely spoke about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. But now he is telling his story—and helping others tell theirs.

At Grinnell, Harris earned a political science degree and participated in student council and wrestling. He went on to build a successful career in the life insurance industry.

During the past decade, Harris has opened up about his past. Though it is difficult for him to share the stories of surviving the Nazi concentration camps as a child, he is committed to helping future generations understand this important and terrible part of the world's history. He regularly visits schools to speak to students of all ages about his experiences. In 2001, he wrote a children's book, Sammy, Child Survivor of the Holocaust, to bring this story to a wider audience.

For years, Harris has worked tirelessly to create a Holocaust museum just outside Chicago. As current president of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, he will preside over the facility's opening next year. More than a quarter-million students are expected to visit the museum each year.

For his tireless dedication to fighting hatred and prejudice now and for generations to come, Grinnell is pleased to recognize Samuel R. Harris '58.