Staying Power: How Grinnellians Made the Most of Summer

Over the summer, Grinnell College quiets down as most students head back to their hometowns or off to somewhere new for various summer plans. But those who stay in the area find rewarding opportunities and deeper connections with the community. This summer, about 100 students stayed on campus to take part in research, service, and hands-on learning.  

Furthering Academics

One of the common summer experiences for Grinnell students is a Mentored Advanced Project (MAP), where they gain research experience by working closely with professors. For example, Selam Zerabruk ’27, a biology major, and 2025 Chech Research Scholar, is working with Maisha Kamunde-Devonish, professor of chemistry, on a project classifying thiosemicarbazides — compounds that may help convert CO₂ into value-added products and reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere. Zerabruk says, “I was drawn to this MAP because it combined my interest in chemistry with a real-world application in developing renewable energy technologies. I also appreciated the opportunity to work closely with my MAP adviser, whose work I’ve admired since coming to Grinnell.”

Bohan Yang ’27, another biology major, is also completing a MAP this summer. He works with Professor Liz Queathem to investigate how different stretching routines can improve balance in older populations. Yang appreciates how the College creates research opportunities that are not always available to undergrads at other institutions. 

He also welcomes the camaraderie between the school and the town. When characterizing the attitudes of the study participants at the Mayflower Retirement Community, he says, “They're just nice. And when they hear you're from Grinnell College, they really want to help you.” In fact, Yang now volunteers at the Mayflower because of the connections he’s made there and to reciprocate the support he’s received.  

Serving the Community

While summer research is common, other students stay in Grinnell to integrate into the town through service projects. Karima Rostom ’26 has worked with Summer Learning is Cool for Kids (SLICK) with the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District and Lead Inspire Nurture Keep (LINK) through the Iowa National Service Corps. As a psychology major and education studies concentrator, Rostom mentored with LINK previously and is excited to continue building individual bonds with the students. She says, “The one-on-one opportunities to connect with students and watch them develop is really what builds the joy I get from work.”

A Larger Radius

Some students who don’t spend the summer in town still use the school’s relationships to work with other institutions that serve the larger Iowa community. Nathan Ruger ’28, intended biology major, has helped rekindle a partnership between Grinnell and the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines by providing care to 50 different species in their animal ambassadors department. He’s developed further appreciation for all the work the keepers do to keep the animals well cared for, deepening his passion for conservation education while doing public programs at the zoo.  

Also in the Des Moines area, Tatum Watkins ’27 uses her political science major at the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement to complete a scientific review and community outreach about cancer rates and environmental risk factors in Iowa. The experience has allowed her to combine her interest in policy and science in a hands-on way and confirmed her interest in a public health career.  

Celebrating Grinnell Off Campus

Summer is an opportunity to do things that build skills and experience for future careers and academic pursuits, but it is also a time to connect with the community in ways that are harder during the grind of the school year.  

In fact, all these students discuss how staying close to Grinnell was an important part of their summer plans, and how the relationships they’ve built are some of the most rewarding parts of their experiences. Ruger says, “I’ve gotten to know dozens of people all across the state of Iowa who visited the Blank Park Zoo.”  

Watkins explains how she’s enjoyed traveling around the state to hear stories from many different people to foster community and fight the “brain drain,” where people move away from Iowa rather than making change within the state. “Beyond my desire to give back to the state that has made me who I am, my academic and career interest lies at the intersection of public health, agriculture, and policy, so this is a dream position that is also looking to tackle a uniquely Iowan problem,” says Watkins.  

The students who have stayed in town have also found ways to participate more with the community during the slower academic pace of summer. Yang explains, “I realized there's more connection between the town and the College than I knew before. And I feel like the people who stay here, for instance the international students, they create closer bonds to each other.”  

And Zerabruk says, “I’ve noticed just how vibrant and welcoming the local community is. Without the usual hustle of classes, I’ve had more time to attend town events, support local businesses at the farmers market, and get to know Grinnell beyond campus.”