Grinnell College has been recognized with the 2024–25 Best of CASE District VI Award in the category of Special Events: In-Person (Multi-Day) for the dedication of Renfrow Hall. The honor, announced last week by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), highlights the collaborative work that made the September 2024 celebration a powerful tribute to community, legacy, and place.
Alumni Relations News
The Wilson Center’s annual Pioneer Weekend pitch competition took place from Friday, September 26, to Sunday, September 28. The objective of Pioneer Weekend is to bring together student innovators to develop and pitch a business or nonprofit plan. It encourages hands-on experiences and helps develop skills critical to entrepreneurship. The top three teams also receive cash prizes.
Grinnell College will celebrate the dedication of Hannah Alumni House with a ribbon cutting and community open house on Thursday, November 6. The event, themed “A Place to Return, A Place to Belong,” invites alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members to come together in celebration of this beloved space.
MJ Ketcha recently started medical school and reflects on the experiences that got him there.
A deep love for their alma mater, a belief in the importance of philanthropy, and a desire to ensure student wellness all motivated Scott ’82 and Laura Cleveland Shepherd ’82 to make a generous gift of $1 million to support student health and wellness services at Grinnell College.
The transformation of Hannah Alumni House is nearing completion. The 107-year-old house, located at 1527 Broad St., will welcome alumni back to the College and provide a warm, comfortable venue for events, meetings, and lodging.
Late summer at Grinnell is a season of joyful return — students from across the globe bring fresh energy, stories, and ambition to campus. Their journeys are made possible by the generosity of alumni and friends who believe in the transformative power of a Grinnell education.
How Ashley Pacheco '24 leveraged her Grinnell experiences into a career in medicine.
While working Reunion, Sophia Ramalli ’27 discovered Dana Ulery ’59, NASA’s first female engineer, and helped bring her story to current Grinnell students.
There was much joy and a sense of overdue recognition of Grinnell College’s Black alumnae during and after the 2024 dedication of Renfrow Hall, recalls Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Louise R. Noun ’29 Chair in Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies.
