Alumni Awards
The Alumni Award recognizes individuals who embody Grinnell College’s mission of lifetime learning and service. Each year during Reunion Weekend, the Alumni Council honors Grinnell alums who have distinguished themselves by their extraordinary contributions of service to the College, their profession, and/or their community.
2025 Alumni Awards
The 2025 Alumni Award recipients are:
- Kenton Clymer ’65
- Jeri Langham ’65
- Michael Cullen ’75
- Bill Ferguson ’75
- Renee Garrick ’75
- Amy Fraenkel ’85
- May-lee Chai ’89
- Clint Korver ’89
- Kent Koth ’90
- Monique McLay Shore ’90
- Juan Castaño ’00
- Gabrielle Conecker ’00
- Caitlin Davies ’09
- Evan Griffith ’15
Read more about our 14 outstanding recipients.
Alumni Awards Nominations
Nominations can be submitted during any year, not just during your Reunion year.
Nominations to be considered for Reunion 2026 are due August 31, 2025.
Nominations received will be kept until the nominee's next Reunion and will be available to the selection committee for two consecutive Reunion cycles in which the nominee is eligible for an award. If you would like to update a previously submitted nomination, please call the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 866-850-1846 (toll-free) or email us at alumni@grinnell.edu.
A complete nomination consists of:
- A complete, detailed nomination form (link below)
- Two or more letters of support (one can come from the nominator)
- Supporting materials such as newspaper clippings, newsletters, citations, etc., if available. PDF form is preferred, but materials in any form are accepted, including mailed (we will return any mailed items if desired).
Nominate a Grinnellian for an Alumni Award
Letters of support and supporting materials for nominees can be sent by anyone, not just the nominator, at any time to alumni@grinnell.edu or mailed to DAR attn: Alumni Award Nominations, 733 Broad St., Grinnell, IA 50112. The alumni office adds all documents to their appropriate nomination packet. A letter of support alone does not make a nomination active. If there is no nomination on file, the letter is saved to await the submission of a nomination.
Current trustees and current Alumni Council members are not eligible for an Alumni Award. Alumni who have served on the Council within the last three years are also not eligible, unless they are celebrating a Reunion beyond their 40th year. Nominations for alumni from non-Reunion classes will be accepted but held until the appropriate Reunion year. Past awardees of the Alumni Award or the Pioneer Award are not eligible to receive the award again. Alumni may only receive the award once in their lifetime.
Previous Alumni Award Recipients