The Grinnellian
The Grinnellian is a monthly e-newsletter launched July 2019 to broadly share Grinnell College stories, events, and activities. Besides being informational, a key goal of the newsletter is to demonstrate the differences donors and volunteers are making in the lives of current and future Grinnell students.
The Archive
Please note, the archived issues of The Grinnellian are exact versions of the e-newsletter sent out. As such, some of the events, contests, and links may have expired. If you have any questions, please contact us at alumni@grinnell.edu.
2019 Archive 2020 Archive 2021 Archive
The Grinnellian Trivia
In each issue of The Grinnellian, we include a Grinnell trivia question. The first five who reply each month with the correct answer wins a prize. Please see the archived questions, answers, and a list of winners.
August 2023
What do the flags hanging above Spencer Grill represent?
Answer: The different nationalities of current Grinnell students
Winners: Lester Alemàn ’07, Paige Wheeler ’16, Zainab Thompson ’22, Khondamir Imomnazarov ’23, and Paul Catanzaro.
July 2023
Who was the longest serving Grinnell College president?
Answer: John Hanson Thomas Main
Winners: Ann Lousin ’64, Jim Hamilton ’65, Kim Thomas ’72, Tara Rawlings ’23, and Gene Wubbels.
June 2023
“The men of old were strong and bold” are the first few words of what school song?
Answer: Here Comes the Pioneers
Winners: Gary Wilson ’66, Jane Meyer ’67, Amy Spitzer ’73, Jim Strickler ’78, and Carissa Lehning ’22.
May 2023
What DAR staff member is Grinnell softball’s all-time leader in career doubles?
Answer: Dinah Zebot ’03
Winner: Rania Robb ’03
April 2023
What alumna was co-founder and president of the League of Women Voters Iowa chapter?
Answer: Louise Rosenfield Noun ’29
Winners: Betsy Clarke ’69, Bob Eckardt ’73, and Chris Zug ’93.
March 2023
What College building was the first in Iowa to receive LEED gold certification?
Answer: CERA’s Environmental Education Center
Winners: Cindy Maier ’70, Natalie Rehm ’96, Carissa Lehning ’22, Pamela Cox, and Em Heath.
February 2023
Who was the first African American woman to receive tenure at Grinnell College?
Answer: Kesho Scott
Winners: Jack Spence ’64, Jon Gray ’73, Rae Whatley ’88, David Fuller ’90, and Emma Knatterud-Johnson ’05.
January 2023
What residence hall was initially built to accommodate the Officers’ Candidate School during WWII?
Answer: Cowles Hall
Winners: Ann Lousin ’64, Kim Thomas ’72, Susan Grodsky ’74, John Nordmeyer ’83, and Anushka Kulshreshtha ’21.
December 2022
In what year did the Scarlet & Black newspaper begin printing?
Answer: 1894
Winners: James Decker ’75, Kaydi-Ann Newsome ’14, Carissa Lehning ’22, Pamela Cox, and Donna Palmatary.
November 2022
Since 1904, 14 Grinnell students have earned Rhodes Scholarships to study at what institution?
Answer: Oxford University
Winners: Sydney McQuoid ’73, Sam Perlman ’90, Amanda Hodo ’14, Emily Stevens ’18, and Elizabeth Bausch.
October 2022
In what sport did Christine Thorburn ’92 participate in at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics?
Answer: Cycling
Winners: Gabi Conecker ’00, David Jarvis ’04, Pat Ritter ’08, Rebecca Villa ’21, and Tino Tazvitya ’23.
September 2022
What Grinnellian was the first woman to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship?
Answer: Hallie Flanagan Davis 1911
Winners: Jane Meyer ’67, Natalie Rehm ’96, and Asha Holsopple ’11.
August 2022
What year did Conard Environmental Research Area open?
Answer: 1968
Winners: Ron Berry ’71, Jon Krieg ’84, Jody Seigel ’93, Mario Manalu ’22, and Stephanie Roush.
July 2022
What Grinnell College Hall of Fame inductee is Grinnell baseball’s all-time hits and homers leader?
Answer: Mike Nodzenski ’12
Winners: Jon Krieg ’84, Wade Beltramo ’93, Rania Robb ’03, Rex Chien ’09, and Aaron Levin ’14.
June 2022
How old was Grinnell College when the town of Grinnell was founded?
Answer: 8 years old
Winners: Jan Tait ’58, Jeff Scheckter ’71, Jim Strickler ’78, Neva Specht ’89, and David Orman.
May 2022
What former Congressman came back to Grinnell to give the Commencement speech in 1995?
Answer: Alan D. Wheat ’72
Winners: Carol Cupples ’67, David Wagner ’76, Anna Davis ’95, Gustavo Arambula ’10, and Mark Duncan ’19.
April 2022
Loose Hall on South Campus is named after what two Iowans?
Answer: Francelia Spitzer Loose and Dr. David Loose
Winners: Claudia Bogard ’77, Jon Krieg ’84, Natalie Rehm ’96, Rich Lehning, and Todd Schmidt.
March 2022
What role did Walter Koenig ’58 play in Star Trek?
Answer: Pavel Chekov
Winners: Christine Gilson ’68, Judy Packer-Tursman ’78, Mary Niehaus ’85, Ethan Struby ’10, and Jaime Bleess.
February 2022
The name for Grinnell’s Young, Gifted, and Black Gospel Choir originated from what writer?
Answer: Lorraine Hansberry
Winners: Byron Bangert ’69, Martha Musgrove ’69, Katherine Willhoite ’81, Carin Bringelson ’91, and Jack Isaac
January 2022
What was the name of the residence hall singing contest usually held on Mother’s Day in the 1940s-1960s?
Answer: Fetzer Sing
Winners: Errett Schmid ’60, Martin Gibbs ’62, Ruthena Fink ’68, John Holbert ’68, and Suzanne Lueck ’69.
New Year's 2022 Edition
Who was Grinnell College’s first female graduate?
Answer: Joanna Harris Haines 1865
Winners: Betsy Wolcott ’75, Monique Shore ’90, Amy Pletsch ’96, Dora Urias, and Bill Owens.