Sierra Silverwood ’18 benefits from the Grinnell Experience and donors guide the way
Grinnell donors open doors and for Sierra Silverwood ’18, those doors have meant learning beyond the classroom experience. “I didn’t just work with donors, I lived with them,” says Silverwood. “I got to see how life worked for them. They share stories about what Grinnell means to them.”
Alumni gifts of both money and time have afforded Silverwood the opportunity to major in Biological Chemistry and explore career opportunities. Beyond the excellent faculty and facilities on campus, she studied biotechnology and pharmaceuticals in Denmark and had an externship with Matthew Karafin MD ‘00 at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In the summer of 2017, with College support, she interned with Randy Seeley MD PhD ’89, at the University of Michigan, assisting with research on obesity and diabetes. This internship is only provided to Grinnell students.
Scholarships were key to Silverwood’s attendance at Grinnell. She and her family are thankful she is able to receive a great education she would not be able to afford otherwise. “To do this without the financial burden has been huge,” she says.
As president of the Student Alumni Council, Silverwood has been exposed to alumni in a variety of opportunities. “They are not just supportive with their funds, they are supportive with what they know and their honest interest in what I am doing,” Silverwood notes. “I am grateful for all the opportunities to learn from alumni when they come to campus.”
For your information:
To support students like Sierra, make a gift to Grinnell by visiting our giving page.