Alumni Awards nominations and Wall Award applications are open through Aug. 31

July 21, 2021 — Two of Grinnell College’s most prestigious alumni honors are accepting entries for awards being announced in late 2022 and early 2023.

Nominations are underway for the 2023 Alumni Awards. Consider nominating a fellow alum for consideration. Additionally, applications are being collected for the 2022 Joseph F. Wall ’41 Alumni Service Award. These should be submitted by the applicant rather than by a nominator.

Both awards have a submission deadline of Aug. 31. Further details about each are below.

2023 Alumni Awards

For more than 100 years the Grinnell College Alumni Awards have recognized individuals who embody Grinnell College’s mission of lifetime learning and service. Recipients have distinguished themselves by their service to their careers, their community, and/or the College.

Nominations are being accepted for the following classes, who will celebrate their reunions in 2023:

  • 70th Reunion: 1953
  • 60th Reunion: 1963-1964
  • 55th Reunion: 1967-1968-1969
  • 50th Reunion: 1973
  • 40th Reunion: 1981-1982-1983
  • 30th Reunion: 1992-1993-1994
  • 25th Reunion: 1998
  • 15th Reunion: 2006-2007-2008
  • 10th Reunion: 2012-2013

Complete an online nomination form to share details about the nominee. Current Grinnell College Board of Trustees and Alumni Council members are not eligible for an Alumni Award. Visit the Alumni Awards web page to find more information about the award and learn about past recipients.

The Grinnell College Alumni Council will select the recipients and share the news through an announcement in The Grinnellian e-newsletter early next year. The recipients will be presented with their awards June 3 at Alumni Assembly during Reunion 2023.

Joseph F. Wall ’41 Alumni Service Award

During Grinnell College’s sesquicentennial celebration in 1996, the Wall Award was established as a tribute to the College’s 150-year tradition of social commitment. The award was named in honor of Joseph Wall ’41, professor of history and longtime dean of the College, who inspired an ideal of social responsibility in his students.

Each year, a committee composed of alumni, faculty, and a student choose up to two alumni award recipients and award the $40,000 prizes to either jump-start or complete a project that shows creativity and commitment to effecting positive social change. Any graduate of Grinnell College is eligible to apply, as long as they themselves will act as a principal of the project.

To apply, read through and complete the Wall Service Award application. Additional information about the award and a partial list of past winners can be found on the Wall Service Award webpage

— by Jeremy Shapiro

For your information:

A full listing of awards involving Grinnell College alumni can be found on the Development and Alumni Relations Awards page.

To read more alumni news, check out our news archive.