Making a genuine connection with alumni energizes class of 2020 CFD
October 17, 2024 — The path of Grinnellians is rarely straightforward, and Jasper Quinn Moon ’20 is no exception. Moon – known as Jasper Egge during his student days at Grinnell – is the product of a liberal arts upbringing, since both parents work at Carleton College.
“When I was growing up, my parents were very invested in me going to college,” he recalls. “And when my choice came down to Carleton or Grinnell, I chose the novelty of Grinnell, since I had lived in Northfield all of my life.”
Starting at Grinnell, Moon’s plan was to double major in computer science and psychology. He loved his first two computer science courses but soon lost interest as the focus shifted. “It became less puzzle solving and more about theory and efficiency, which I discovered I didn’t like,” Moon explains. He also found that psychology didn’t hold his interest.
Jasper Quinn Moon ’20 is pictured in Yeosu, South Korea.
Moon eventually declared a math major and also discovered another interest when he registered for an education course solely because it fit into his schedule. “I fell in love with this subject and ended up taking almost every class in that department,” he says. “Grinnell’s open curriculum was the only reason I was able to do this. I would have double majored if I could, but they only had a licensure option.”
Outside of the classroom, Moon also explored a variety of interests. The experience he highlights above all others was working for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations as a Phonathon caller. “They had this track around the room with a point system to incentivize us,” he explains. “I’m very competitive and have always loved games, so I rose to this challenge.”
Moon had to learn how to make a genuine connection with the alumni he was calling. “That ended up being fairly easy because we had Grinnell in common,” he explains. “Overall, Grinnell alumni are friendly and open and want to talk about what they are doing.”
What began as fun competition turned into a true passion for Moon. When he had the opportunity to become a manager, he declined, because he was more interested in the direct conversations with alumni. Moon’s enthusiasm for this role meant he had to check himself frequently in order not to surpass his allotted 20 hours per week.
Not surprisingly, now that he’s an alum of the College, Moon volunteers his time in the role of co-class fund director along with Kate Irwin ’20. Their work is particularly challenging, since this class has the unfortunate distinction of having their senior year disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in not having an in-person graduation ceremony. “I watched my graduation with my family from our couch,” Moon says. “And I know that this affected each person in our class uniquely.”
Jasper Quinn Moon ’20 is co-class fund director for the class of 2020.
Moon has vivid memories of the week they got word they were going to be sent home. “There was a communal mourning for the class. Getting through that week together before we all went our separate ways was both poignant and bittersweet,” he explains. “It was like we were all hanging out by the pool while the biggest cannonball landed, and BOOM! We were all blown out of the water!”
The class of 2020 is in an interesting predicament, Moon says.
“How do you fundraise with a group of people whose last memory of the College was bad?” he says. “When I talk to people, the most effective thing is to say, ‘Hey, can you give to a specific part of Grinnell?’ because for a lot of them, they want their money to go to a particular spot. I work on talking with them about the specific things that were made possible at Grinnell because of alumni gifts.”
And while Moon can help alumni dovetail their giving with their own Grinnell passions, he also talks to them about the importance of non-designated giving. Making a gift to the unrestricted Pioneer Fund is a good choice as well because it supports the daily lives of students, he says.
Jasper and Sungyun Misun (Chong)
Moon ’21
In April 2023, Moon co-hosted the Connecting Grinnellians for the Common Good: An Evening in the Twin Cities with President Anne F. Harris event. “That was cool. I love Grinnell,” Moon says. “I haven’t gone back, but I want to and will attend a proper Reunion. Grinnell was some of the best years of my life.”
In the four years since graduating, Moon has continued to explore his interests in new and unique ways. “I’m actually in the middle of a lot of things, and it’s an interesting time in my life,” he says. He’s recently moved within the Twin Cities, and got married Sept. 6 to his partner, Sungyun Misun (Chong) Moon ’21.
In March 2023, Jasper started substitute teaching at Richfield High School in Minnesota, and, over the past year, he has also worked for a program housed at the school but run by the local YMCA. Through this after school experience, he coaches and mentors students whose common interest is esports. The esports lab traditionally attracts high school boys who, Moon notes, sometimes lack maturity.
“I see part of my role as helping them understand more about the influencers they follow,” he says. “I encourage them to be aware of their language and hold one another accountable so that the lab is a safe space for everyone.” He explains that this is often the first shared space some of these students have ever experienced and, since he’s been in this role, more students across the gender spectrum are coming in.
“This is a space where a diverse set of students can come together,” Moon says. “Students come for different reasons. Some want to play games, some don’t have internet at home, some just want to hang out with friends.”
While Moon enjoys this work, he’s discovered that his true passion still lies with fundraising. He’s currently seeking employment in this area, but is keeping his options open since, like the open curriculum has shown, he may encounter an opportunity that takes him elsewhere.
“A job for me is making sure I put food on the table,” Moon says. “If I find a position that melds the work with my interests, that would be great, but there are many different avenues of life where one can find meaning and the ability to give back.”
— by Melanie Drake ’92