Mentors, peers help Laurel Scholars thrive
April 8, 2026 — A five-year-old program for Chicago-area students has provided significant financial and mentorship support for Grinnellians as they build community and share experiences.
The Laurel Scholarship and Mentorship Program offers robust co-curricular experiences for a cohort of Chicago students. Grinnell awards up to 10 full scholarships annually to high-achieving students who have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to the well-being of their families, communities, or schools.
There are 35 Laurel Scholars at Grinnell College this academic year. Last May, four students from the class of 2025 became the first scholars to graduate from Grinnell. An additional 10 students will graduate this spring.
The Laurel Scholars gathered for a group photo shortly after the new cohort arrived on campus in fall 2025.
For many of these Laurel Scholars, as with all students, beginning life at Grinnell College can be difficult. Aside from the usual first-year challenges, many students face the culture shock of moving to a small town and the feelings of isolation that come with it. The Laurel Scholars program aims to make the transition to college as smooth as possible.
“Laurel Scholars is an important program because it creates a sense of belonging,” says Christian Morris ’18, assistant director of admissions. “Coming to Grinnell is generally a big hurdle for many students, whether it’s because of our geographic location or the size of the town. So it’s really awesome that we could address the idea of community in this thoughtful way while providing full scholarships.”
Christian Morris ’18
Nearly $6.5 million in scholarships have been awarded to Laurel Scholars to date. Peter Kupferberg ’83 is one leading investor in the Scholars program.
“I support the Grinnell Laurel Scholars because Grinnell is at its best when students from many different backgrounds learn and live together, enriching one another’s perspectives and creating the kind of open, thoughtful community that defines a Grinnell education,” Kupferberg says.
To get these students off to a strong start and build their sense of belonging, Grinnell College hosts new Laurel Scholars to a summer retreat in Chicago, before they arrive on campus.
“It’s a one-day event where we start creating community but also prepare students for what it’s like to be at Grinnell and what allyship is in different contexts and perspectives,” Morris says. “We usually ask alumni to help co-lead workshops at the retreat.”
One other special aspect of the retreat is that students can bring their parents. “A lot of these students are the first in their family to attend college. Inviting their parents eases fears and instills confidence in their families’ choice to have their student come to Grinnell,” Morris adds.
Once students arrive on campus, they take part in bi-weekly meetings with the Laurel Scholars Mentor Team, led by Laurel Scholars Student Specialist Roy Salcedo.
Both faculty and staff participation in these mentoring groups is important.
“Faculty mentorship focuses on the academic experience while mentoring from intercultural affairs professionals focuses on identity development, community, belonging, and self-reflection,” says Vrinda Varia, associate chief diversity officer for intercultural student life.
Sebastian Vilches ’29
Sebastian Vilches ’29 feels very fortunate to have been selected as a Laurel Scholar.
“It gave me a community to be a part of early on, which was really helpful when navigating all of the new experiences of college,” Vilches says. “The relationships built through the program have made me feel right at home, and I’m excited to keep developing them throughout the rest of my college career.”
That sense of connection continues as current Laurel Scholars eagerly step up to support visits and events for prospective students.
“Relationships are at the core of this program,” Varia says. “The Laurel Scholarship and Mentorship Program models the kinds of relationships and interactions that demonstrate Grinnell at its best. The program has embedded Grinnell’s values at every level, whether you think about representation, advocacy, allyship, mentorship, learning and development, and community partnerships and engagement.”
—by Jeremy Shapiro