Reunion 2026 celebrates largest Grinnell alumni gathering in College’s history
June 3, 2026 — It’s hard for Althea Ricketts ’86 to fathom she graduated from Grinnell College 40 years ago.
“It still seems like yesterday,” she said. “Grinnell is where I became me, and my classmates still are a critical part of my life. Coming back to the place where it all started has been amazing. I jokingly say Grinnell is part of a cult. Not many places have this strong of a connection. These are my people.”
That sentiment was expressed a multitude of times in a myriad of ways by alums spanning generations during the 146th Alumni Reunion Weekend held May 28-31. A total of 1,456 Grinnellians attended Reunion 2026, making it the largest reunion in Grinnell College history.
Althea Ricketts ’86 hugs a classmate during the Block Party Friday evening.
This year’s registered attendees were from 45 states, Washington D.C., and 13 foreign countries. Alumni from 52 different classes – ranging from 1956 to 2022 – reconnected with classmates, mingled at events, took part in presentations, rediscovered favorite places on campus and in town, and made new Grinnell memories.
This year’s Reunion classes celebrating milestone reunions are the classes of 1956, 1961, 1962, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1986, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
While 1998 was not on the milestone list, being adjacent to the 1995-1997 cluster convinced Adam Wirtzfeld ’98 to make the trip from Minneapolis.
“I knew a lot of people from the three classes ahead of me,” he said. “I thought ‘when are they all going to be here at the same time again, so I better go.’ I’m so glad I did. It’s been a lot of fun. The thing that surprised me was I hadn’t done the math the other direction. The class of 2001 were freshmen when I was a senior, so I knew a lot of them as well. It’s been a super great bookend of my time at Grinnell.’
While Wirtzfeld and Ricketts had been to prior reunions, Lynne (Hayward) Bombinski ’72 was attending her first one. She and late husband Greg Bombinski ’72 had been mainly stationed in Europe when Greg served in the Air Force, making it difficult to get back to Grinnell. Coming back for her 55th reunion was a chance for Lynne to visit with some of her and Greg’s friends. It was fun to share stories with them, she said.
While many parts of the campus were unrecognizable to Lynne 54 years after graduation, being back did rekindle memories. When they were students, Lynne and Greg’s tradition was studying at Burling Library and then walking downtown to go to the Longhorn Bar & Grill.
“My freshman year I think I majored in the Longhorn Bar & Grill,” Lynne joked.
Adam Wirtzfeld ’98, right, braves the rain to run in Saturday’s Alumni Fun Run.
Memories of Grinnell had been captured the past several months by Christine Davidson Jensen ’76 and Brent Schondelmeyer ’76 who compiled the 50th reunion memory book for the class of 1976.
“Being involved in production of the memory book allowed me to wallow in the Grinnell experience,” Schondelmeyer said. “Not surprisingly, those who participated in the memory book shared that their experience at Grinnell had an instrumental and lifelong effect on them. It was conveyed in their prose. It was a formative part of our lives.”
For Reunion 2026, 103 individual class volunteers planned over 100 presentations and activities during the weekend. Some were boisterous, large-scale events like Block Party and the Reunion Drag Show: Scarlet & Slay. Others were learning opportunities such as faculty lectures by Mark Laver and Jon Andelson ’70. Some events involved getting moving like dance workshops (taught by assistant professor Aguibou Sanou) and laughter yoga, while others accentuated taking it easy and chilling with fellow Grinnellians.
Some events were interwoven with tradition and a touch of nostalgia. On Friday morning, the 40th reunion cluster held a Grilled Bagels welcome event in homage to the bagels they used to eat at the Forum.
“Daniel Baskes ’87 started it a couple years ago,” said Doug Duvel ’87, who serves as a co-class fund director with Baskes. “The Forum had these amazing grilled bagels. Besides our class re-living that time, it’s also been a chance to tell younger people about the Forum and the grill there.”
Alison Hayes ’87, left, Dinah Zebot ’02, and Roberta (Saielli) Lewis ’86 grill bagels during a Friday morning event where the 40th reunion class paid homage to the bagels that used to be served at the Forum.
All the reunion classes came together Saturday afternoon at Herrick Chapel for Alumni Assembly where President Anne F. Harris presented the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award to retired trustee Susan Holden McCurry ’71.
Alumni Assembly also included Harris’ presidential address, a performance of Eye for Eye by the alumni choir, and a celebration of Reunion philanthropy by Bernadine Douglas, vice president of development and alumni relations. A total of 1,241 donors from the Reunion classes have made a gift so far this fiscal year. Together, alums in these classes have made more than $14 million in total gifts, pledges, and planned gift commitments, the largest collective reunion giving effort to date.
“This afternoon, we celebrate something powerful: class by class, gift by gift, you’ve shown what it means to stand behind this place and the people who come after you,” Douglas said.
One of the most anticipated moments of Alumni Assembly was the presentation of 15 Alumni Awards to recipients who have distinguished themselves by their service to their careers, their community, and/or the College. Alumni Council members handed out the awards to this year’s recipients: Robert Musser ’62, Carolyn Canfield ’71, Nancy Mills ’72, Russell Damtoft ’76, Robert Gehorsam ’76, David Ten Eyck ’76, Barb Cardell ’86, Robert Quashie ’86, Althea Ricketts ’86, Christyne Lawson ’87, Julia Gage ’96, Marcos Ortega ’97, Meredith Hellmer ’01, Cassandra Miller ’16, and Langston Thomas ’20. Grinnellians can watch a replay of Alumni Assembly to see all the awards and speeches.
Nine of this year’s Alumni Award recipients are joined by Susan Holden McCurry ’71 and President Anne F. Harris in a group photo before Alumni Assembly.
Suha Gillani ’16, incoming president of the Alumni Council, closed out Assembly with a short address. Gillani also was celebrating her 10th reunion with 2016 classmates.
“It’s been great to connect with classmates because I haven’t seen a lot of folks since graduation,” she says. “The unexpectedly good part has been meeting Grinnellians from other generations. It’s uplifting seeing all the great things Grinnellians are doing. We are in every sector and making a difference.”
For four days, campus was filled with conversations between old friends, introductions to new ones, and stories that spanned decades.
“Whether returning for a first reunion, a 50th reunion, or simply because their friends would be here, Grinnellians were reminded of what draws them back time and again: a community that continues to inspire, challenge, and support one another long after graduation,” says Jayn Bailey Chaney ’05, assistant vice president of alumni and donor relations.
Reunion 2026 offered alumni the chance to reconnect not only with classmates, but also with the College and the students carrying Grinnell’s story forward today.
“As the weekend came to a close, alumni departed with renewed friendships, fresh memories, and a deeper appreciation for the bonds that make the Grinnell community so enduring – and make Reunion feel a little bit magical," Chaney said.
—by Jeremy Shapiro
For your information:
The 147th Alumni Reunion will take place June 3-6, 2027. Classes celebrating milestone reunions are the following: 1957-1958 (cluster), 1977, 1981-1983 (cluster), 2002, 2006-2008 (cluster), and 2017. View the Reunion Calendar for more future dates and class milestones.
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