Schedule of Events

What was on-campus life like before the JRC and the Harris Center? Where did students go for community? In the past 178 years, Grinnellians have gathered to socialize in many different spaces on campus, from the basement of the old Darby Gymnasium to the Quad. These places shaped students’ lives here as landmarks, physical spaces to gather, and settings for lifelong memories.

Curated by Nina Bigelow '25 and Maddie Yu '25.

The Spencer Grill in the JRC is a great place to meet friends for morning coffee, a light breakfast or lunch, or some fresh-baked goodies. Open till late Thursday as the only venue serving food on campus.

The Grinnell Authors Display, featuring works by Grinnell alums, faculty, and staff, is proudly presented at the Pioneer Bookshop during regular business hours as posted throughout the weekend.

To have your original work included in the display, please complete and submit the registration form by May 1, 2025.

This quiet space to preserve and share memories of classmates who have passed will be open all weekend for visits.

Thursday and Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shuttle and golf cart service is available throughout Reunion weekend.

To request golf cart transportation on campus or shuttle service to/from the local motels and hotels, please call 641-269-4403 during open hours to arrange pickup.

In addition, shuttle van or bus service is available for CERA Tours, Observatory Tours and all off-campus Reunion events. All shuttles depart from outside the south entrance of the Joe Rosenfield Center (near JRC 101).

Please sign up in the JRC Lobby to reserve your spot for a student-led campus tour. Tours depart from the JRC Mailroom.

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

Help the Burling Library Special Collections and Archives staff identify photographs from your time at Grinnell. Special Collections and Archives staff will host a table in the JRC lobby, asking alumni to help identify people, places, and events in our photograph collection. We will have photos available from every class celebrating Reunion, so please stop by and lend a hand!

This market is 100 percent a producer's market; all vendors must sell products they produce themselves. With dozens of vendors, there is never a shortage of things to buy and see: locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams, plants and flowers, hand-made crafts, and more!

In case of rain, this event will be canceled.

Please sign up in the JRC Lobby to reserve your spot for a student-led campus tour. Tours depart from the JRC Mailroom.

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

Grinnell College operates a local shuttle van that stops at various shopping and care destinations around Grinnell, including McNally’s, Hy-Vee, Walmart, Urgent Care, and downtown Grinnell. 

• The shuttle runs from Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1, from 4 to 10 p.m. daily, departing campus on the hour. 
• Departs from the front of the Noyce Science Center.
• If 8th Avenue is closed for a Reunion event, the shuttle departs from the corner of 8th Avenue and East Street. 
• Show your Reunion badge as your ticket for a free ride.
• Riders missing the last shuttle of the evening will be responsible for finding their way back to campus. 
  

Visit the Local Transportation website for more information and a detailed schedule.

In gratitude for your volunteer service and to provide a space to connect over your support of the college, we invite class agents, class fund directors, and their guests to a casual reception in the Laurel Leaf Lounge.

Please sign up in the JRC Lobby to reserve your spot for a student-led campus tour. Tours depart from the JRC Mailroom.

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

Alumni, their families, staff, and students are welcome to attend. 

Build community with fellow alums who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, members of the disability community, from various religious affiliations, or former first-generation or international students. We will eat delicious food, share amazing stories, laugh too much, and get to know staff members from Intercultural Affairs, Accessibility and Disability Resources, the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice, and the Office of International Student Affairs. At 6:45 p.m., there will be remarks by Marc Reed, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer.

Members of the 1984 and 1985 classes are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee and classmates as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting. After 10 p.m., you are welcome to BYOB!

Rain Location: Norris Lounge

Members of the class of 2015 are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting. After 10 p.m., you are welcome to BYOB!

Rain Location: Main Hall, first floor lounge

Members of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 classes are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting. After 10 p.m., you are welcome to BYOB!

Rain Location: Noyce Lobby

Members of the class of 2000 are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting. After 10 p.m., you are welcome to BYOB!

Rain Location: Younker Lounge

Members of the 1989, 1990, and 1991 classes are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting. After 10 p.m., you are welcome to BYOB!

Rain Location: Golf Course Clubhouse

Members of the class of 1975 are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting.

Members of the 1965 and 1966 classes are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee and classmates as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting.

Members of the class of 1955 are invited to join your Reunion Planning Committee and classmates as we kick off this weekend of reconnecting.

You'll find All-Reunion After-Party tucked in the middle of campus, further from dorms where Reunion celebrants sleep. Turn off that sound system at your class or cluster tent at or before midnight, and come to Kington Plaza. Make new Grinnellian friends from across the years, or pull up to a table with your classmates. BYOB and please check the sign-up sheet for sound system control by the speakers!

Thank you to the 25th Reunion Class of 2000 for inspiration for the All-Reunion After-Party idea!

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

The Spencer Grill in the JRC is a great place to meet friends for morning coffee, a light breakfast or lunch, or some fresh-baked goodies. 

Rise and shine—or shake off last night’s adventures—with a refreshing all-level yoga session led by Mary Miller ’85. Whether you need an energizing start to your day or a gentle way to get moving, all participants are welcome. Mats will be available for those who need them.

Please use the entrance in the western (natatorium) building.

Sponsored by the 40th Reunion Cluster of 1984 and 1985.

Join your classmates at the cluster tent for grilled bagels, Bloody Marys. Our tent is located on Mac Field just south of Cowles.

Rain location: Norris Hall Lounge 

Join faculty from the Department of Biology on a tour of the College's biological field station. This one-mile hike will take you through reconstructed prairie and restored savanna, along Willow Creek and Perry Pond, and through two experimental plot arrays. It will end with a brief tour of the Environmental Education Center.

The tour size is limited. Reservations are available only when you register for Reunion.

The CERA tour departs from the JRC Lobby.

In case of rain, this event will be canceled. 

The CERA trails are also open for self-guided exploration daily sunrise to sunset. The education building is open 9am to 5pm Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30.

What was on-campus life like before the JRC and the Harris Center? Where did students go for community? In the past 178 years, Grinnellians have gathered to socialize in many different spaces on campus, from the basement of the old Darby Gymnasium to the Quad. These places shaped students’ lives here as landmarks, physical spaces to gather, and settings for lifelong memories.

Curated by Nina Bigelow '25 and Maddie Yu '25.

Get ready for a fun and unique adventure across campus!

Join us for the Doornation Scavenger Hunt, where you'll embark on a quest to discover special doors on campus. Each door will be clearly identified as a Doornation location, along with a description of what happens behind that door and who made the “Doornation.”

How It Works:

1. Sign up: Until noon on May 29 as part of your reunion registration. The entry fee is a small contribution to the Pioneer Fund—helping support campus events, programs, and initiatives.
2. Grab a Map: Pick up a scavenger hunt map highlighting key locations to find doors at the JRC Help Desk.
3. Find Your Door: Your mission is to locate the door you’ve been assigned! Along the way, feel free to discover other doors just for fun.

Whether you come solo or bring a group of friends, this is your chance to explore campus, have fun, and support a great cause.

Ready to open the door to adventure? Let’s go!

Organized by the 35th Reunion Planning Committee, Classes of 1989, 1990 & 1991.

This quiet space to preserve and share memories of classmates who have passed will be open all weekend for visits.

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shuttle and golf cart service is available throughout Reunion weekend.

To request golf cart transportation on campus or shuttle service to/from the local motels and hotels, please call 641-269-4403 during open hours to arrange pickup.

In addition, shuttle van or bus service is available for CERA Tours, Observatory Tours and all off-campus Reunion events. All shuttles depart from outside the south entrance of the Joe Rosenfield Center (near JRC 101).

Alumni, their families, staff, and students are welcome to attend.

Enjoy a round of nine holes of gold on the beautiful Grinnell Golf Course. Bring your clubs; carts will be provided. Preregistration is required.

This event will be canceled in case of inclement weather.

The Grinnell Authors Display, featuring works by Grinnell alums, faculty, and staff, is proudly presented at the Pioneer Bookshop during regular business hours as posted throughout the weekend.

To have your original work included in the display, please complete and submit the registration form by May 1, 2025.

Explore Grinnell and the Iowa countryside in this guided ride with the Prairie Burners. The group will bike approximately 10 miles on gentle mixed surfaces. Please contact reunionhelpdesk@grinnell.edu with any mobility needs so the route may be planned accordingly.

Helmets are required. Bikes and helmets are available through Grinnell Bike Share, RESERVATION REQUIRED.

Prairie Burners are a group of gravel bike enthusiasts who have a weekly ride in and around Grinnell on gravel. This is an initiative of Imagine Grinnell with a fundraising event called Prairie Burn 100 with gravel loops of 25, 50 or 100 miles. They also have a 5K fun run event at the same time.

Visit Prairie Burn 100 website with activities and sign up information. 

Support Imagine Grinnelll and/or the Grinnell Bike Share program here!

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled. 

Bill Ferguson '75 - Power, Brokerage, Polarization, and Institutional Entrepreneurship

Re-experience the intellectual stimulation of the classroom with Grinnell College faculty Bill Ferguson '75. Institutional entrepreneurs strive to create, alter, or destroy institutions as they pursue various political, economic, and social goals—often with unintended consequences. They utilize power, brokerage, and narratives to reconfigure common understandings of interests, roles, and positions. They endeavor to reshape coalitions, laws, and policies—sometimes harnessing and enhancing social or political polarization.

Ferguson is the Gertrude B. Austin Professor of Economics and has taught at Grinnell since 1989.

Childcare is offered on a drop-in basis during Reunion. Preregistration is recommended but not required. You may check your child(ren) in and out at any time during the session. 

For more information on Reunion Childcare, please visit https://alumni.grinnell.edu/events/reunion/childcare

Explore (and enjoy!) an array of offerings based on recipes created by international students.

Come share your story! The Alumni Oral History Project aims to better understand and share Grinnell College's history by recording and preserving the oral histories of our alumni community. Individuals or small groups are welcome.

Please sign up during reunion registration if you are interested in participating. One representative may hold the reservation for a small group. Reunion Student Staff will contact you the week before your arrival on campus to schedule your specific half-hour time slot and arrange a meeting location.

 Spontaneous recordings are possible in Spencer Grill - keep a lookout for Reunion Student Staff with portable recording equipment!

Please sign up in the JRC Lobby to reserve your spot for a student-led campus tour. Tours depart from the JRC Mailroom.

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

The Grinnell College Disability Cultural Center aims to form a diverse, disability-centered community for students, faculty, and staff. We seek to empower our community by expanding our views of normality and success. We aim to foster campus connections and revolutionize Grinnell’s view of disability. Through advocacy, we will make Grinnell College’s disability culture prominent and respected.

Join John C. Rommereim, Blanche Johnson Professor of Music, to rehearse for performance during Saturday afternoon’s 4:30 Alumni Assembly.

Please note that a dress rehearsal is also scheduled at 3:45 on Saturday, just before the Alumni Assembly. Both rehearsals are required.

Join us at the Conney M. Kimbo Black Cultural Center (BCC) to learn more about the new affinity group, the Grinnell Black Alumni Network. We will enjoy spending time together and seeing the improvements made to the house.

The BCC seeks to unify students across the African Diaspora by centering Black voices and experiences in a global and intersectional community. It also aspires to build individual agency and collective understanding, contributing to a sense of belonging and tradition.

The Grinnell College Preschool provides a high-quality preschool program for the College and town while serving as a research lab for Grinnell students and faculty. Preschool staff members use developmentally appropriate practices to create a supportive, nurturing learning environment that meets individual needs and encourages children’s natural curiosity.

Join the athletic staff, current coaches, and former coaches for a reception celebrating Grinnell Athletics. There will be a short program. Preregistration is recommended but not required.

Join faculty from the Department of Biology on a tour of the College's biological field station. This one-mile hike will take you through reconstructed prairie and restored savanna, along Willow Creek and Perry Pond, and through two experimental plot arrays. It will end with a brief tour of the Environmental Education Center.

The tour size is limited. Reservations are available only when you register for Reunion.

The CERA tour departs from the JRC Lobby.

In case of rain, this event will be canceled.

The CERA trails are also open for self-guided exploration daily sunrise to sunset. The education building is open 9am to 5pm Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30.

For more information visit the CERA website.

Join Craig Gibbens `95 for an open house at the Stew Makerspace to learn about its role as a creative hub for the entire Grinnell community, and make buttons to celebrate Reunion. The "Stew" serves over 20% of all students and dozens of community members through activities that include ceramics, woodworking, 3D printing, and much more! The program is a collaboration between the Grinnell Area Arts Council and the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership.

Enjoy a walking tour of downtown Grinnell hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Bring your questions and your camera. Revisit some of your old haunts and see new businesses and buildings that are part of Grinnell's thriving culture.

This tour will take place rain or shine.

Departs from the Goodnow Hall front portico, 1118 Park Street.

Conexiones is an affinity group for Latine alumni. Spend some time in community with us and learn more about how you can get involved.

Rain Location: JRC 209

Liz Queathem, Interim Director of the Center for Prairie Studies, and Chris Bair, Environmental and Safety Manager in Facilities Management, share the College's ongoing efforts to become more sustainable. Bring your questions and learn how these practices can apply to you!

Please sign up in the JRC Lobby to reserve your spot for a student-led campus tour. Tours depart from the JRC Mailroom.

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

Childcare is offered on a drop-in basis during Reunion. Preregistration is recommended but not required. You may check your child(ren) in and out at any time during the session.

For more information on Reunion Childcare, please visit https://alumni.grinnell.edu/events/reunion/childcare 

A special tour of campus for younger Reunion guests, led by Nell Hatch, '22. The tour departs from and concludes at the Bear Athletics and Recreation Center lobby.

Gain firsthand insights into the vision driving Grinnell College forward in this conversation with President Anne F. Harris. This intimate and candid conversation will offer attendees a deeper understanding of the decisions and opportunities guiding the College's trajectory.

Sponsored by the Class of 1975 and Grinnell College Alumni Council.

Imam Abdul Muhaymin Priester will host Jumu'a Prayer in the Muslim Prayer Room.

Enjoy a walking tour of downtown Grinnell hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Bring your questions and your camera. Revisit some of your old haunts and see new businesses and buildings that are part of Grinnell's thriving culture.

This tour will take place rain or shine.

Departs from the Goodnow Hall front portico, 1118 Park Street.

Help the Burling Library Special Collections and Archives staff identify photographs from your time at Grinnell. Special Collections and Archives staff will host a table in the JRC lobby, asking alumni to help identify people, places, and events in our photograph collection. We will have photos available from every class celebrating Reunion, so please stop by and lend a hand!

Join classmates for a Moth Hour-like storytelling evet. Sponsored by the 35th Reunion Classes of 1989, 1990, and 1991, for all Reunion guests.

Rain Location: JRC 101

Stop by the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice to tour the space. See the Muslim and Hindu Prayer and cultural rooms, meditation spaces, lending library, food pantry, student lounges, and more. Enjoy a beverage and snack in our comfy chairs while meeting CRSSJ staff and fellow alumni.

Civic Education and Innovation staff in the CLS offer a suite of "Social Justice Tours" for student groups and classes throughout the academic year, each focused on the intersectional nature of a particular community social justice or environmental challenge. This year, we will offer reunion participants a more general version of the tour to introduce you to the local Grinnell context and how students, faculty, and community members collaborate to address regional challenges. Focused on some of Grinnell's core community players, you will venture beyond a conventional tour to grapple with challenging ethical concepts and begin to identify your distinctive role as alumni in the fabric of civic life at Grinnell.

Please sign up in the JRC lobby to reserve your spot. This will be a walking tour departing from the John Chrystal Center lobby. Please indicate on the sign-up sheet or inform the Reunion Help Desk if you need accommodations or a golf cart.

In case of rain, this event will be canceled.

Join alumni from Grinnell's LGBTQIA and ally community for this reception in the Stonewall Resource Center. Founded in 2023, Grinnell Rainbow Alumni is the college's first alumni affinity group.

Grinnell College operates a local shuttle van that stops at various shopping and care destinations around Grinnell, including McNally’s, Hy-Vee, Walmart, Urgent Care, and downtown Grinnell.

• The shuttle runs from Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1, from 4 to 10 p.m. daily, departing campus on the hour.
• Departs from the front of the Noyce Science Center.
• If 8th Avenue is closed for a Reunion event, the shuttle departs from the corner of 8th Avenue and East Street.
• Show your Reunion badge as your ticket for a free ride.
• Riders missing the last shuttle of the evening will be responsible for finding their way back to campus. 

Visit the Local Transportation website for more information and a detailed schedule.

Alumni, their families, staff, and students are welcome to attend.

This reception is by invitation only for College volunteers and leadership donors.

Rain Location: HSSC - Atrium 

Check in by the Commencement Stage on Central Campus to have your name badge scanned and receive your food truck tokens. Exchange a token (or more, for larger plates) for a dish from the array of food trucks on Central Campus. Children can pick up a meal for one token at the Kids’ Tent or use their tokens at the food trucks.

The beverage tent by Younker Grove will remain open until midnight, and others will close at 10 pm. If you are getting beer or wine, please be prepared to show your ID (to verify age) and name badge to receive a wristband. Sparkling water, sodas, and cups for the water monsters will be available self-serve.

Food truck lines look long? Feel free to grab something from one of the beverage tents and enjoy the music, games, and other activities while the line settles.

* In case of rain, check in will be in the JRC Lobby. The live music and carnival will be relocated to Bucksbaum. Food trucks will be relocated to 8th Avenue to allow dining in the Marketplace Dining Hall. Classes will be asked to arrive at more staggered times to help with the lines. More information will be sent to the contact you provided in registration if rain plans become necessary.

Join fellow Reunion attendees for a fun evening of live music by alumni bands, games, street artists, food trucks, and more!

The beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverage tent by the JRC will remain open until midnight.

* In case of rain, the live music and carnival will be relocated to Bucksbaum. Food trucks will be relocated to 8th Avenue to allow for dining in the Marketplace Dining Hall. Classes will be asked to arrive at more staggered times to help with the lines. More information will be sent to the contact you provided in registration if rain plans become necessary.

A brief service followed by blessings over challah and wine in the Chaverim Lounge on the second floor of the JRC. Chaverim, the Grinnell College Jewish student organization, is a diverse community where students celebrate and learn about Judaism. Reunion's Shabbat Blessing is open to all, and no preregistration is required.

Childcare is offered on a drop-in basis during Reunion. Preregistration is recommended but not required. You may check your child(ren) in and out at any time during the session.

For more information on Reunion Childcare, please visit https://alumni.grinnell.edu/events/reunion/childcare

Preregistration by May 15 is recommended to ensure availability. 

For more information on Reunion Childcare, please visit https://alumni.grinnell.edu/events/reunion/childcare

SonTierra is a unique multi-Latin, multi-generational, and multi-ethnic group specializing in music with an environmental message. With Karin Stein ’84 as part of the band, their performance at the Commencement stage during Reunion Block Party promises an inspiring and unforgettable celebration of culture and sustainability.

Rain Location: Sebring Lewis Hall

Class of 2000 and guests, put on a special outfit for our 25th Reunion Special Dinner! We’ll take you back to memorable Special Dinners at Quad and Cowles. At 7:30, there will be prizes and short remarks from class members and President Harris. After dinner, head over to the block party (drink tickets for block party are included with special dinner), where the reunion magic will continue!

A special celebratory dinner for the class of 1955.

A special celebratory dinner for the class of 1975. 

The classes of 1984 and 1985 will join together for 80's music, dancing, and beverages (adult and N/A). Bring your memento glass and avoid the ubiquitous solo cup (or grab one for old times' sake)!

Sponsored by the 40th Reunion Planning Committee.

Tropicante, with Karin Stein ’84, is a vibrant Latin band bringing energetic rhythms and upbeat melodies to Reunion Block Party. Their lively performance at the Commencement stage promises to get everyone dancing and celebrating together.

Rain Location: Sebring Lewis Hall

Professor Bob Cadmus will show you the stars. You can walk to the observatory or take a shuttle departing from the JRC parking lot approximately every half hour. The last shuttle departs at 10:45 p.m.

The Grinnell Rainbow alumni are excited to present the fourth Grinnell College Reunion Drag Show. After over a decade of biannual shows, the event has become a successful and enduring tradition for Grinnell College students since 2006. The extravaganza, which occurs in the fall and spring, raises money for various LGBTQIA+ organizations on and off campus. It is an event that encapsulates the lasting spirit of Grinnell: a celebration of diversity with a commitment to social justice. Come see what all the fuss is about! This performance includes flashing lights and loud music. Capacity is limited, so please arrive early.

You'll find All-Reunion After-Party tucked in the middle of campus, further from dorms where Reunion celebrants sleep. Turn off that sound system at your class or cluster tent at or before midnight, and come to Kington Plaza. Make new Grinnellian friends from across the years, or pull up to a table with your classmates. Please share control of the sound system and bring your own beverage!

Thank you to the 25th Reunion Class of 2000 for inspiration for the All-Reunion After-Party idea!

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

Revisit an old tradition at the new bakery. Grin City Bakery will serve some familiar favorites and some new, soon-to-be favorites, too.

Meet at the steps of Herrick Chapel, then head to Grin City Bakery at 934 Main St.

The Spencer Grill in the JRC is a great place to meet friends for morning coffee, a light breakfast or lunch, or some fresh-baked goodies. 

A tradition for more than 20 years, the Alumni Fun Run/Walk is a great way to start your Reunion Saturday.

This event will be canceled in case of inclement weather.

Rise and shine—or shake off last night’s adventures—with a refreshing all-level yoga session led by Mary Miller ’85. Whether you need an energizing start to your day or a gentle way to get moving, all participants are welcome. Mats will be available for those who need them.

Please use the entrance in the western (natatorium) building.

Sponsored by the 40th Reunion Cluster of 1984 and 1985.

Join faculty from the Department of Biology on a tour of the College's biological field station. This one-mile hike will take you through reconstructed prairie and restored savanna, along Willow Creek and Perry Pond, and through two experimental plot arrays. It will end with a brief tour of the Environmental Education Center.

The tour size is limited. Reservations are available only when you register for Reunion.

The CERA tour departs from the JRC Lobby.

In case of rain, this event will be canceled.

The CERA trails are also open for self-guided exploration daily sunrise to sunset. The education building is open 9am to 5pm Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30.

For more information visit the CERA website.

Get ready for a fun and unique adventure across campus!

Join us for the Doornation Scavenger Hunt, where you'll embark on a quest to discover special doors on campus. Each door will be clearly identified as a Doornation location, along with a description of what happens behind that door and who made the “Doornation.”

How It Works:

1. Sign up: Until noon on May 29 as part of your reunion registration. The entry fee is a small contribution to the Pioneer Fund—helping support campus events, programs, and initiatives.
2. Grab a Map: Pick up a scavenger hunt map highlighting key locations to find doors at the JRC Help Desk.
3. Find Your Door: Your mission is to locate the door you’ve been assigned! Along the way, feel free to discover other doors just for fun.

Whether you come solo or bring a group of friends, this is your chance to explore campus, have fun, and support a great cause.

Ready to open the door to adventure? Let’s go!

Organized by the 35th Reunion Planning Committee, Classes of 1989, 1990 & 1991.

This quiet space to preserve and share memories of classmates who have passed will be open all weekend for visits.

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shuttle and golf cart service is available throughout Reunion weekend.

To request golf cart transportation on campus or shuttle service to/from the local motels and hotels, please call 641-269-4403 during open hours to arrange pickup.

In addition, shuttle van or bus service is available for CERA Tours, Observatory Tours and all off-campus Reunion events. All shuttles depart from outside the south entrance of the Joe Rosenfield Center (near JRC 101). 

Please sign up in the JRC Lobby to reserve your spot for a student-led campus tour. Tours depart from the JRC Mailroom.

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

Childcare is offered on a drop-in basis during Reunion. Preregistration is recommended but not required. You may check your child(ren) in and out at any time during the session.

For more information on Reunion Childcare, please visit https://alumni.grinnell.edu/events/reunion/childcare

The Grinnell Authors Display, featuring works by Grinnell alums, faculty, and staff, is proudly presented at the Pioneer Bookshop during regular business hours as posted throughout the weekend.

To have your original work included in the display, please complete and submit the registration form by May 1, 2025.

Come share your story! The Alumni Oral History Project aims to better understand and share Grinnell College's history by recording and preserving the oral histories of our alumni community. Individuals or small groups are welcome.

Please sign up during reunion registration if you are interested in participating. One representative may hold the reservation for a small group. Reunion Student Staff will contact you the week before your arrival on campus to schedule your specific half-hour time slot and arrange a meeting location.

Spontaneous recordings are possible in Spencer Grill - keep a lookout for Reunion Student Staff with portable recording equipment!

What was on-campus life like before the JRC and the Harris Center? Where did students go for community? In the past 178 years, Grinnellians have gathered to socialize in many different spaces on campus, from the basement of the old Darby Gymnasium to the Quad. These places shaped students’ lives here as landmarks, physical spaces to gather, and settings for lifelong memories.

Curated by Nina Bigelow '25 and Maddie Yu '25.

All women are welcome to this online recovery meeting. For the Zoom meeting link, please contact Jill Petsel at petselji@grinnell.edu 

Join with a panel of Grinnell faculty and alumni to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming our lives. We’ll delve into scientific, social, economic, and ethical issues with Professors Sarah Purcell ’92, Fernanda Eliott, and Karla Erickson, as well as Alex Turner ’16 (a research scientist with Google Deep Mind) as our guides. Bring your own experiences as we work together to understand whether and how AI’s pervasive technologies may reshape our world in coming years.

Sponsored by the 50th Reunion Class of 1975.

Civic Education and Innovation staff in the CLS offer a suite of "Social Justice Tours" for student groups and classes throughout the academic year, each focused on the intersectional nature of a particular community social justice or environmental challenge. This year, we will offer reunion participants a more general version of the tour to introduce you to the local Grinnell context and how students, faculty, and community members collaborate to address regional challenges. Focused on some of Grinnell's core community players, you will venture beyond a conventional tour to grapple with challenging ethical concepts and begin to identify your distinctive role as alumni in the fabric of civic life at Grinnell.

Please sign up in the JRC lobby to reserve your spot. This will be a walking tour departing from the John Chrystal Center lobby. Please indicate on the sign-up sheet or inform the Reunion Help Desk if you need accommodations or a golf cart.

In case of rain, this event will be canceled.

This market is 100 percent a producer's market; all vendors must sell products they produce themselves. With dozens of vendors, there is never a shortage of things to buy and see: locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams, plants and flowers, hand-made crafts, and more!

In case of rain, this event will be canceled.

The anthropology department is sponsoring a reception to honor our recently retired and retiring faculty: Jon Andelson '70, Vicki Bentley-Condit, Katya Gibel Mevorach, Kathy Kamp, and John Whittaker. Remarks at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome.

Join Craig Gibbens `95 for an open house at the Stew Makerspace to learn about its role as a creative hub for the entire Grinnell community, and make buttons to celebrate Reunion. The "Stew" serves over 20% of all students and dozens of community members through activities that include ceramics, woodworking, 3D printing, and much more! The program is a collaboration between the Grinnell Area Arts Council and the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership.

The college has eight solar installations ranging from 3 kilowatts to 4 megawatts. This tour will visit several of the largest and will cover not only the solar projects, but what the college is doing in general to reduce emissions. Led by Chris Bair, Environmental and Safety Manager in Facilities Management.

Meet the tour bus on 8th Avenue in front of the JRC. In case of a delay in the bus returning from the earlier morning trip to CERA, the tour will depart after the bus arrives and everyone has had a chance to board.

The class of 2015 celebrates its 10th Reunion with a special brunch featuring puppies, pancakes, professors, and President Anne F. Harris. A short program will begin at 11:30 a.m.

In keeping with Grinnell’s mission and core values, the Liberal Arts in Prison Program enrolls incarcerated students in a demanding, rich college program that offers up to sixty credits from Grinnell College. Through this work, we foster reciprocal learning that enriches lives inside and outside the fences and affirms the power of liberal arts education to support human flourishing. The prison program is at Newton Correctional Facility (a medium-security men’s prison) and the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in Mitchellville (the only women’s prison in Iowa). Join former incarcerated students, program director Emily Guenther ’07, and faculty members for a panel discussion about the program's impact.

Details coming soon. 

Help the Burling Library Special Collections and Archives staff identify photographs from your time at Grinnell. Special Collections and Archives staff will host a table in the JRC lobby, asking alumni to help identify people, places, and events in our photograph collection. We will have photos available from every class celebrating Reunion, so please stop by and lend a hand!

Please come to the rotunda in the Bucksbaum Fine Arts Center to check in prior to your class's assigned time! Your class photo will be taken in Sebring-Lewis Hall.

• 11:15 - Classes of 1965 & 1966
• 1:00 - Class of 2000
• 1:15 - Class of 2009
• 1:30 - Class of 2010
• 1:45 - Class 2011
• 2:00 - Class 1989
• 2:15 - Class 1990
• 2:30 - Class 1991
• 2:45 - Class 1984
• 3:15 - Class 1985
• 3:30 - Class 1975
• 3:45 - Class of 2015
  

Your class photo will be available for free download after Reunion.

Renfrow Hall, a one-of-a-kind facility that encompasses student housing, the Social Innovator in Residence program, and the Katherine Howell Weingart ‘61 Civic Innovation Pavilion, will be open for drop-in visitors between noon and 3:30 p.m. Please enter Renfrow Hall through the south tower doors. 

Enjoy a unique opportunity to join Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, the Louise R. Noun Chair in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies, and Monique Shore ’90 for a closer look at the life and legacy of Edith Renfrow Smith ’37, the building’s namesake and the College’s first Black alumna. The special presentation is scheduled from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Weingart Pavilion in the South Tower of Renfrow Hall.

For all classes and clusters! Grab a blanket or camp chair, and your swimsuit if you want! Join your classmates at your class/cluster banner on Mac Field to relax, reminisce, and recharge in whatever way suits you best.

There will be a wide variety of activities available, including a slip-n-slide on Ward Field, the beloved glitter truck with Tilly Woodward, and reverse tie-dyeing and axe throwing sponsored by the 35th Reunion Cluster of 1989, 1990, and 1991 over by Gates Tower! Bring your own dark-colored t-shirt for reverse tie-dyeing, or the Pioneer Bookshop will have t-shirts available for purchase on the north campus loggia.

Rain Location: Bear Athletic and Recreation Center

Please sign up in the JRC Lobby to reserve your spot for a student-led campus tour. Tours depart from the JRC Mailroom.

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

Childcare is offered on a drop-in basis during Reunion. Preregistration is recommended but not required. You may check your child(ren) in and out at any time during the session. 

For more information on Reunion Childcare, please visit https://alumni.grinnell.edu/events/reunion/childcare

Explore (and enjoy!) an array of offerings based on recipes created by international students.

Join classmates in remembrance and celebration of Don Smith (February 7, 1936 - August 10, 2024), Professor Emeritus of History.  A British historian who was a beloved mentor and teacher, he leaves a half-century legacy of service to Grinnell College.

Drop in any time, with remarks by family and friends at 3 p.m.

Come hear from members of Team Renfrow (2021-2024) about how they translated their research into storytelling visuals -- the Renfrow Hall Dedication Wall (Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf), the children’s book "No one is better than you: Edith Renfrow Smith and the power of a mother’s words" (Monique McLay Shore ’90), and the Edith Renfrow Smith Black alumnae legacy tree (Valeriya Woodard ’25).

The Alumni Choir will meet in Herrick Chapel for a short dress rehearsal before the Alumni Assembly performance.

Grinnell College operates a local shuttle van that stops at various shopping and care destinations around Grinnell, including McNally’s, Hy-Vee, Walmart, Urgent Care, and downtown Grinnell.

• The shuttle runs from Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1, from 4 to 10 p.m. daily, departing campus on the hour.
• Departs from the front of the Noyce Science Center.
• If 8th Avenue is closed for a Reunion event, the shuttle departs from the corner of 8th Avenue and East Street.
• Show your Reunion badge as your ticket for a free ride.
• Riders missing the last shuttle of the evening will be responsible for finding their way back to campus. 
  

Visit the Local Transportation website for more information and a detailed schedule.

The premier event of the weekend. All alumni are encouraged to attend. 

A special opportunity for our 60th reunion classes of 1965 and 1966 to celebrate this milestone Reunion with special guests!

A special opportunity for our 70th reunion class of 1955 to celebrate this milestone Reunion. 

Join all Reunion attendees for dinner. 

In case of inclement weather, this event will be moved inside to the Marketplace, and classes will be assigned specific times in order to allow seating for all. We appreciate your cooperation with a rain plan if it is necessary.

Childcare is offered on a drop-in basis during Reunion. Preregistration is recommended but not required. You may check your child(ren) in and out at any time during the session.

For more information on Reunion Childcare, please visit https://alumni.grinnell.edu/events/reunion/childcare

Preregistration by May 15 is recommended to ensure availability. 

Enjoy acoustic folk and bluegrass music performed by some of your favorite Grinnell professors. This is a substance-free event.

Alumni, their families, staff, and students are welcome to attend.

Class of 2015, head to JRC 101 after the All-Reunion dinner for a wine tasting guided by Vernon Jackson '15. This event is open to all 10th Reunion guests. Pre-registration is required to participate in the tasting.

Join us for the BEST. EVENT. AT. REUNION. Join hosts Jon Finley '00 and Fonz Jenkins '10 to show best-of videos from the classes of 2000, 2009-11, 2015, and also from this year's actual Titular Head (2025)! Come early, as this is going to be a hot event and you'll want to get a good seat - you've been warned!

Drum roll please, for The Loggia Patrol, an alum band now performing in Gardner Lounge. Sponsored by the 50th Reunion Class of 1975.

Please present your name badge for entrance to the party. 

Professor Bob Cadmus will show you the stars. You can walk to the observatory or take a shuttle departing from the JRC parking lot approximately every half hour. The last shuttle departs at 10:45 p.m.

You'll find All-Reunion After-Party tucked in the middle of campus, further from dorms where Reunion celebrants sleep. Turn off that sound system at your class or cluster tent at or before midnight, and come to Kington Plaza. Make new Grinnellian friends from across the years, or pull up to a table with your classmates. Please share control of the sound system and bring your own beverage!

Thank you to the 25th Reunion Class of 2000 for inspiration for the All-Reunion After-Party idea!

In case of rain, this event will be cancelled.

The Spencer Grill in the JRC is a great place to meet friends for morning coffee, a light breakfast or lunch, or some fresh-baked goodies.

Herrick Chapel is open for self-guided prayer or reflection. Please visit the Reunion Help Desk in the JRC lobby for a guide to Sunday morning services at Grinnell's community churches. 

Shuttle and golf cart service is available throughout Reunion weekend.

To request golf cart transportation on campus or shuttle service to/from the local motels and hotels, please call 641-269-4403 during open hours to arrange pickup.

All shuttles depart from outside the south entrance of the Joe Rosenfield Center (near JRC 101).

This quiet space to preserve and share memories of classmates who have passed will be open all weekend for visits.

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

End the weekend right. This is the perfect setting to say goodbye before heading home. 

Make one last stop before you leave Grinnell!

The Grinnell Authors Display, featuring works by Grinnell alums, faculty, and staff, is proudly presented at the Pioneer Bookshop during regular business hours as posted throughout the weekend.

To have your original work included in the display, please complete and submit the registration form by May 1, 2025.

Join fellow alum and community members for an ecumenical worship service with music. All Are Welcome. No Matter where you come from, No matter what you believe or doubt, No matter what you feel or do not feel, No matter your immigration status, No matter whom you love. You are welcome.

What was on-campus life like before the JRC and the Harris Center? Where did students go for community? In the past 178 years, Grinnellians have gathered to socialize in many different spaces on campus, from the basement of the old Darby Gymnasium to the Quad. These places shaped students’ lives here as landmarks, physical spaces to gather, and settings for lifelong memories.

Curated by Nina Bigelow '25 and Maddie Yu '25.

Please write your name, dorm, and room number on the card provided within the keychain card holder. Place the completed card and P-card in the zippered key pouch. Please return it to the registration desk at the JRC or place it in one of the key drop boxes in the residence halls.

Thank you!