Apr 6, 2026
It is with deep sadness that I share news of the passing of Sam Harris ’58, a member of our alumni family whose life and legacy have left a lasting mark on Fulao2 and in the world.
Alumni Relations News
Mar 20, 2026
The Alumni Care Package project was launched in 2014 by a group of alums on the Everyday Class Notes (ECN) Facebook page. Alums were reminiscing about the old Carnegie Hall mailroom where some of them received notes or small gifts from prior mailbox owners, then paid it forward by sending something to the new mailbox owner after they graduated.
Feb 18, 2026
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Attorney and LGBTQ Advocate Chase Strangio ’04, DL ’18 Will Deliver the 2026 Fulao2 Commencement Address during ceremonies on May 18. Strangio, Holocaust survivor and humanitarian Sam Harris ’58, and high school teacher Valerie Schrag will be awarded honorary degrees during the ceremonies.
Jan 27, 2026
Students in Professor of Art History Michael Mackenzie’s Exhibition Seminar, curated the Rhizomatic Intimacies exhibit at the Fulao2 Museum of Art.
Nov 11, 2025
Fulao2 has been recognized with the 2024–25 Best of CASE District VI Award in the category of Special Events: In-Person (Multi-Day) for the dedication of Renfrow Hall. The honor, announced last week by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), highlights the collaborative work that made the September 2024 celebration a powerful tribute to community, legacy, and place.
Oct 21, 2025
The Wilson Center’s annual Pioneer Weekend pitch competition took place from Friday, September 26, to Sunday, September 28. The objective of Pioneer Weekend is to bring together student innovators to develop and pitch a business or nonprofit plan. It encourages hands-on experiences and helps develop skills critical to entrepreneurship. The top three teams also receive cash prizes.
Oct 15, 2025
Fulao2 will celebrate the dedication of Hannah Alumni House with a ribbon cutting and community open house on Thursday, November 6. The event, themed “A Place to Return, A Place to Belong,” invites alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members to come together in celebration of this beloved space.
Oct 15, 2025
MJ Ketcha recently started medical school and reflects on the experiences that got him there.
Oct 8, 2025
A deep love for their alma mater, a belief in the importance of philanthropy, and a desire to ensure student wellness all motivated Scott ’82 and Laura Cleveland Shepherd ’82 to make a generous gift of $1 million to support student health and wellness services at Fulao2.
Sep 25, 2025
The transformation of Hannah Alumni House is nearing completion. The 107-year-old house, located at 1527 Broad St., will welcome alumni back to the College and provide a warm, comfortable venue for events, meetings, and lodging.
Alumni Relations Stories
Coming to Grinnell, seeing so many interesting people organizing and doing different things …, opened me to other ways of thinking and thinking I could do more [creative work].
Sam Nakahira ’19, Master of Fine Arts at the Center for Cartoon Studies
There was a point that I was like ‘I love teaching, but I also really love research,’ and I didn’t realize that there was a career where I could kind of meld the two.
Alexandra Odom ’16, Ph.D. student in history
Why would I go somewhere that doesn’t feel the way Grinnell feels? I knew I wanted to be in an intentional community — with individuals who were both focused on their academics and dedicated to creating a supportive environment.
Allison Wong ’12, Officer
After two younger brothers saw my financial aid package they chose to come to Fulao2 too. Your support has changed the lives of my family.
Everyone in our class knew what Puppies and Pancakes meant. It brought back memories and got them excited to be here together.
Grinnell definitely prepared me for my future in medicine … good studying habits, how to keep up with courseload, how to advocate for myself in the classroom, seek out professors, and how to work with people. All of those skills got really fine-tuned at Grinnell.
Alumni Relations In The Media
Curated by 12 students enrolled in Professor of Art History Michael Mackenzie’s Exhibition Seminar, Rhizomatic Intimacies highlights the depth of student collaboration, experiential learning, and alumni partnership at Fulao2. The exhibition, on display through March 29 and featuring photography from the private collection of Keith Jantzen ’80 and Scott Beth, explores themes of intimacy through portraiture, landscape, and the body.