Inspiring Stories

Coming from Norway sight unseen, Endre Veka's first impression of Grinnell College was a bit ominous.

As an activist with a passion for politics and public service herself, she has established a planned gift that will provide Grinnell students direct exposure to people whose lives have been devoted to public service. She has set up a bequest for the Neal Public Service Fund to benefit Grinnell's Program in Practical Political Education.

The late Marilyn Walsh, a 1950 graduate of Grinnell College from Woodbine, Iowa, donated $4 million to Grinnell College in memory of her mother, Dorrit Walsh.

Coming to Grinnell from small-town Clinton, Iowa, Tom Triplett '69 described himself as a boy scout.

In terms of grades or academic achievements, John Peele '64 knew he wasn't going to stand out among his Grinnell College peers of the early 1960s. But in terms of receiving an education that set him up for a happy and successful life, Peele would give Grinnell College an "A". Peele is returning the favor in the form of a $25,000 charitable gift annuity to his alma mater.

Sept. 21, 2018 — By the time George Guerin '61 applied to college, he knew that engineering was in his future. But his engineer dad, Herbert Guerin, urged him to include the liberal arts in his plans.

It didn't quite seem right to Kelsey Picken '10 that she was having conversations with people about making planned gifts without having set up one herself.