FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cindy Deppe, media relations, 641-269-4834

May 15, 2008

ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND AT GRINNELL COLLEGE MAY 28-JUNE 1

GRINNELL, IA - More than 1,000 Grinnell College alumni, friends, and family will return to campus for Alumni College and the 129th Reunion Weekend, May 28-June 1. Alumni from as far away as Brazil and Singapore and as close by as the campus itself will gather for a full weekend of programming that begins Wednesday with Alumni College and concludes Sunday with an ecumenical worship service and farewell brunch.

Alumni College, which provides alumni a chance to be students again, opens the weekend with courses taught by Professor of Biology David Campbell; Assistant Professor of Sociology Karla Erickson; Professor of Economics Mark Montgomery; Associate Professor of Russian Raquel Greene; and Professor Emeritus of English Jim Kissane, a 1952 graduate of Grinnell.

Alumni Awards for service to professions, the college, and community will be presented to 11 honored members of reunion classes on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Herrick Chapel. Other weekend highlights include an intergenerational faculty panel discussion on the ‘60s; a conversation on campus diversity; a 5K run led by President Russell Osgood; a traditional downtown bakery run at 2 a.m.; tours of new campus buildings; and affinity group receptions.

Director of Alumni Relations Jim Hess said that several new programs have been added to the reunion schedule. "This year’s reunion has a few new programs, like the Black Alumni Reunion, family programming for children and grandchildren, and a Friday morning program to transition between Alumni College and Reunion Weekend," Hess said. "The Alumni Lecture by distinguished journalist Robert Hodierne, a member of the class of 1968, will also be a weekend highlight."

For a schedule of reunion activities, go to http://www.grinnell.edu/alumni/reunion/.

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