Grinnell College students and alumni apply for and receive national, merit-based fellowships and awards at exceptionally high rates. This success speaks to the power of the individually advised curriculum combined with strategic cocurricular and extracurricular involvement in service-learning, internships, independent study and research, and more. National fellowship screening committees for competitive awards are more easily able to identify students of exceptional promise when applicants have already taken advantage of the wealth of opportunities afforded to them as Grinnell students.
The Center for Careers, Life, and Service administers many of the College’s fellowship and award application processes, including those for select national, merit-based awards and for certain Grinnell-specific awards. Please feel free to contact the Ann Landstrom for advising and information about the awards listed here—or about any other competitive scholarships or fellowships for which Grinnell students or alumni may be eligible.
Sarah Toay ’23has been awarded a C$10,000 McCall MacBain Regional Award for graduate study at any public university in Canada. The scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.
Rachel Rudacille ’26, was awarded the highly prestigious Truman Scholarship. The U.S. Congress established the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation as a living memorial to President Truman in 1975. The foundation awards merit-based graduate school scholarships to college students in their junior …
Sara Garcia ’25 has been awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for 2025–2026 to explore how community-based research bridges the gap between scientific research and social action.
Established in 1975, the incredibly prestigious Truman Scholarship provides undergraduate students committed to pursuing a career in public service with …
Different awards emphasize different elements. For example, some awards look for well-rounded applicants; others, for applicants with so-called jagged edges, …