Beyond the Shuttle: Stories of Connection at Grinnell College

If you walk past the Noyce Science Center in the evening, you might catch sight of students clambering into a white shuttle marked with the Grinnell College logo. This vehicle is the Grinnell College Local Shuttle, which brings students to popular spots around the town of Grinnell, including McNally’s, the Grinnell Area Arts Council, Fareway and Walmart. Behind the wheel of the shuttle, you will find one of the shuttle drivers, most of whom are retired long-time Grinnell residents. While their job is to transport students from point A to point B, shuttle drivers often find themselves forging connections with the students who board their shuttle.  

Shuttle Driver Jim White says that one of his favorite aspects of the job is getting to interact with students. “They’re all like my grandkids,” White said. “I really love my time with the students because I have some of my regulars who ride with me, and we talk, and they tell me what's going on in their week.” 

White has lived in Grinnell his entire life, and first connected with the College by meeting students when he worked at Bates Flowers. As White got more involved with the College, he became friends with pillars of the campus community, including Robert Noyce, Joe Rosenfield and President George Drake. “The College is my friend, has been forever,” White said. 

When business at the flower shop slowed down during the pandemic, White transitioned to working as a driver for the College. In the few years White has been working as a shuttle driver, one of the experiences that has stood out to him is driving students to volunteer workplaces, including volunteering for women's shelters and the prison.  

“You see their giving heart,” White said. “To be a bright kid, and to have a generous heart is a marvelous thing. It always makes me feel so proud of them.” 

Larry Kramer, also a shuttle driver for Grinnell College, agrees that getting to know students is a highlight of the job. “I enjoy meeting the kids,” Kramer said. “All the students that I meet just want to learn — they don't care what it's about, they just really want to learn. And the other thing is they've been so gracious. There's always a ‘thank you.’” 

Kramer first moved to the Grinnell area to pursue a job in I.T. and joined Grinnell College as a shuttle driver following his retirement. Initially drawn the shuttle diver position because of its flexibility, Kramer has come to appreciate meeting a wide array of students as well as guests of the college through the job.  

“I enjoy meeting job interview candidates that come in. I just enjoy talking to them and hearing their stories,” Kramer said. “I try to give them a little loop around campus to try to learn as much about them as I can by talking to them.” 

Billy Gilbreaith, a shuttle driver and life-long Grinnell resident, has enjoyed getting to connect with students from all around the world in his work as a shuttle driver. “I like to ask questions like, ‘How do you celebrate New Year's and Valentine's Day? I like to learn more about other cultures, and rather than reading out of a book, to actually hear from a student,” Gilbreaith said. “That's the interesting part of the job, the knowledge and education that I get from the students.” 

Kramer agrees that meeting students from diverse backgrounds has been one of his favorite aspects of the shuttle driver experience. “Students from all over the world have really opened my eyes to how diverse the College is,” Kramer said. 

Like Kramer, Gilbreaith began working as a shuttle driver for Grinnell College after retiring. Gilbreaith originally worked for HyVee, and then transitioned to work as a Marketplace supervisor for several years. After a positive experience working in the dining hall, Gilbreaith was quick to agree to take on the shuttle driver position after his retirement. In addition to connecting with students, Gilbreaith has enjoyed opportunities to connect with guests of the College as a shuttle driver.  

“I've had Nobel Peace Prize winners in the front seat in my car. I've had world class musicians in my seat. So, the conversation is pretty interesting,” Gilbreaith said.  

White echoes Gilbreaith’s sentiment. Though White has been a key figure in the Grinnell community, both in the town and at the College, for decades, he feels that being a shuttle driver has opened up new opportunities to connect with students and other members of the campus community. “It's just phenomenal — the people that you meet, and the stories that you get to hear,” White said.