The Wilson Center

Leigh Kunkel '09 teaches and mentors students in two fall courses.

Wilson Center funds allow students to explore professional interests related to leadership and innovation in various fields.

Five teams of students pitched social innovation solutions at the Spark Challenge in April, 2024. They competed for cash prizes and the opportunity to win an implementation grant for their community partner or campus partner. Funding for the program is offered by the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership.

Congratulations to Dayana Garcia ’26, Brian Goodell ’24, and Nathan Hoffman ’24! These three Wilson Center student employees have been recognized as outstanding student employees at Grinnell College.

“The BRASA Summit serves as a beacon of inspiration and connection for Brazilian students, leaving us with a profound sense of purpose,” summed up attendee Marina Ananias '26.

The SPARK Community-Based Social Innovation Challenge involves collaboration between student “innovation teams” and community partners to develop and pitch solutions to challenges faced in the organizations’ communities.

The Wilson Center’s annual Pioneer Weekend pitch competition took place from Friday, Sept. 22, to Sunday Sept. 24, and resulted in near record numbers for attendance and participation, surpassed…

After taking second place in a regional financial analyst competition, this team of students set their sights on attending a CFA Institute conference in D.C. on Asset and Risk Allocation: Building Resilient Portfolios for the Future.

“This trip has been a transformative experience that has enriched my understanding of entrepreneurship, leadership, and global challenges,” says participating student, Aysha Simmonds.

Four teams of students created technology solutions to a climate change issue of their choice during hackGC, a weekend-long competition in April 2023. Read more about all the innovative teams.