Catching Up With: Eddie Guen-Murray '15

Defensive lineman Eddie Guen-Murray '15 just graduated this past spring, and it looks like he'll be staying in Grinnell for one more year.  Eddie has been appointed the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Post-Bac Fellowship Position here at Grinnell.  The Fellowship is a great way for Eddie to continue his education and improve his options in his career field, while giving back to the current students at Grinnell.  Here's what Eddie had to say:

For the next academic year I will be occupying the HHMI Post-Baccalaureate Fellow position for the Science Learning Center (SLC) of Grinnell College. My job will primarily be composed of two main responsibilities: to oversee the 2nd year science retreat and to act as a full time mentor in the SLC. The goal of the 2nd year science retreat is to aid students in their transition into higher level science courses and inform them on how to pursue a future in science. As a mentor in the SLC, I will work to further assist student success by providing an ever-present mentor for Organic Chemistry I/II. Two courses generally regarded as some of the more difficult that students have to take as science majors. 

Thanks for the update Eddie.  It will be different to see you at Rosenbloom Field on Saturdays in your street clothes, but we're glad you'll be here in town!  Good luck!

Summer Update: Jacob Beecher

Yes, we're well past summer already!  Our pre-season practices are going well and the guys are in high spirits.  We've installed a lot in a short period of time, but they've done a good job keeping up.  Maybe that's because our schemes are significantly easier to learn than the advanced genetic engineering and chemical research done by some of our students over the summer!

Jacob Beecher '16 spent the summer working for Integrated DNA Technologies:

Integrated DNA Technologies is bio-tech company that supplies both RNA and DNA to universities and other research organizations for use in many different genetic experiments. With offices in Iowa, California, Belgium, and Singapore, IDT is the largest producer of oligonucleotides in the United States and is becoming quite prominent in the worldwide research community. This summer, as a Chemistry Research and Development Intern, I was conducting organic synthesis research looking at fluorescence dyes that could be attached to DNA sequences. My main projects this summer were providing the full-time researchers with intermediate materials to further their own research and conducting a study revolving around the methodology of a single step of the synthetic process.  I have really enjoyed my summer doing lab work at IDT and have learned more about the research process through a completely different research setting than I had ever experienced.

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

Tomorrow is the big day, the 2015 Pioneers will report in the morning.  Report day is always one of the best and worst days of the year, all at the same time.  It is one of the best, because we're finally all in the same place, ready to go for another exciting season.  At this point in the year, anything is possible!  It is one of the worst, because even though we're reporting, we're still not really allowed to start yet.  It seems like we can talk about and do anything we want, except football.  It stinks, but that's the way it is.  I'm just excited to see these guys!!

I also want to give you another summer update from one of our rising seniors.  Henry Cummings spent this past summer working at TIAA-CREF.  As an educator who has his entire retirement account with TIAA-CREF, I hope he did a great job!  Here's what Henry had to say:

For the last two summers and this last winter, I have worked for TIAA-CREF, a financial services firm, based in New York City. The firm's motto is "serving those who serve others" and their main product is the management of the pensions of teachers, doctors and people who have spent their careers serving others. I have been helping them launch a separate charitable business called a donor advised fund. This company and project fit right in with Grinnell college's values and TIAA is a common summer home for Grinnell College students looking for an internship. A Grinnell graduate who now works for TIAA makes sure to get a few current Grinnell students in with TIAA every year. It has been an incredible experience, seeing how a business is started and learning about all the different roles that exist in a company and how they function. I have worked on many different projects during my experience. In the last month I have helped write the policies and procedures for the business. I have met some incredible people who have advised me and helped me figure out what exactly I want to do after my senior year of college. I am planning on working for a consulting firm next year. My experience at TIAA has completely changed my prospects for my career and I am grateful that Grinnell has helped me find this opportunity. 

Sounds like a great internship!  

Alumni Update - Tom Brinkman

Coach Brinkman (rght) likes what he sees against Lawrence

Brinkman as a defensive lineman, bringing down a Monmouth Scot in 2011.

Tom Brinkman '13, of Rolfe, IA is just starting his third year as a college football coach, but this will be his first season away from Grinnell College.  Tom was the defensive backs coach for us the past two seasons, but has moved on to begin a Graduate Assistant program at Midland Lutheran, an NAIA school in Nebraska.

Here's what Tom has to say:

I am an offensive GA at Midland University in Fremont, NE coaching the WR's.  I am also the recruiting coordinator for the staff, and I manage our roster.  As the recruiting coordinator, my main duty is to completely revamp our old recruiting plan and create a new 52 week cycle for recruiting.  I am getting my MEd. (Master of Education) in Adult and Organizational Leadership.  This focuses on how to educate individuals that are 18 or older.  As a coach, this will help me better communicate with my players, but it will also give me the skills I need to educate and effectively communicate with staff members.  This is a 2 year position, and after the two years I hope to get a full time job as a defensive assistant coach, eventually working my way up to a defensive coordinator and head coach.

Thanks for the update Tom.  Best of luck to you!

Autumn's Here

The weather was a little cool this morning, the first NFL pre-season game was last night, and most high school teams are starting practice today.  Yep, Autumn's Here!!

For the second year in a row our bye week is actually week one, so we don't report until a week from today, the 17th.  The guys are anxious to get back and get to work, but fortunately for the coaching staff we've got a few more days of prep time.  I am very excited to get this season started though, I've got a great feeling about this group.  We will likely be outnumbered every week, but we won't be outworked and we won't be out-prepared.  I can't wait to see what happens!

For all of you who are anxious to get this season started, this video should help.  It's a few years old now, but it's a good one.  Enjoy!

Junior Tackle Grant Koch Interns at Holmes Murphy in Des Moines

Grant seals the edge for a TD against Cornell

Junior right tackle Grant Koch, from Keystone, CO, has spent this past summer as a Loss Control & Claims Intern at Holmes Murphy & Associates Insurance in Des Moines.  Koch is pursuing a history major, but has always had an eye towards something in the insurance or finance fields.  He was excited to land the internship at Holmes Murphy, as it has given him insight into the insurance world.

Here's what he has to say:

Holmes Murphy has been in business for more than 75 years, with around 700 employees in 12 offices across 10 states. We work with a variety of commercial clients and almost 100 carriers as insurance brokers. My role as a Loss Control & Claims intern has been to assist our Loss Control & Claims Consultants in their daily work as they help our clients build safer and better workplace cultures. The service we provide not only helps our clients grow their business, but it also allows them to focus on their business, rather than worry about the insurance side of things. It is our job at Holmes Murphy to help facilitate the relationship from client to insurance carrier. Some days I'm in the office working at a computer, and other days I get to get out on the road to visit clients . My biggest project this summer has been to centralize and organize the safety documents all our consultants use to make the information they collect in the field more accessible between offices.  My most "interesting" experience though, was the trip I made to a meat-packaging facility in central Iowa. I never expected to see an operation like that in my internship (let alone in my life), but it was something to experience. I have really enjoyed my summer here at Holmes Murphy, and I've learned much more here in 10 weeks than I could have hoped for.

Staff Finalized for 2015

Greg Booth and Cortney Roberts

With the addition of Greg Booth and the promotion of Cortney Roberts, we have completed our staff for the 2015 season.  After former quarterbacks and receivers coach and special teams coordinator Nick Plato returned to his alma mater, the University of Kansas, to pursue his goal of coaching for the Jayhawks, we promoted Coach Roberts to a full-time role.  Roberts will continue to coach the running backs, but he will also cover the quarterbacks and coordinate the special teams.

Greg Booth joins the staff to coach the receivers.  Booth comes to Grinnell after spending the past few seasons coaching in Brazil.  He's been influential in the grassroots movement to introduce american football in Brazil.  Prior to that, Booth spent time at both Crespi High School in Encino, CA and Chaminade Prep in West Hills, CA.

I'm very excited to be able to promote Coach Roberts and to add Coach Booth to the staff.  Both bring great energy and knowledge that will help us both on the field and with our recruiting efforts.  I can't wait to get started with these guys.

More Academic Honors

Eloise Miller at the Outdoor Conference Championship

As we're gearing up for the 2015 school year and seasons, the academic awards of Grinnell's athletics teams keep rolling in.  The latest belong to the men's and women's track and field teams, as both teams were once again recognized as team Academic All-American.

The US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association annually awards team Academic All-American recognition to teams whose cumulative GPA is over 3.1.  This past season the Pioneers men's team came in with a 3.38 team GPA, and the women with a 3.61.  Both the men and the women have earned this recognition every year it's been offered by the USTFCCCA.

In addition to the team awards, standout sprinter and jumper Eloise Miller also earned the recognition.  This was the second year in a row Miller has been recognized.  For individuals, the cutoff is a 3.30 cumulative GPA and a top 25 ranking in an individual event.  Miller finished the year ranked in the top 25 in the triple jump as both a junior and as a senior.  As an added bonus for the track and field teams, Eloise will be joining the staff for the upcoming Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field seasons.

Congrats to Eloise and to the Pioneers!