The inauguration of Grinnell College’s 13th president was held Saturday afternoon. Raynard Kington actually has been on the job since last August, but following Grinnell College tradition, wasn’t officially installed until now.
In his inauguration address, Kington spoke about the important burden of preparing students to change the world. He said the liberal arts have never been more relevant for students to go out into the world and change it and he could think of no more gratifying role than leading Grinnell College into the coming years.
It was also a day of service, with more than 250 students, faculty, staff, alumni and townspeople at 25 sites in and around Grinnell. Hours before the inauguration, Kington himself got on his hands and knees to help paint a map of the United States on the Davis Elementary playground.
By Chris Johnson, KGRN, Grinnell