Making news in 2023

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Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith at a luncheon in her honor, 4/26/23, Chicago, IL

As construction moves apace on Renfrow Hall, its namesake continues to make news and share her wisdom.  So far in 2023, she's been featured in four media stories:

For her 109th birthday on July 14, Mrs. Renfrow Smith was interviewed by two Chicago news outlets: 

  • Hear how she is still "enjoying life immensely" in her third annual interview with Chicago Sun Times reporter, Neil Steinberg. 
  • And listen to her reflect on her century of living and see her make a batch of her famous strawberry jam in this WGN news story with Mike Lowe.  

Mrs. Renfrow Smith also had a belated birthday visit on July 22, 2023, from three current Grinnellians (Hemlock Stanier, Evelyn Caperton, and Elizabeth Eggert -- all class of 2025) who constitute Team Renfrow Summer 2023.  These students have spent the summer researching the deep history of the Renfrow-Craig-Lucas family tree through census, property, and vital records.  

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Team Renfrow Summer 2023 students (Hemlock Stanier, Evelyn Caperton, and Elizabeth Eggert -- all class of 2025), Monique Shore '90, and Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf with Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith '37, July 22, 2023
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Team Renfrow sharing a laugh with Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith '37, July 22, 2023.