https://Grifftalk.podbean.com A podcast about, for and to the CFS community. Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0400 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2012 cfs dmedia. All rights reserved. Education 1440 episodic Each episode will have a special guest interview. Alumni, Donors, Community members are all invited to sit down and discuss all aspects of CFS life. Church Farm School Church Farm School No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/539669/NEWGrifftalk_logo2ak6h3.png https://Grifftalk.podbean.com 144 144 Grifftalk: John Grunwell Class of 1960 https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-john-grunwell-class-of-1960/ https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-john-grunwell-class-of-1960/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0400 Grifftalk.podbean.com/9f5aad0c-8e8f-39bf-8e9c-0129056a86b3 Dr. John Grunwell ’60 has spent his entire life in the sciences. The son of a single mother who was a bacteriologist, he spent many days helping her in the lab. When not working on the farm as a student at CFS, he thrived as a chemistry student under Earl Wilkins ’26. He went on to undergrad at UPenn, then returned to his alma mater as a helper in Wilkins’ classroom. As a student pursuing his PhD at MIT, Dr. Grunwell realized he could obtain research independence if he became a university professor, which he did, teaching chemistry for 41 years at Miami University in Ohio and retiring as Professor Emeritus. Dr. Grunwell helped to develop the PhD program at Miami University; under his guidance, eight students received their PhD. He also published about 40 papers in refereed journals and was the chairman of the American Chemical Society Cincinnati section; and General Chair of the ACS Central Regional Meeting held at Miami. Since his retirement, Dr. Grunwell has been paying his passion forward to Church Farm School, in particular, its STEM program. He’s also been a strong supporter of various critical fundraising campaigns, including the Campus Modernization Project, the establishment of the Wilkins Scholarship Fund, the Track campaign and most recently, funding our seniors on college tours and our choir’s trip to Carnegie Hall, as well as supporting our push for experiential learning. In 2021, he received the Newt Disney Award for Service.   “Anything I can do within my means, whether helping procure new equipment or programs, is an important means of getting young men excited about science.” We are thrilled to honor Dr. Grunwell’s enormous contributions to science and Church Farm School with the 2025 Alumni Achievement Award.

]]> Dr. John Grunwell ’60 has spent his entire life in the sciences. The son of a single mother who was a bacteriologist, he spent many days helping her in the lab. When not working on the farm as a student at CFS, he thrived as a chemistry student under Earl Wilkins ’26. He went on to undergrad at UPenn, then returned to his alma mater as a helper in Wilkins’ classroom.

As a student pursuing his PhD at MIT, Dr. Grunwell realized he could obtain research independence if he became a university professor, which he did, teaching chemistry for 41 years at Miami University in Ohio and retiring as Professor Emeritus. Dr. Grunwell helped to develop the PhD program at Miami University; under his guidance, eight students received their PhD. He also published about 40 papers in refereed journals and was the chairman of the American Chemical Society Cincinnati section; and General Chair of the ACS Central Regional Meeting held at Miami.

Since his retirement, Dr. Grunwell has been paying his passion forward to Church Farm School, in particular, its STEM program. He’s also been a strong supporter of various critical fundraising campaigns, including the Campus Modernization Project, the establishment of the Wilkins Scholarship Fund, the Track campaign and most recently, funding our seniors on college tours and our choir’s trip to Carnegie Hall, as well as supporting our push for experiential learning. In 2021, he received the Newt Disney Award for Service.  

“Anything I can do within my means, whether helping procure new equipment or programs, is an important means of getting young men excited about science.” We are thrilled to honor Dr. Grunwell’s enormous contributions to science and Church Farm School with the 2025 Alumni Achievement Award.

]]> Church Farm School false No 2035 10 full Grifftalk: Bill Seymour Class of 1978 https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-bill-seymour-class-of-1978/ https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-bill-seymour-class-of-1978/#comments Wed, 14 May 2025 10:27:35 -0400 Grifftalk.podbean.com/9cd12d9b-6fc2-325d-bbd8-493ff53aed00 William Seymour is a proud member of the Church Farm School Class of 1978. Bill went on to study at Gettysburg College, graduating with a degree in History in 1978. Bill has enjoyed an unplanned, fruitful and rewarding career in business. Following a series of successful sales and marketing positions, he launched his own software firm in 1995, selling the company to an industry leading firm ten years later. Bill is currently the owner of Pearl Works, a firm that specializes in providing inlay services to some of the best-known names in the guitar business. Bill has remained actively involved and supportive of Church Farm ever since he graduated. He previously served on the CFS Board of Trustees and was for a period of time employed as the Director of Development, here at his Alma Mater.

]]> William Seymour is a proud member of the Church Farm School Class of 1978. Bill went on to study at Gettysburg College, graduating with a degree in History in 1978. Bill has enjoyed an unplanned, fruitful and rewarding career in business. Following a series of successful sales and marketing positions, he launched his own software firm in 1995, selling the company to an industry leading firm ten years later. Bill is currently the owner of Pearl Works, a firm that specializes in providing inlay services to some of the best-known names in the guitar business. Bill has remained actively involved and supportive of Church Farm ever since he graduated. He previously served on the CFS Board of Trustees and was for a period of time employed as the Director of Development, here at his Alma Mater.

]]> Church Farm School false No 1032 9 full Grifftalk with Ray Greenblatt https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-with-ray-greenblatt/ https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-with-ray-greenblatt/#comments Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:48:12 -0400 Grifftalk.podbean.com/1129902d-f075-3949-8867-4412ed11c6d3 Church Farm School false No 1118 8 full Grifftalk with Former Faculty Gary Gress https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-with-former-faculty-gary-gress/ https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-with-former-faculty-gary-gress/#comments Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:53:27 -0400 Grifftalk.podbean.com/3a4d626a-5517-36bc-ab5a-2006b5bba38a Church Farm School false No 1283 7 full Grifftalk with Alumni Talmadge O'Neill https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-with-alumni-talmadge-oneill/ https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/grifftalk-with-alumni-talmadge-oneill/#comments Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:18:22 -0400 Grifftalk.podbean.com/40e18cca-38fa-3c5b-bb95-83ec57f229a3 Another episode of Grifftalk, this one with Alumni Talmadge O'Neill!

]]> Another episode of Grifftalk, this one with Alumni Talmadge O'Neill!

]]> Church Farm School false No 907 5 full A Few Moments with CFS Alumni Stephen Zarycranski https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/a-few-moments-with-cfs-alumni-stephen-zarycranski/ https://Grifftalk.podbean.com/e/a-few-moments-with-cfs-alumni-stephen-zarycranski/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2022 11:55:02 -0500 Grifftalk.podbean.com/c77c5fc2-ecbb-3fb5-a6d8-81f670821dea Another episode of our alumni series showcasing a student from the class of 2016.

]]> Another episode of our alumni series showcasing a student from the class of 2016.

]]> Church Farm School false No 550 2 full