Posted on Sep 11, 2019
W. Leif Van Grinsven is RI District 6270’s Global Grant Scholar for 2019-2020. During this academic year he will pursue a Master’s degree in economic development studies at Sussex University in the United Kingdom.
 
A native of Franklin, Wisconsin, and graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran H.S., Van Grinsven recently graduated from Wheaton with a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average in Interdisciplinary Studies. He was a three-time Division III Google Cloud Academic All-American and a four-time all-American in men's track & field, including two times this past season. He finished fourth in the decathlon (6,849 points) at the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and third in the heptathlon (5,072 points) at the 2019 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Van Grinsven also claimed all-America honors in the decathlon as a junior and as a sophomore. Additionally, in July he was named the 2019 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) “Man of the Year.” In May he was named “Field Athlete of the Meet” at the CCIW Outdoor Championship, winning his third-straight conference decathlon title with a conference record 7,009 points.
 
In the summer of 2016, Van Grinsven volunteered with Rahab's Rope in Goa, India, for six weeks. During this time, he planned and taught life skill classes to 20 middle school-aged boys, as well as math and English lessons to 40 middle school students. Van Grinsven also taught current and aspiring entrepreneurs at a business conference in Lahore, Pakistan, and advised on the feasibility and design of a potential microfinance institute operated by the Pakistan Business Community (PBC). During this past summer he engaged in a United Nations summer internship in the Netherlands.
 
Sponsors