University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pa.) --  A very trans-friendly school that had me perform at Festival Latino even though “Grillo” is an Italian name.

Wheelock College (Boston, Mass.) -- Did well on-stage, returned to hotel room, turned on vice presidential debate, fell in love with Joe Biden.

Wilkes University (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) -- Asked faculty member if she thought stand-up comic with PhD in English could legitimately compete for full-time, tenure-track position at this scenic and welcoming school nestled in the hills of Northeast Pennsylvania.  She said, "Don't quit your night job."

Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, Ill.) -- Organizers did such wonderful job planning and running event that when yours truly took stage, she felt joy and responsibility of someone belonging to very good team.

Colby College (Waterville, Maine) -- This school lodges visting speakers in a comfortble, charming guest house, its kitchen stocked with packets of oatmeal, energy bars, coffee, OJ, all kinds of tea...you name it!

York University Glendon (Toronto, Canada) -- With National Hockey League embroiled in labor dispute, only game in town was minor league action -- a very good value for your money, actually.

University of North Carolina-Wilmington -- Waiting for connecting flight in Charlotte, your traveller checked iPhone, learned she had been selected one of Advocate’s “Five Hottest Transgender Comics."

Kutztown University (Kutztown, Pa.) -- Great after-party, and great Day of Silence T-shirt that remains a personal sleepwear fave.

Concord University (Athens, W.Va.) -- Large, enthusiastic crowd and friendly campus will make you forget being stopped by Maryland state trooper (failure to signal lane-change) and almost running out of gas somewhere near West Virginia state line.

Farleigh Dickinson University (Madison, N.J.) -- A nice crowd got kick out of my terrible underestimation of walking distance between university main entrance and performance venue.

Transylvania University (Lexington, Ky.) -- Resisted urge to make lame joke about Count Dracula, but did make joke about TU baseketball team playing the powerful Kentucky Wildcats.  Joke bombed.

Beloit College (Beloit, Wis.) -- Very creative, intellectual, and cold school visited in January.  The performance venue turned out to be quite suitably professional once security finally showed up and opened the place.

Clark University (Worcester, Mass.) -- At this school that in 1909 hosted legendary lecture series by Sigmund Freud, my therapy jokes crushed.

University of Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.) -- Awaiting me on stage was microphone and barstool (plus bottle of water, even though we were in dry county).

Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) -- Performed in campus snackbar. Won followers among people who had only been waiting for their nachos.

Coker College (Hartsville, S.C.) -- Dean of students and event organizers took me out for good "Southern cooking" at very Chinese restaurant: the Golden Dragon II.  Possibly Golden Dragon I destroyed by Union troops.

Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Va.) -- At show's end, young man appoached, had me join him in prayer -- a very long prayer, it turned out.

University of Scranton (Scanton, Pa.) -- This Jesuit school embraced me, and Q&A session lasted forty minutes.

University of Maine (Orono, Me.) -- Kept asking driver, during long bus trip from Boston, “Are you sure this isn’t Canada?”

James Madison University (Hattiesburg, Va.) -- At show, joked with two armed campus policeman on how they must certainly have found my comedy "interesting."

Colorado College (Colorado Springs, Colo.) -- Fueled with caffeine, yours truly gave high-energy performance at noon on a Monday.

Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, Colo.) -- Stayed in quaint hotel you imagine once housed traveling salesmen headed to ‘Frisco, and retired gunslingers.

Utah Valley University (Orem, Utah) -- Spent some touristy hours in Salt Lake City, fighting off odd, persistent urge to go Mormon.

Boise State University (Boise, Idaho) -- BSU located in hip city in state too-typically associated with potato.  

University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Lowell, Mass.) -- Got kudos for my slideshow from snackbar manager, but no free nachos.

The College at Brockport (Brockport, N.Y.) -- Gave strong performance after enduring bad weather and rental-car trouble.

Lakeland College (Sheboygan, Wis.) -- Event organizer said she had never heard of Sheboygan Conservatory of Music -- fictional institution referenced in movie Some Like it Hot.

College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) -- While driving backroads, swerved to avoid Pennsylvania Dutch horse and buggy.

York University of Pennsylvania (York, Pa.) -- School nestled in state that seems to embody enduring wilderness within reassuring embrace of advanced civilization -- or so seems to girl from too-civilized New Jersey,

University of Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio) -- Ate chicken-friend steak at the Bob Evans, then entertained warm and respsonive audience at cool Methodist school.

Penn State Altoona (Altoona, Pa.) -- Fun and well-attended show, but driving backroads to her motel, weary entertainer got lost.   

Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) -- After semester's final show, indulged myself with mineral bath, hung out with Beautiful People at Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Tea.

M   a   j   o  r   i   n   g        i   n        L   a   u   g   h   t   e   r

Thoughts of pepperoni -- At Fairleigh Dickinson University, the pizza was hot and good, and the crowd was sweet.

The following colleges and universities have graciously accepted me onto their campuses as an entertainer and educator.  Thus, they are North America's Most Awsome Colleges.  

(Editor's note: It is our greatest hope that the thorough and entirely pertinent descriptions of the schools on our Most Awesome list will be helpful to those individuals who may be considering application for undergraduate or graduate admission to said institutions.)