Celebrating the Classes of 1990 and 1991

Congratulations on your 30-year reunion! We found some great photos of your time on campus. Do you have photos and memories to share? Email alumni@hope.edu and we’ll add to this gallery.

Highlights
The class of ’90 took Pull victory as sophomores.
Hope College President John Jacobson since 1987.

Athletics Highlights
Women’s basketball national championships in 1990.

Historical/News/Pop Culture Highlights
’90 World Series: Cincinnati Reds
’91 World Series: Minnesota Twins
’90 Super Bowl: San Francisco 49ers
’91 Super Bowl: New York Giants
Popular Movies Released 91/90: Home Alone, Pretty Women, Edward Scissorhands, Father of the Bride
Popular Songs Released: Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice), U Can’t Touch This (MC Hammer), I Do it For You (Bryan Adams)
Shows: Law & Order (1990 debut), Beverly Hills 90210 (1990 debut), Home Improvement (1991 debut)

Prices – Then and Now:
Gas – Then: $1.18 and Now: $2.37
Tuition- Then: $10,022.00 and Now: $36,000
Room and Board – Then: $ 3,826 and Now: $10,940
McDonald’s Cheeseburger – Then: $.069 and Now: $1.79
Pack of gum – Then: $.25 and Now: $1.09
A loaf of bread – Then: $.75 and Now: $2.58
Number of Hope Students – Then: 2,770 and Now: 3,060

Celebrating the Classes of 1985 and 1986

Congratulations on your 35-year reunion! We found some great photos of your time on campus. Do you have photos and memories to share? Email alumni@hope.edu and we’ll add to this gallery.

Highlights:
The classes of ’85 and ’86 took victory in the pull their respective sophomore years.
College East apartments opened in August 1982.
DePree Art Center was dedicated in October 1982.

Historical/News/Pop Culture Highlights
’85 World Series: Kansas City Chiefs
’86 World Series: New York Mets
’85 Super Bowl: San Francisco 49ers
’86 Super Bowl: Chicago Bears
Movies: The Breakfast Club and The Goonies, Top Gun, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Shows: The Cosby Show, Family Ties

Prices – Then and Now:
Gas – Then: $1.24 and Now: $2.37
Tuition – Then: $ 5,756.00 and Now: $36,000
Room and Board – Then: $ 2,518 and Now: $10,940
McDonald’s Cheeseburger – Then: $.47 and Now: $1.79
Pack of gum – Then: $.30 and Now: $1.09
A loaf of bread – Then: $.74 and Now: $2.58
Number of Hope Students – Then: 2,550 and Now: 3,060

Celebrating the Classes of 1980 and 1981

Congratulations on your 40-year reunion! We found some great photos of your time on campus. Do you have photos and memories to share? Email alumni@hope.edu and we’ll add to this gallery.

Hope Highlights
The class of 1980 won The Pull as freshmen. However, as sophomores, there was a draw between the class in 1980 and 1981. This draw is one of only 3 in Pull history. The other two happened in 1916 and 1952.

In January 1978, Hope College experiences “the Big Storm.” The late January blizzard canceled classes for two days.

After 11 years and 22 consecutive losses to Calvin, Hope finally defeated Calvin in men’s basketball on February 6, 1980

Early in the morning on April 28, 1980, VanRaalte Hall caught fire. The fire was started by a mechanical mishap in the basement and caught quickly due to the building’s wood interior. Hope College was able to salvage many important records stored in the Administration offices.

Historical/News/Pop Culture Highlights
’80 World Series: Philadelphia Phillies
’81 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers
’80 Super Bowl: Pittsburgh Stealers
’81 Super Bowl: Oakland Raiders
Movies: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Last Ark, Chariots of Fire
Shows: Magnum P.I., Dukes of Hazard

Prices: Then and Now
Gas – Then: $1.03 and Now: $2.37
Tuition – Then: $ 4,490 and Now: $36,000
Room and Board – Then: $2080 and Now: $10,940
McDonald’s Cheeseburger – Then: $.48 and Now: $1.79
A loaf of bread – Then: $.50 and Now: $ 2.58
Number of Hope Students – Then: 2,371 and Now: 3,060

Celebrating the Classes of 1975 and 1976

Congratulations on your 45-year reunion! We found some great photos of your time on campus. Do you have photos and memories to share? Email alumni@hope.edu and we’ll add to this gallery.

Highlights:
The classes of ’75 and ’76 took victory in the Pull as sophomores.
Hope College gives Governor William Milliken an honorary degree.
In 1976 Dr. Stephen Hemenway takes over the Vienna Summer school program. In the past 45 years, over 2600 students have participated in the program under his leadership.

Historical/News/Pop Culture Highlights
Apple Computer Company was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs.
Jimmy Carter wins the Presidential Election in 1976.
’75 World Series: Cincinnati Reds
’76 World Series: Cincinnati Reds
’75 Super Bowl: Pittsburgh Steelers
’76 Super Bowl: Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaws was released.
Popular TV Shows include: SNL, Happy Days, MAS*H.
America celebrated its 200th birthday!

Now and Then: Prices
Gas – Then: $.75 and Now: $2.37
Tuition – Then: $2,370 and Now: $36,000
Room and Board – Then: $1,180 and Now: $10,940
McDonald’s Cheeseburger – Then: $.037 and Now: $1.79
Number of Hope Students – Then: 2,198 and Now: 3,060

Celebrating the Classes of 1970 and 1971

Congratulations on your 50-year reunion! We found some great photos of your time on campus. Do you have photos and memories to share? Email alumni@hope.edu and we’ll add to this gallery.

Highlights:
In September of 1967, Dykstra Hall was completed.
Gordon J. Van Wylen was elected ninth president of Hope College; inaugurated, October 13, 1972.
Hope College hosted the March to Hope. A program that paired Hope students with underprivileged kids on a 4-day hiking adventure.
The Class of ’71 were victorious in the Pull as both Freshman and Sophomore pullers.
The Class of ’71 won Nykerk their freshman year.

Athletics Highlights
Ray Smith was hired in 1970. He served as the head football coach for 25 seasons. He also coached wrestling, baseball, and golf. In his career he has 148 football wins. The Hope’s football stadium is named after him.
Hope College was at the beginning of their 11 years losing streak to Calvin.

Student Life Highlights
Plans and building began for the DeWitt Cultural Center by President Calvin Vanderwerf.
Mary Jane Gold gifts Hope College the Gold Estate on Lake Macatawa.
October 1969, Student Congress hosted a Moratorium for students and faculty to voice their opinions on the Vietnam war. Reverend Raymond Pontier came and spoke and the Pine Grove turned into a “battlefield” to remember those who lost their lives in the war.
The Wintercarnival finally had enough snow for events like Women’s Broomball and Men’s dog sledding.

Historical/News/Pop Culture Highlights
In April of 1970, The Beatles officially broke up and released their last album “Let It Be.”
The Apollo 13 Mission Launched to space bringing three astronauts on board.
The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl and the Baltimore Orioles won the World Series in 1970.
The Baltimore Colts won the Super Bowl and the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series in 1971.
In March of 1971, the 26th amendment was passed which lowered the voting age to 18.
Walt Disney World officially opened to the public in 1971.

Now and Then: Prices
Gas – Then: $.40 and Now: $2.37
Tuition – Then: $885 and Now: $36,000
Room and Board – Then: $495 and Now: $10,940
McDonald’s Cheeseburger – Then: $.033 and Now: $1.79
Pack of gum – Then: $.08 and Now: $1.09
A loaf of bread – Then: $ .16 and Now: $ 2.58
Number of Hope Students – Then: 2,071 and Now: 3,060

Class of 2020 Celebration

Check out the photo gallery from this event!

Thanks for joining us in the Pine Grove on May 22! Here’s a recording of the event in case you missed it.
An invitation from President Scogin to the Class of 2020

We would like to personally invite the Class of 2020 to an elegant evening in the Pine Grove on May 22, 2021. We are so excited to celebrate your achievements in-person and share in your time together as a class.

On May 22, 2021, we will give you a punctuation mark on your time at Hope through the chance to return to campus to share favorite moments and connect with your Hope people. We will spend an elegant evening throughout the Pine Grove, the President’s backyard, and Bultman Student Center patio (rain plan will be Sunday, May 23). Your class will gather outdoors in your “Hope chic” attire and hear from your elected speaker, Dr. Jared Ortiz, as well as Chandler Alberda ’20, President Scogin, and others that want to celebrate your accomplishments. There will be gifts, food stations, a food truck, music and more.

We’ve been grateful to hear your feedback that has shaped our planning for this celebration. All members of the Class of 2020 are invited, and you are also now welcome to bring two guests with you to the event.

Registration is now open and can be completed here. RSVP deadline is May 7 to allow for ample time to prepare a safe event that follows COVID guidelines. Feel free to direct any questions to alumni@hope.edu.

We are also excited to share that you will be invited to a “one-year reunion” event as part of Homecoming, October 22-24, 2021. There will be both on and off campus events planned for you to celebrate with your friends from the Class of 2020, and larger events for all alumni for you to enjoy as well.

Your class has lost many of the “traditional” elements of the end of your college experience, including an in-person commencement ceremony, and we grieve that together with you. Current restrictions and safety protocols don’t even allow for a fully traditional commencement weekend for the Class of 2021. While we regret these losses and the frustration they have caused, we are thrilled to provide you with a safe time for meaningful interaction and celebration together for you and your guests.

Hope alumni know that their relationship with the college and each other doesn’t end when they leave campus, and this is especially true for you. You are an extraordinary class, and we eagerly look forward to seeing you on May 22.

Spera in Deo,
The President’s Office & The Alumni Engagement Office

Honoring a Hero: Gordon Van Wylen

Like most economists, I do not have many heroes. If asked, my colleagues might ascribe heroic stature to Adam Smith, the father of modern economics. Some would consider Milton Friedman or John Maynard Keynes as heroes worthy of appearing on an economics Mount Rushmore. But a hero of mine once lived in Holland, Michigan and was the President of Hope College: Gordon Van Wylen.

I had the privilege of being on a first name basis with my hero. So, even though he was a “larger than life” figure to me, I shall refer to him as Gordon. We met years ago when I was a young pup on the University of Virginia faculty and was asked to give the inaugural lectures for Hope College’s new chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Gordon invited me to spend an evening in the President’s home on campus. I was taken aback by his humility, his winsome manner, and his interest in me. I still remember that evening vividly.

I soon realized that Gordon’s humility had to be the product of his Christian faith and perhaps his upbringing. By the world’s standards, Gordon had no need to be humble. Indeed, he had every reason to be proud, if not arrogant, given his accomplishments. Gordon had a Ph.D. from MIT; he was the author of a major book on thermodynamics; he was a former submarine officer in World War II (and an author of a book about his exploits); and he had been Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Michigan.

Then, Gordon humbled himself to become the President of Hope College. Now, to many Hope College graduates, becoming President of their alma mater may not seem like a step down. However, in the academic pecking order, for Gordon it was. To be the Dean of one of the most prestigious engineering schools in the country is to preside over a budget and faculty much larger than that of Hope College. It likely is a stepping-stone to the presidency of a major university or corporation. Notwithstanding, Gordon (a Calvin College graduate yet) accepted the offer to assume the presidency of Hope College. As some of my students would put it, “this had to be a God thing.”

Gordon saw his life as one of “calling,” not of “career.” Like the Apostle Paul, Gordon chose to boast in the humility of Christ, not his earthly accomplishments. This is one reason I began to admire Gordon.

Gordon invited me (a Kalamazoo College graduate) to join the Hope College Board of Trustees, where I served for 14 years. In that context, I saw Gordon from a unique perspective. Unlike many leaders who enjoyed and abused power, Gordon viewed a leader as one who often shouldered the pain of those around him. This he did without self-pity or grumbling. I was humbled to observe a man who was so “credentialed,” who was usually “the smartest guy in the room,” take on the role of a servant: to students, to faculty, to administrators, even to me.

Gordon, at the confluence of his extraordinary talent and energy, set aside the prospect of power for the cross of servanthood. No wonder he became a model to so many: a hero as it were.

As if this cake needed any icing, anyone who spent time with Gordon realized that his commitment to the Christian faith and to Hope College did not diminish the love he had for his family. This too made Gordon a hero to me. How many leaders, absorbed by the tugs and pulls of leadership, neglect their families? The servant-leadership that Gordon brought to Hope College somehow was matched by sacrificial love to his wife Margaret and their children.

With the death of Gordon – at age 100 – I say goodbye to a personal hero. However, as the Apostle Paul counsels, I “do not sorrow as those who have no hope.” For I can imagine the Lord Jesus welcoming Gordon to heaven with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Kenneth G. Elzinga is the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics, University of Virginia.

The 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients Webinars

The Hope College Alumni Association is proud to announce Lara Plewka ’98 MacGregor and Dr. Deborah Heydenburg ’87 Fuller have been selected to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2021. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of alumni who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their chosen profession and have made a positive impact on their community. The Alumni Board of Directors considers dozens of nominations each year and carefully selects two recipients each year. Congratulations to these alumnae who have gone above and beyond to fulfill these criteria.

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient Lara Plewka ’98 MacGregor

Lara Plewka ’98 MacGregor | Turning Heartbreak into Hope
At the age of 30, 7 months pregnant and a successful Associate Vice President, Lara MacGregor was diagnosed with cancer. 14 years later, Lara is still fighting Stage IV Metastatic breast cancer after 7 years of remission. Lara knows heartbreak – but she also knows hope. In 2012, she founded Hope Scarves, an organization that allows the sharing of stories and scarves among women who are fighting cancer. The Hope Scarves collection, which is constantly evolving, now contains over 15,000 scarves and 1,200 stories. Her organization has raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to breast cancer research and Lara has also become a popular blogger, podcast host and speaker. Join us to learn how Lara has faced her personal health heartbreak with a commitment to spreading hope.

Lara will present on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 6 p.m. live via Zoom. Register today at hope.edu/alumniweekend.

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient Deborah Heydenburg ’87 Fuller

Deborah Heydenburg ’87 Fuller | From Plants to Patients: A Scientist’s Journey from Hope to Healing
In a world that has had all eyes on vaccine development in the past year, Dr. Deb Fuller has been wearing many different hats, including Professor of Microbiology at the University of Washington, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Orlance, Inc, and Division Chief and Core Scientist at the Washington National Primate Research Center in the AIDS division. In short, she has been on quite a journey since her first experiment on plant cells at Hope College to her current work developing vaccines to fight the spread of disease in humans. Join us for a virtual talk that is equal parts science, Q&A and anecdotes about our Distinguished Alumni Award winner’s personal (highly circuitous) journey.

Deborah Heydenburg ’87 Fuller will present at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 live via Zoom. Register today at hope.edu/alumniweekend.

Thank You! 2021 Day of Giving Success

Thank you to all our alumni, families and friends who helped make this year’s Day of Giving a success! Over the course of 36 hours (February 25-26), Hope received $514,198 from 1,883 gifts . . . and we couldn’t have done it without you!

What if somebody missed Day of Giving and they still want to make a gift? How exciting! Go to hope.edu/give which features an online form for making gifts.

Thank you for coming together for Hope students. Your generosity inspires us — and it tells us that you believe in the transformative power of a Hope education. We are so grateful for your enthusiastic support.

From all of us at Hope College: Thank you!