Over spring break, you might have noticed a subtle yet meaningful change outside the Martha Miller Center — new flags were raised up on the flag poles that line the building. This change is part of our annual tradition in the Center for Global Engagement: as we approach the end of the academic year, we raise the flags of the countries represented by our international senior students who will graduate in May. In August, we’ll switch out the flags to honor the countries of our incoming international freshmen. This is one way that we recognize and celebrate the global backgrounds of our international students here on our campus.
One of the things I love about Hope College is the global community we get to be a part of. We have students from over 60 different countries and faculty and staff from over 30 countries.
Though we may be a small campus, we are a living reflection of God’s kingdom — a community made up of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
This spirit of global belonging has deep roots at Hope College. Our international history dates back to the very beginning: the first graduating class of Hope College in 1879 included two Japanese students, Kumaji Kimura and Motoichiro Ohgimi. Kimura and Ohgimi were invited by President Philip Phelps to study at Hope and live at his home in Van Vleck Hall. The Phelps family welcomed Kimura and Ohgimi in and helped them find faith in Christ. At Hope, they encountered hospitality and a spirit of welcoming.
From our early days, Hope has been a place where people have embraced different cultures and built an environment of hospitality. I hope you’ll join me in continuing to build a campus where every person can find welcome and belonging, especially our international students and colleagues.
At the Center for Global Engagement, we strive to create a home away from home for our international students, as well as build community among our international staff and faculty.
- In the Martha Miller Center, we have our International Student Lounge, where students from far corners of the world (who might not otherwise meet each other were it not for Hope College) develop lifelong friendships.
- We host IMAGES and the International Food Fair every year, giving the campus a chance to join our students in celebrating their cultures. (If you’ve never attended, we’d love to see you there next year!)
- Every semester, our office hosts a luncheon with international faculty and staff for lunch, where we exchange stories about home and life here at Hope.
I love being part of the Center for Global Engagement staff because I get to witness the kaleidoscope of cultures within our campus. I am always amazed when I step back and think about the way God has brought us all together here at Hope. How blessed we are to be part of his global kingdom and to have the opportunity to learn about the world through the people around us!
Since our early days, Hope College has been a place that fosters cross-cultural relationships and invites people from around the world to find their place here. This global community presents us with an incredible opportunity to lean into curiosity, embrace new perspectives, and create an inclusive campus.
In a time when our world is increasingly divided and polarized, we have the opportunity to break down barriers and find a sense of shared humanity.
I encourage you to lean into opportunities for cross-cultural engagement at Hope. It takes all of us to build a welcoming and inclusive community, and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the cultures we have here on our campus.