Family Engagement

Events Galore!

There are so many events happening this semester there’s definitely one for you and/or your student to attend.

The Alumni and Family Engagement team works closely with the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career to bring you the Living and Working In networking events for students, alumni, families and friends.

Join us:
February 19: Living & Working In: Health Care on the East Side
February 27: Internship Fair for students at the Bultman Student Center
March 5: Living & Working In: West Michigan
April 9: Living & Working In: Chicago (More details coming soon!)

The office of Development and Alumni Engagement is also hosting several regional events in partnership with Admissions for prospective families to hear your Hope story. Please consider the impact your attendance may have on prospective students.

Join us:
February 20: Hope in Midland
March 11: An Evening with Hope in Indiana
March 27: Hope in D.C. (More details coming soon!)

Questions? Contact us at 616.395.7250 or email alumni@hope.edu.

Parent to Parent

Families of current Hope students share their stories with prospective students and their families:

The Harvey Family

Scott and Jodi Harvey, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reflect on their family’s Hope admissions process. The Harveys’ daughter, Allie, is a member of Hope’s Class of 2022.

We wanted Allie to feel like the school she chose was someplace she felt ‘at home’ from day one.

Read their complete story “Once in Your Shoes: Reflections from the Harveys to Prospective Hope Parents.”

The Carpenter Family

Christopher ’90 and Panechanh Choummanivong ’93 Carpenter, from St. Louis, Missouri, reflect upon their family’s Hope admissions process. The Carpenters’ son, Cameron, is a member of Hope’s Class of 2022.

As Hope alums, we had frequently shared memories of Hope College since Cameron was a small child. He had spent time touring the campus and listening to our stories many times as a teenager. While waiting for decision letters to arrive, we reminisced about our own college years, uncertainties, experiences, and lifelong friendships.

Read their entire story “Once in Your Shoes: Reflections from the Carpenters to Prospective Hope Parents.”

The Zobeck Family

Ed and Rosemary Zobeck from Haslet, Michigan, reflect on their family’s Hope admission process. The Zobeck’s daughter, Mikayla, is a member of Hope’s Class of 2022.

Hope engaged us so that we can be part of our student’s Hope experience in a way that is constructive to us as parents and good for our child. And . . . Hope is small enough for professors to get to know our children and engage with them in ways that just aren’t possible at large public universities.

Read their entire story: “Once in Your Shoes: Reflections from the Zobecks to Prospective Hope Parents.”

The Goszkowicz Family

Rich and Kathleen Goszkowicz of Muskegon, Michigan, reflect upon their family’s Hope admissions process. The Goszkowicz’s daughter, Grace, is a member of Hope’s Class of 2022.

On one of our final visits, we attended Chapel. Grace was overwhelmed with the sense of community and connectedness Chapel provided. Basically, the decision had already been made but the experience left her with a sense of peace with her decision and solidified her choice.

“Once in Your Shoes: Reflections from the Goszkowiczs to Prospective Hope Parents.”

A Message from the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career

Dear Hope Families,
Greetings from the new Boerigter Center for Calling and Career! I am honored to join the staff of Hope College as the first executive director of the Boerigter Center. We have a great team of talented professionals working together to help students identify their gifts and get ready for life after college.
Walking around campus for the past two months has been a bit surreal, bringing back fond memories of my days as a student in the early 1990s. I do have to admit to getting lost in some of the “new” buildings, which, for me, means anything built after 1994!

So where have I been for the past 24 years? I took my psychology degree and entered into the business world, focusing on helping people learn and work together in organizational settings. I had the privilege of working in some large global companies like Accenture, Ford, and Visteon. I also spent five years at a technology startup (ThinkWise) developing talent management tools and services. Most recently, I led multiple teams within the human resources department at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Along the way, I earned a master’s degree in adult learning from the University of Michigan.

The core and allied staff of the new Boerigter Center for Calling and Career, including Academic Advising, Alumni and Family Engagement.

Joining the team at Hope this June has been an exciting change for me. I was attracted to the bold goal of the Boerigter Center to engage every student in career discernment, preparation, and pursuit. The staff of the former Career Development Center is now part of the Boerigter Center team, and we are combining forces with staff members from Academic Advising and Alumni Engagement to bring our mission to life. While many new students come to campus with career goals in mind, about one-third of new students come “undecided.” Building stronger campus partnerships and connecting with our broader Hope network will be beneficial for everyone.

Cady Short-Thompson, Tish Boerigter, Shonn Colbrunn, Sibilla Boerigter and George Boerigter at the new Boerigter Center for Calling and Career in DeWitt.

We have some exciting plans for this fall. We are renovating the first floor of the DeWitt Center to be our new home in the middle of campus. We are connecting with all freshmen to develop a rich understanding of their personal strengths. We are broadly expanding our DiscoverWork program to create more job shadowing experiences for students. And, we are launching an Employer Advisory Council to stay connected with the evolving needs of the labor market. Those are just a few of the plans underway for this fall, with many other great ideas on deck for the future.

As family members (and perhaps alumni too), you are part of our incredibly strong and supportive Hope network that will help make our efforts impactful for students. I am looking forward to connecting with you in the coming months as we bring the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career to life!

Sincerely,

Shonn Colbrunn
Executive Director
Boerigter Center for Calling and Career

A Message from the Registrar

“You’re a person!” exclaimed a surprised student when first meeting with me. Most students, and some families, don’t realize a Registrar is a person’s role and not just the name of an office. While there is a head Registrar, the Registrar’s Office, including our Advising Suite, is first and foremost a team. Our team consists of dedicated staff and advisors that are happy and eager to help students navigate their academic journey.

It isn’t always easy to describe the exact role and function of a Registrar and the Registrar’s Office because our team sits in the center hub of a very large, multi-spoke wheel. The spokes are our students, departments, divisions, administrators, and other offices around campus; and without our spokes we simply wouldn’t be what we are. We have a broad scope of responsibility within Hope College ranging from implementing the college’s academic regulations, maintaining the academic record of all students, building the class schedule, implementing the registration process for classes, determining students’ graduation eligibility, awarding degrees, collecting and distributing grades, and enforcing rules for entering and leaving classes. These are just a few of the ongoing tasks of Hope’s Registrar’s Office that keeps the wheel turning properly.

Carol DeJong meets with a student in the Registrar’s Office

Because a Registrar is charged with enforcing the college’s academic policy, our perception can be rather intimidating or scary. Yet, I diligently strive to be as friendly and welcoming as I can – and have actually been told by several students that I am very approachable. I believe part of what has made me so approachable and open-minded is that I, myself, am a parent of two sons that attended Hope. Reflecting on my thirty years at Hope College, I think I learned the most about the college, and myself as a parent, through the experiences of having my sons attend and graduate from Hope, ’09 and ’10.

I pride myself in being approachable for one of the most enjoyable parts of my job is my personal interaction with students, getting to know them and their talents, and helping them successfully navigate their college career. The highlight of my year is very early May, when my office lines-up students for commencement and assists them with their procession into the ceremony. I get to see the faces of students who have worked so hard to accomplish their goals and it makes me excited for their future.

Carol DeJong, Dean for Academic Services and Registrar

A Tradition of Travel Gets a Boost

Alumni tour the streets of Vienna during a travel program in 1965.

Hope College began hosting educational tours for alumni and friends in the 1960s. The integration of learning with Hope faculty and the opportunity to connect with friends from the Hope community have always set these programs apart.

Over the past few years we have had increasing momentum for lifelong learning and travel. After two recent sell-out trips and wait lists almost as large as the trips themselves, we have decided to officially expand our offerings and launch a new Hope College Global Travel Program.

In addition to responding to the interests of alumni and friends, there are other strategic reasons to grow this program. Hope’s strategic plan calls for programs to expand faculty and staff cross-cultural perspectives, increase access to off-campus study for students and build a stronger network of lifelong relationships among alumni and friends of the college.

If you are a Hope graduate, parent, Hope Academy of Senior Professionals (HASP) member or friend of the college and have a desire to travel, learn, expand your worldview and connect with the Hope community — then this Global Travel Program is for you!

Every single traveler on our last program said that they would travel with Hope College again and that they would recommend the program to a friend.

UPCOMING TRIPS

Happy Travelers — Happy travelers at the end of their recent adventure in Tanzania.

We custom-design our programs relying on the expertise of our faculty, alumni hosts and staff. Just like Hope College students studying abroad, you will gain new insights about the places to which you travel and return home with greater knowledge and understanding of our world.

We are moving from a program every few years to 2-3 programs each year. Destinations in the next year include: a Tanzania Safari (back by popular demand), a Discovering the Balkans River Cruise (in partnership with HASP but open to all) and a New Zealand Adventure.

MEET THE TEAM

Pat Van Wylen, pictured with her husband Dave, on an international adventure.

Pat Van Wylen recently joined the Alumni and Family Engagement team as the global travel coordinator. Previously, Pat worked in St. Olaf’s College’s International and Off-Campus Studies Office, organizing and co-leading a variety of international study abroad programs for St. Olaf College students and alumni. More recently she co-led alumni and family travel programs. In addition to having a passion for learning through travel, she also promotes health and wellness and has taught Health Dynamics at Hope.

100% of travelers on our last program said that the experience met or exceeded their expectations.

GLOBAL SCHOLARS FUND

A group of Hope students hike on the Iberian Peninsula during a recent off-campus study program.

Participants in this program will also be supporting today’s Hope students as they step beyond borders and connect with the global community. Proceeds from the Global Travel Program, as well as gifts from individual donors, support the Global Scholars Fund for student off-campus study grants.

SIGN UP AND SHARE YOUR IDEAS

If one of these trips doesn’t fit your travel goals or schedule, you can sign up to receive updates on future programs and share ideas for new times of the year and new destinations. You can also share photos from past trips if you have already traveled with Hope. Email your photos and suggestions to vanwylenp@hope.edu. We will use the feedback to plan for the future and we will share photos on our new online gallery.

At Hope College, we understand that the world is much bigger than the few blocks our campus sits on. Join us and become a student of the world.

A Message from Campus Safety Director, Jeffrey Hertel

Dear Families,

Greetings from the Office of Campus Safety! Since joining Hope College as Director of Campus Safety in 2016, I have been impressed by the caliber and commitment of the students we serve — your daughters and sons. I feel blessed to work in a safe and compassionate community, where students and employees genuinely care for one another.

This sense of community is one of the things I value most about my work here at Hope. In fact, service to the community has always been an important part of my job. In 2015, I retired from the Grand Rapids Police Department after 33 years in law enforcement. Today, I lead a team dedicated to the Hope community — staffed 24 hours a day, with officers and dispatchers always ready to serve. Given our responsibility to protect the campus, we are called to engage all members of the community — students, employees, families, special guests and visitors — and we’ve made it a priority to do that every day.

Parents and family members often ask me what they can do to make sure their student is safe on campus. Thanks for asking! Holland is a safe place, but even a well-earned sense of safety can sometimes lull us into complacency. I encourage you to talk to your students about their safety on and off campus, every chance you get. Not sure how to start the conversation? Consider asking your student these questions:

Do you know the Campus Safety officer assigned to your residence hall? This year, every Campus Safety officer has been assigned a residence hall on campus. If your student lives on campus, they have regular access to a Campus Safety team member who is readily available to assist, support and answer questions. (And if your student lives off campus, they, too, can always rely on Campus Safety as a resource.)
Have you noticed the blue-light safety phones on campus? Do you know when and how to use them? In the fall, Campus Safety began adding more blue-light phones throughout campus. At these phones, anyone can call for emergency services with the push of a button. Encourage your student to take note of the blue-light safety phone locations, and remind them that they can use the phones for any kind of incident, even for something like car trouble.
Do you know what to do if you experience, or if you know someone who has experienced, sexual assault or harassment? These are difficult things to talk about. Thank you for your willingness to have the hard conversations — family support is critical for the success of students while in college, especially when the student experiences challenges. Students who have experienced assault or harassment have options, which include filing an online report or contacting Campus Safety (616.395.7770 / pubsafe@hope.edu) or the Office of Title IX (616.395.6816 / dorer@hope.edu). To review all the options with your student, see the list on the Title IX website.
Have you updated your emergency contact information? Hope keeps your student’s contact information on file so that, in the event of an emergency, we can reach them. Your student can update their information by going to plus.hope.edu, clicking on “Personal Information” and then clicking on “Update Emergency Contacts.”
Do you really need a car on campus? Though many students like having a car at Hope, they do not need one to get around the campus and the city of Holland. So, what do you do if you need a ride from one place to another on campus? There is a free shuttle service on campus during evening hours. And, after the shuttle ends its service for the night, our officers are available to provide escorts for students with safety-based concerns. Students can call Campus Safety 616.395.7770 for this service, keeping in mind that the wait time is dependent on officer availability. The college also offers a variety of off-campus transportation services for students, including rides to field placements and internships.
Is your bike registered? A bike is a great mode of transportation (plus, parking is much easier!) The City of Holland requires that all bicycles used on campus be registered. Your student can register their bike online and pick up the registration in the Campus Safety office.
Do you know what do you do if you see suspicious behavior on campus? If you see something, say something. Students shouldn’t hesitate to contact Campus Safety at 616.395.7770 or 911 if they observe something suspicious.

Do you have questions for Campus Safety? Please contact us at 616.395.7770 or pubsafe@hope.edu. We appreciate your ongoing interest and support.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey Hertel
Director of Campus Safety

Meet the Provost

As provost, I think about academic affairs at Hope College every single day. I focus on our students’ education and experience. I spend most of my days meeting with faculty, staff, and students asking questions and listening for what’s going well and what can be improved.

Here’s what I know so far. We have 235 full-time faculty who are well-educated, well-equipped scholarly teachers. I appreciate that at Hope College, full-time faculty teach the vast majority of our courses. Unlike our competitors, we don’t have many part-time instructors—and when we do, they’re practitioners in their field who add to the quality of our education here. And at Hope, we have zero graduate teaching assistants—unlike large land grant research institutions. In short, the vast majority of our professors hold the top degree—PhDs in their fields–and they hold leadership roles in their professional associations and are national experts and authors in their fields. I appreciate the fact that our faculty’s full-time careers are to teach well, conduct research, mentor students, and work closely with students in countless ways. And the faculty are caring and very student-centered—they love to work with students. Students are the highlight of our collective work.

So, I think we get it right—after 21 years of academic leadership experience and having seen various models, I believe it’s best to have a hybrid model of teaching really well and doing research. Some schools teach a lot but don’t do much research or stay on top of their fields. Other institutions do research and teach a little—to varying degrees of success, quality and engagement. We do both and we do them well.

I’ve also spent a good amount of time meeting with and listening to our students, individually and in groups. Our students’ stories and lived experiences are impressive here. I appreciate all that they’re able to juggle here at Hope. Many are double majors–bringing together interesting combinations of study like Engineering and Dance, Computer Science and Classics, Communication and Religion, Neuroscience and Art, the list goes on. I’ve learned to listen for the “and”—they study this AND that. Students can do that here at Hope; students cannot do so everywhere.

And then I like to ask students what else they do with their time here. Many engage in interdisciplinary projects. Hundreds of students conduct collaborative undergraduate research with our faculty members. Many are involved in the National Science Foundation-funded research projects. Students present and publish their research with our faculty—in many institutions, this is unheard of at the undergraduate level. I know many places will use the student labor and intellectual contributions but not give them credit. Hope College shares the research opportunity and the authorship with our students. To give you a sense of our undergraduate research prowess at Hope College, the Council for Undergraduate research awarded us along with two other institutions in the nation for our high level and high quality of undergraduate research. And our students earn major international awards and recognitions for their excellence through prestigious awards like Lilly, Goldwater, Mellon, Fulbright, and more. Having served as a founding graduate program director elsewhere, I’ve concluded that our undergraduate education is a whole lot like graduate education elsewhere in the depth, quality, and research experiences that our students have alongside our talented faculty. We’re providing rich, robust, and rigorous academic experiences for our students.

In addition, our students tell me that they are athletes, musicians, dancers or artists. And most students are leaders and community servants who care about things that are bigger than themselves. Our student body is full of smart and ambitious, but other-centered individuals. It is the well-rounded and the holistic approach to their education and their lives that I love the most.

And let me tell you about a Hope College student I know particularly well, my son. This year, our oldest child started college at Hope College. He chose Hope for the superb science programs, to have the opportunity to play Division III lacrosse, to engage in a wide array of study abroad and undergraduate research opportunities, and because of the vibrant chapel program. I can tell you that wearing my two hats of provost and mom in one place have thrilled me. Hearing our son talk about how much he loves his classes, the faculty, the Phelps Scholars program, lacrosse, residential experience, and his new friends makes my heart sing. After a 21 year career in higher education, where I have truly loved academics and have seen its power daily in everyone else’s children, I now have the opportunity to watch my child (whom I love deeply) love what I love. And it’s ridiculously good!

So, I’m delighted to lead at Hope College.

A place that celebrates a well-rounded education, holistic student experience, and a relational endeavor that weds academics and faith in a safe and idyllic playground on the shores of Lake Michigan where gorgeous sunrises and sunsets fascinate us each day! This is all distinctly Hope College and I’m genuinely pleased to travel this academic, relational, and spiritual path with your child and student. Know that I’m as invested in your child’s education as my own son’s four years here.

Grace and peace to all of you, friends!
Cady Short-Thompson, PhD
Provost, Hope College

Heather is Shaped by Hope College Women’s Basketball

Visiting Hope College for the first time, Heather Randall fell in love with the professor-to-student ratio, basketball environment, and the Hope community. She knew from the beginning that great relationships were going to be built with fans, teammates, and coaches.

Heather has been playing basketball since 4th grade and always knew she wanted to play at the college level. Her dad understood the seriousness of her goal and said to her, “I’m gonna help you, we’re gonna get you there.” She worked hard towards that goal, and fulfilled her calling by coming to Hope College and playing women’s varsity basketball.

Now fully immersed in Hope College as a senior, Heather is completing a Business Marketing and Communication double major, and loves all things Hope. She has been a part of Hope women’s varsity basketball for four years, is on the Hopey Award Committee, and is an intern for Holland Hope Sustainable Institute. She also contributes to the community through volunteer service acts through the SEED Program (Sport Evangelism to Equip Disciples) including going on a mission trip to Costa Rica with a team of student athletes and coaches.

“Hope College has changed me into a young, confident individual.”

Heather used to stay silent instead of speaking up when she felt the need to. After attending a liberal arts college for four years, she knows that it really makes a difference, and that Hope College is an incredible place to be. Friends, faculty and staff are here to help you no matter what. The relationships she’s created will last her lifetime.

“Hope College has absolutely transformed me. I am ready to tackle whatever problems come in my future.”

The Hope College’s women’s basketball team were the first faces Heather met freshman year, and are now her closest friends. She is a part of an athletic community and knows that there are fourteen other girls who constantly have her back, and five coaches that she could ask for help with anything. The athletic culture has taught her how to work together with a team, as they all pursue a common goal. Team comradery is at a constant high on the women’s basketball team, and they keep each other accountable. Heather succeeded as an individual, but she only focuses on the success of her team.

In Heather’s third year, the team went into the first round of nationals where they faced the giant, undefeated Thomas More College. She recalls that even the announcers presumed that Hope College would be obliterated by the opposing team. But Hope’s coaches, bench, and fans believed in them, and they beat the top team when everyone else thought that they were done for. Heather recalls the excitement and pure joy in the locker room afterwards, which included people full of excitement and proud of their team. Hope College women’s basketball was the big time underdog that everyone thought would have their butt’s kicked, yet at Thomas More College’s home court, with every single odd against them, and they worked together to win.

Heather believes that she could not be attending Hope or fulfilling her dream of playing college basketball without the help of scholarships. They provide her and many other students with the opportunity to work toward a goal, go to a new place, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, that they may not have been able to get to without help.

“All over the world, you find someone from Hope, you’re always anchored in the Hope College world.”

Your Orange and Blue Fund gifts support Heather and student-athletes just like her. Gifts to the Orange and Blue Fund go directly to support student-athlete scholarships and make it possible for many deserving student-athletes to attend Hope College and compete in athletics. You make an immediate and life-shaping impact for students when you join the community of Orange and Blue Fund donors. Your gifts create passion and bolster commitment to help student athletes grow spiritually, academically, and athletically.

Investing in Heather and all Hope student-athletes provides them with an unsurpassed educational and athletic experience at Hope College. Your faithful giving makes a difference. Give now at crowdfunding.hope.edu/athletics.

Chapel Choir Will Cross Oceans

Gabby Barber, a junior at Hope College, is a music and political science major and on Chapel Choir’s leadership board. She has been a soprano singer in Chapel Choir for three years. When Gabby came to Hope College she knew that music would be a concrete part of her future, because it was a huge part of her past. She sang in high school choir, took voice lessons, participated in musicals, and knew she never wanted to stop singing.

Chapel Choir is a medium size ensemble made up of men and women who come from diverse backgrounds and majors, but they all have a parallel passion for singing and performing. As a group they have the very unique experience of traveling and singing, while becoming a tight knit group. Chapel choir performs at baccalaureate, opening convocation, vespers and many other Hope College events.

“Usually if there’s a choir singing, it’s us.”

Gabby’s favorite part of being a part of Chapel Choir is the amazing experience of putting herself out in the world through Chapel Choir tours. The choir performs for audiences of different geographical locations, social-economical and racial backgrounds, and the choir hopes that their music affects their audience in a positive way. Gabby’s years in Chapel Choir have brought a new understanding that you never know how the music is going to encourage a listener.

Gabby has been told that Chapel Choir’s 2018 Tour to South Africa will be a life-changing experience and she believes that statement.

“The way we get to interact with people though our music is so much bigger than just traveling and singing to people. We just need a little help to get there. The people that donate to Chapel Choir can know that they will change lives. “

Your Chapel Choir Fund gifts support Gabby and student choir members just like her. Gifts to the Chapel Choir Fund go directly to support sending chapel choir students to South Africa. You make an immediate and life-shaping impact for students when you join the community of Chapel Choir Fund donors. Your gifts create passion and bolster commitment to help students grow spiritually and musically.

Investing in Gabby and all Chapel Choir members provides them with an unsurpassed educational experience at Hope College. Your faithful giving makes a difference.

Lydia Berkey Doesn’t Shoot for the Stars, She Builds Her Own Ladder to Them

Lydia Berkey’s first three years at Hope College have been stuffed to the brim with her involvement on campus. She brings her leadership abilities and inspirational spirit to every project she undertakes. Now in her junior year, Lydia is the Vice President of Student Congress, and has previously been involved in the Student Activities Committee for two years. She works in the Bultman Student Center at the Student Life and Center for Diversity and Inclusion Office as a Student Manager, is a general member of Black Student Union and a member of the Gospel Choir.

Lydia grew up in Fenton, Michigan, with many Hope College alumni family members. During her visit to Hope College, she focused solely on Hope’s Social Work program. She instantly fell in love with it due to its esteemed program and it’s friendly, welcoming faculty members. Lydia has continued pursuing her passion of social work and has thrived at Hope College since day one.

Lydia’s post-graduate plans are to receive her Masters in Social Work. Her dream is to become a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist with a focus on children.

“I have a passion for advocating for those whose voices aren’t heard.”

Your Hope Fund gifts support Lydia and students just like her. Gifts to the Hope Fund go directly to support student scholarships and make it possible for many deserving students to attend Hope College. You make an immediate and life-shaping impact for students when you join the community of Hope Fund donors. Your gifts create passion and bolster commitment to help students grow spiritually and academically.

Investing in Lydia and all Hope students provides them with an unsurpassed educational experience at Hope College. Your faithful giving makes a difference.