Fall Update from Student Development

Dear Hope Families,

Richard A. Frost, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students

I hope you are enjoying the summer with your loved ones. Here at Hope College, we are busy preparing for the arrival of our students. Our campus community is eager to greet all our students — both new and returning students — in person.

One of the best parts of the new academic year is having new opportunities to learn each student’s unique story. You have been an important part of your student’s story, and I want to thank you for all you have done to pave the way to this moment, whether your student is entering their first year or their last semester at Hope. The familiarity of the high school years is behind them, and soon they will be engaged in the learning culture of Hope College. Your student will experience academic rigor, develop new and different relationships, and engage in meaningful activities.

Before the fall semester begins, I encourage you to create some special time to talk with your student about their Hope journey. As the father of three college graduates, I know it can be difficult to start and have these conversations. Need some help? The following questions may prompt good discussion with your student:

  • What are you most looking forward to this year? What are two or three questions that you hope to answer this year?
  • When it comes to managing your time, what will be the biggest challenge? How do you plan to deal with that challenge?
  • What are you most anxious or nervous about? Classes, roommate, exams, internships, graduation, being away from family?
  • What are one or two ways that we, as a family, can support you?

With just a few until the start of the 2019-20 academic year, you and your student probably have a lot yet to do! It’s a busy time for all of us, but at Hope, we are always here to answer your questions. Please feel free to contact me at 616-395-7800 or email [email protected].

Thank you for being a part of the Hope family!

Sincerely,

Richard A. Frost
Vice President for Student Development
Dean of Students

Meet Dan Osterbaan ’91

Greetings from Hope College!

As a fellow Hope parent, I want to take a moment to introduce myself and my new role at Hope. I am both an alumnus and a parent of two third-generation Hope students. This April, after a 21-year career at a Fortune 250 company, I made the decision to accept a role at my alma mater focused specifically on parent engagement and philanthropy. I am grateful for the education and opportunities that Hope has provided for my family and delighted to join a team that is focused on transforming the lives of our students, our community, and our world.

One of my objectives is to engage families to expand the reach of the college via enhanced learning and vocational experiences through the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career. By establishing the Boerigter Center, Hope College is one of the few higher education institutions nationally to streamline the intersection of calling, academic advising, experiential learning, and internships/career connections. This forward-thinking was recently highlighted in a New York Times article titled, “One Way to Make College Meaningful.”

Strong and diverse networks are a key element that make these types of programs successful. Parents play an integral role in identifying and cultivating experiential learning opportunities for our students as well as expressing the value that Hope College brings to your family and community.

I look forward to connecting with you in the near future to personally hear your ideas and insights about Hope College. Together we can build the network and support the services needed to enhance students’ experiences, equipping them to impact our community and our world.

Regards,

Daniel J. Osterbaan ’91
Director of Development for Parent Giving
Development and Alumni Engagement

Find me on LinkedIn.

Give to What You Love

Greetings from Hope College! I am writing to share some details — and my excitement — about Hope’s upcoming Day of Giving, which begins at midnight Thursday, April 11 and runs through noon on Friday, April 12. For this year’s Day of Giving, we will be inviting alumni, employees, friends and families to give to what they love at Hope College. I hope you’ll consider what you love about Hope and make a gift to support it.

We recognize that our Hope families already invest a significant amount in their students’ education, and we are grateful for your dedication. Like most colleges and universities, however, the full costs of the educational experience we deliver at Hope are not covered by tuition alone; indeed, it is the participation of many in philanthropy to support our world-class programs that allows us to go above and beyond what tuition provides and offer a robust, transformational experience, with exceptional opportunities, resources and support. Please know that any gift, no matter the amount, is important.

On April 11-12, you’ll have the option to “give to what you love.” This means that you can designate your gifts and, in doing so, support the areas that connect you most closely to Hope.

Maybe your student is an artist, athlete, Phelps Scholar or Emmaus Scholar. Maybe they participated in a campus ministries program, gained experience in a science lab, had an adventure studying abroad, or shared their research at a conference. Perhaps they received guidance from the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career. Or, perhaps like so many Hope students, they received a scholarship. You can give to (and get involved with!) any of these areas, and many more.

Thank you for being a part of the Hope College community, and thank you in advance for your consideration. On April 11, watch your email inbox for an invitation to be a part of Hope’s Day of Giving!

Thank you,
Rev. Dr. Dennis N. Voskuil

Day of Giving 2019 – Join our Team!

Get ready!
Hope College’s Day of Giving is 14 days away. We need your voice, your networks and your enthusiasm to help promote Hope College. Please join our team on Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12 and become an online ambassador!

What’s an Ambassador?
An ambassador can be an alumni, parent, employee or friend that is willing to promote Day of Giving through their personal networks, especially social media using #Give2Hope. Ambassadors will receive a personal online link and be able to promote a specific category, program or department. The individual ambassador with the most gifts tied to their ambassador link will win a Hope College prize pack!

Words of the Week: Give to what you love!
This year, you can designate the area you would like to support. This option allows you to “pick your passion” and support the areas you feel most closely connected to. Help us spread the word: Give to what you love at Hope College!

Help us make the day a success. We will supply you with a toolkit full of easy to post pictures and graphics, sample posts and more. Did we mention the one-of-a-kind t-shirt? All you need to do is sign up and start promoting Hope College on your social media accounts.

Please consider helping our efforts this year and sign up to be an ambassador!

Spring Update from Student Development

Dear Hope Families,

Richard Frost, Dean of Students

Here at Hope, we are in the final weeks of the academic year, and the entire community is ready to finish strong. As you probably know, this time of the year is filled with meaningful tasks — completing classwork, preparing for final exams, finding summer work, planning to launch a new career and attending year-end events. One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is seeing students celebrate their achievements and other important milestones with friends and loved ones. This will certainly be the case on Sunday, May 5, when we gather for the graduation of the Class of 2019!

At baccalaureate and commencement, graduates always tell me how fast their college years went by. They say that, “Time flies when you are having fun!” I would revise that to say, “Time flies when you are engaged in meaningful, life-changing experiences.” Over the course of this year, your student has worked hard in classes, developed relationships with faculty who have guided and challenged them, engaged in opportunities to deepen their faith, and made lifelong friends. No wonder time seems to go so quickly!

As the dean of students, I want to thank you for being a part of the Hope family. Our community is better because of the energy and gifts you and your student have shared with us. Whether your student will be continuing as a student next year or stepping into the new role of Hope alumnus, there is much to look forward to in 2019-20.

For those parents and families who will be joining us on May 5 for graduation, we look forward to celebrating your student’s many accomplishments and will be shedding a tear as we say goodbye to the Class of 2019, whom we love dearly.

Thank you!

Spera in Deo
Richard A. Frost
Dean of Students

Refer A Student

Referrals from alumni and families make a difference. Once a prospective student is referred, one in five of them apply. Over the past four years, nearly 300 students are at Hope because they first connected through a referral from someone like you.

WHY HOPE?
With more than 3,500 colleges and universities in the United States alone, what makes Hope such a unique option? Well, let’s start with three words: mind, body and spirit. These are the anchors of the Hope experience. Before you reach out to the prospective Hope students in your life, brush up on why there’s never been a better time to consider Hope College.

WHO SHOULD I REFER?
Students from around the world that are currently sophomores and juniors in high school and have demonstrated leadership, service and academic performance are great candidates for a referral. We seek students who will bring a wide range of perspectives and gifts to enrich our campus community. Though admission is selective, we’ll give each completed application careful consideration and review for factors that signal future academic and social success.

WHAT SHOULD I SAY?

Feel free to share your own Hope experiences in addition to these ideas:

For those that express interest, don’t forget to suggest they apply.

HOW DO I MAKE A REFERRAL
Making a referral is easy. You simply fill out this refer a student form. There are a few required fields including:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Current school

Other items like contact information, date of birth, GPA and academic interests are not required, but are helpful if you have them.

The Hope College admissions team will follow up with individual attention to the student you recommended.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
You’ll receive an email from Hope confirming your referral, and we will follow up with the student encouraging them to apply to Hope.

As a thank you for referring a student you will receive a coupon code for $10 off a purchase of $40 or more to the Hope College Bookstore.

Refer a student today!

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 [email protected].

Parent to Parent

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

The Harvey Family

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

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

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.

The Goszkowicz Family

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