Hope Forward

Jumping up from his seat, a student works out a theory on the whiteboard to better understand a concept in Dr. Griffin’s neuroscience class. He draws connections between the reading from the text, his personal faith and prior lessons. The students, fully engaged, nod in agreement with follow-up questions flowing. Similarly, in Dr. Andre’s pottery class down the hall, students are just as focused, attentive and engaged as they create new pieces of work that represent treasured experiences. As the classes come to a close, the students request additional reading material and express excitement for their homework. You may read this and think we’re making this up. What student asks for more homework? But we’ve been told that what we experienced in the Hope Western Prison Education Program (HWPEP) is par for the course among these three cohorts of students at the Muskegon Correctional Facility. These men demonstrate a palpable passion for learning and a drive to succeed that is nothing short of inspiring.

Contrary to what some may believe, the men at Muskegon Correctional Facility are more similar to their peers at Hope College than different. Both sets of students love learning and take their education seriously. And, they are eager to use their education to bless their communities by living into our mission at Hope College—to live lives of leadership and service. Additionally, both groups of students participate in visionary programs—Hope Forward and HWPEP—which focus on innovation in higher education through access, community and generosity.

As the Hope Forward program director and program coordinator, we have a front-row seat to the transformative impact that Hope Forward is having on undergraduate students at Hope College. Last week, we also witnessed firsthand the profound effect that HWPEP is having on students within the Muskegon Correctional Facility.

Hope Forward and HWPEP both offer a glimpse into educational transformation. With Hope Forward, students receive fully funded tuition provided by the generosity of donors and commit to give back after they graduate at any amount they choose so others have the same opportunity. Meanwhile, HWPEP provides incarcerated students a transformational education, rigorous academic opportunities, and a sense of belonging and purpose, made possible through the generosity of program donors. Both exemplify Hope College’s dedication to education, leadership and community impact, underscoring the transformative power of education across diverse contexts.

However, just as we can discuss the transformational experience of Hope Forward and HWPEP students, we must also acknowledge the ways in which these students are mutually transforming Hope College. To start, both programs challenge conventional notions of educational privilege and access, driving the institution to enhance equitable opportunities for all students. Furthermore, students infuse the institutional culture with a dynamic energy by enriching their own lives with purpose and living that purpose out during their time as students. As a result, they serve as living testaments and teachers of the transformative power of hope (both the concept and the place), leaving an indelible mark on the fabric and function of Hope College.

When we shared the principles of the Hope Forward program with the HWPEP cohorts, we were deeply moved by their response. The first question both groups asked was, “How can we give to Hope Forward?” Though an initial reaction may be to feel hesitant about receiving generosity from someone in these circumstances, fostering a culture of generosity is a core goal of Hope Forward. This simple question that was asked two times in a row struck a chord with us—here were individuals eager to give back and make a positive impact within their current circumstances. This shared commitment to generosity enriches the entire community, demonstrating that everyone, regardless of their situation, can contribute to and benefit from a culture of giving.

As we drove home with HWPEP Coordinator Amy Piscer, all three of us pondered a common question regarding our respective pilot programs: Are they working? With both programs set to graduate their first cohorts of seniors next spring, it’s a question that naturally arises. Amy shared insights from HWPEP’s leadership, who view the program as planting seeds that they hope will continue to flourish beyond the participants’ time in the program. Similarly, in Hope Forward, we find ourselves uncertain about what lies ahead for our inaugural cohort of students once they embark on their post-college journeys.

One obvious distinction between the two programs is the destination of their graduates: Hope Forward graduates will venture into various sectors of public life, while HWPEP graduates will re-enter different environments within the system. Some of the men will stay at the Muskegon Correctional Facility, some are up for parole, and some will return to correctional facilities outside their current context. No matter their trajectory, many of the men are excited to make a positive impact following the program. For instance, one HWPEP student who is up for parole wants to get a master’s of social work to help young men break free from cycles of familial turmoil, while another wants to start a writing program at whichever facility he’s in next. Some want to stay at MCF to help mentor future students in the program. Their excitement to leverage their Hope College education to bring hope to the world mirrors the anticipation we see in our Hope Forward students. Despite the unique paths our students in both programs may take, we share a common optimism that the transformational education and experiences provided by Hope College through HWPEP and Hope Forward will empower our students to lead lives of positive impact, wherever their futures may lead them.

The visit left a profound impression on us, igniting our eagerness to explore additional ways to support and learn from HWPEP. As of right now, both programs envision a meaningful exchange between our senior cohorts, where they will have space to reflect on their Hope College experiences using the same sets of questions, articulate their aspirations for positive impact in light of their transformational Hope College experiences, and hear from one another in the process. We firmly believe that both senior cohorts—Hope Forward and HWPEP—have much to offer each other, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing the transformation they will bring to one another, to Hope College and beyond.

Live authentically with no apologies.

That’s a mantra Hope College alumna and world record holder Jenn Drummond ’01 lives by. It’s something she learned as a student on Hope’s campus.

And it’s a foundational concept underlying our Hope Forward program.

Drummond, who is the first woman to reach all seven Second Summits (the second-highest mountains on each of the seven continents), has dedicated herself to motivating others to reach their own summits in life. She visited Hope College recently during Milestone Weekend to share her motivational message.

After a near fatal car accident in 2018 in which she wasn’t expected to survive, Drummond says she realized, “You don’t get to choose when you leave this life…but you sure can choose how to live it.”

Instead of continuing to pursue success as a business owner while being a stay-at-home mom to her seven children, the accident motivated Drummond to take stock of her priorities. She realized that she was living “the expectations that others had set” for her and decided to change course. She created a bucket list and set a goal to climb a mountain, which expanded to conquering all seven Second Summits.

This was not the first dramatic change of course in her life. When Drummond was an undergraduate at Hope College, she changed her major from pre-medicine to business.

“I had everything going for me when I decided to be pre-med,” she said. “Then Dr. [Graham] Peaslee pulled me aside. He cared enough to say, ‘Let’s think about this.’”

He talked to Drummond about the hours she would be spending at the library behind a desk studying like all the other pre-med students. Peaslee challenged her to consider whether that went along with her magnetic, “people person” personality. Days later, a Hope business law professor told her, “Jenn, you’re so built for business.” She changed her major that day and never looked back.

After graduating from Hope, she landed her first job in finance and later started her own company, often returning to her Hope professors for advice.

“Hope faculty were game changers for me,” Drummond said. “The professors knew me. I wasn’t just a number. They were willing to reach out to me and invest in me. And they supported me long after graduation.”

If Drummond could give advice to every Hope student like her professors gave to her, she would tell them, “Have the courage to listen to that inner calling and live it out.”

Students being able to live out their calling is one reason she values Hope Forward. Under Hope College’s revolutionary new funding model, the generosity of others provides fully-funded tuition for students. When they graduate, they agree to pay it forward at any amount they choose to allow others to have the same opportunity.

With tuition covered, students don’t feel forced to take jobs with high incomes to repay overwhelming debt, so they are free to pursue their calling. Or, in the words of Jenn Drummond, students are free “to be their authentic selves with no apologies.”

Receiving the gift of fully-funded tuition is a powerful gift, she said. Drummond remembers receiving a gift that her family couldn’t repay when she was growing up. Someone paid for landscaping to make their home a better fit for their family, an expense that they couldn’t afford at the time.

“That was the first time I was given a gift that I couldn’t repay,” she explained. “It’s a different kind of gift. You learn the significance of being able to give a gift that somebody else can’t repay. It gets you thinking: How can I do something that feels as good as this for someone else?”

This is what Hope Forward is all about. The funding model is based on Christ’s instructions “freely you have received; now freely give.” (Matthew 10:8) The ripple effect of gifted tuition is designed not only to bring hope to students who never thought they could afford college, but also to inspire students with a radical generosity that they will carry beyond campus to give generously to others, especially to those who cannot repay them.

Sitting at a recent Hope Forward Positive Impact Banquet, I had a realization.

While the freshmen students were thanking the guests they invited for the positive impact that they had on them during their first year on campus, perhaps the bigger impact has been how the Hope Forward cohort has positively affected the Hope College campus community.

Isn’t that just like grace? When you set out to do something extraordinarily kind to someone else — like fully funding tuition for students so they are not saddled with overwhelming debt — you end up being more blessed as the giver than the receiver.

In this case, Hope College has been blessed by the incredible generosity of donors for the Hope Forward program. We’ve passed that on by covering the tuition cost for each Hope Forward student. Far from being entitled, these students are deeply grateful for receiving a transformative Christian liberal arts education and that gratefulness is expressing itself in tangible ways that are transforming campus.

Hope Forward students entrusted with the gift of tuition don’t want to let down donors who believe in them. They are fully invested in their education. Students also say they feel the full weight of the covenant they’ve made to give back to Hope faithfully after graduation (at any amount they choose) so even more students can have the same opportunity.

In their Hope Forward co-curricular programming, they not only build community to support each other, but also discuss practical issues like budgeting, managing money, and cultivating gratitude and other character qualities. Students are delving deeply into what it means to be generous and how to live a lifestyle of generosity starting now, while they are on campus. That’s just what they are doing.

From the Positive Impact Banquet, here’s a snapshot of what Hope Forward students are learning, what they’re thankful for, and what they want to pass on to others because of what others have done for them:

“We’re living an answered prayer that we get to attend an amazing college.”
“I’ve learned grace — kindness, helpfulness and acceptance by others. It’s not selective. We all need it.”
“Part of giving and receiving grace means forgiveness. You need to give grace to others and to yourself.”
“Being present for others takes commitment and selfless love, something all of you have done.” “Thank you for your whole-hearted care.”
“Generosity is not just about giving financially. It’s giving of your treasures, time and talents. We look to you all with admiration and a desire to give the way you have given to us.”
“Thank you for carrying us on your shoulders and raising us up to be all we can be.”
“Thank you for helping me know that I am not alone.”
“I’ve learned more about the heart, love and character of God through you.”
“Thank you for taking me in on breaks, throwing me a birthday party and having my favorite foods when I come to stay.”
“Thank you for your compassion, generosity and listening ear. You’re my second mom on campus.”
“You’ve inspired me and pushed me to be the best version of myself.”
“My professor did not shy away from reaching out to me during difficult times. He goes above and beyond.”
“You always brighten my day by being someone I can talk to — and always giving me sandwich cookies!”

From something as simple as giving a sandwich cookie to something as significant as faithfully supporting a student with serious health issues, these Hope Forward students couldn’t be more thankful for the positive impact others have had on them during their freshman year.

But, these recipients of generosity and grace aren’t waiting until they graduate to pay it forward. They are spreading it to others— in classrooms, dorms, athletic arenas, study groups, student organizations, dining halls and everywhere they go on campus. Our Hope Forward students are a tangible demonstration of the beautiful ripple effect of God’s grace.

Hope College Spring Break Immersion Trips change students’ perspectives. This year’s trip to Nashville changed mine. Hope College Campus Ministries offers these opportunities for students to travel domestically and internationally. The goal of the short-term service-learning experience is to fully immerse students in an environment, focusing on living out our Christian faith of loving God and loving others. 

“We are not sent to save the world but to serve the world in the name of the God who saves” – Hope College Campus Ministries 

Nineteen students and leaders spent the week working with City Service Mission (CSM) — a program that provides short-term Christian mission experiences in urban settings. CSM allowed us to connect with several different nonprofit organizations in the city center. The non-profits ranged from Day Shelters for people experiencing homelessness, to Urban Farming Centers dedicated to helping those dealing with food insecurity, to environmental projects. After my time in Nashville, I reflected on the pillars of Hope Forward: Community, Access and Generosity, and how they were deeply woven into our experience. 

Community 

People Loving Nashville (PLN), is an organization focused on building community and providing people with basic resources. Every Monday night for the past fifteen years, PLN has hosted a block-party-style event providing services to people experiencing homelessness. Everyone at the event gets to participate in this truly beautiful community. The night that we were there the resources provided included popup showers, meals, coffee and even pet care for those who have animal companions. 

Our group’s role was community engagement. I had an amazing time getting to know others and just hearing people’s stories. There I saw barriers being broken between those who are experiencing homelessness and the volunteers. There were no “us and them” categories, just people having conversations and enjoying each other’s company. Everyone was looking after one another. What was really interesting was seeing people who have been going to PLN for a while and the familial atmosphere that existed in people’s interactions. I walked away wondering what my own community would be like if we all looked after one another. PLN gave me a little taste of what that could look like. No more categories of who belonged and who didn’t. Simply, everyone belonged in this community. It was so beautiful. 

Access 

Access breaks down barriers. We visited areas abundant with opportunity, and others, negatively impacted by gentrification. One of the days we volunteered with Project Cure, a non-profit that delivers medical supplies and equipment to developing countries. We worked in their warehouse organizing boxed-up medical supplies to be shipped around the world. One shipment that day was sent to Gaza. I think it is surreal. The supplies we assembled will be sent to places seemingly unreachable. 

This experience made me more aware of my privileges. It reminded me, not everyone has the same level of access I do, and how my access to resources can be a barrier to access for others. Our specific backgrounds are determined by the societal systems we live under. The systems of power and oppression we saw alive in Nashville are the same ones I have seen throughout my life. Homelessness is a huge epidemic in not just Nashville, but the United States as a whole. Without access to affordable housing or a community having the resources to help, people can be left behind. It shouldn’t be a surprise that people struggle when there is almost no way of receiving aid. My experiences working with nonprofits, like Project Cure, remind me that problems aren’t going to fix themselves. We need to work together to dismantle the barriers that leave people behind. 

Generosity 

Generosity is contagious. I give because I receive blessings from others. In Nashville, we encountered radical hospitality. We learned from the non-profit workers that respect was something that should be generously given. The workers welcomed every individual knowing they are full of dignity. In their world, no one is below or above. This radical hospitality was clearly presented in every non-profit worker we met. I discovered that, by just being curious and hearing people’s stories, I saw them more fully. Empathy is what fuels generosity and in turn, generosity fuels even more generosity. Start asking yourself, “How can I grow in empathy?” Empathy will give you the capacity to give. I know it’s true, these non-profit workers and regular volunteers are living examples. 

Returning to Hope 

Ironically, as both a social work major and Hope Forward student, I grew in optimism about the difference we can make. Some problems are deeply rooted in the fabric of our society. While the problems we face are complex, positive change is still possible. We saw it with our own eyes! Encountering a problem as close to the ground as possible builds understanding. By asking yourself and your community how to bring hope to it, we discover a beautiful community that we might never have imagined, and the new friends we meet along the way help us grow in hope.