Watching Them Grow: A Hope Forward & International Senior Spotlight

By Hajar Ahmadi, Hope Forward Class of 2028 In just a few days, some of the most inspiring students I’ve had the privilege to know will be graduating—and honestly, it’s hard to put into words how proud I am of them. These are not just any students. They are international and Hope Forward seniors, and …

A Little Goes A Long Way

Hope College athletes know how to compete. They’ve harnessed their competitive spirit by working together to defeat childhood hunger in the Holland community. “We had a blast packing backpacks for kids who face weekend hunger,” said Grace Wesley, a senior on the swim team who organized the event. “It always ends up in a big …

Learning, Sharing and Growing Together

Over the past two semesters, I have had the absolute pleasure of being a Character Forward intern for the Hope Forward program. As a sophomore here at Hope, I began looking for opportunities to become more involved on campus because that is something I had truly missed out on in high school and my freshman …

International Food Fair: Access, Generosity and Community

Being part of Hope Forward has taught me the importance of its three pillars: access, generosity and community. This year, I had the opportunity to put them into practice through the International Food Fair, an event that brought different cultures together through food. Sharing this experience with Hope College’s international students was truly special — …

Growing in Generosity

Before our freshman retreat, my Hope Forward cohort felt like a collection of distant acquaintances I wasn’t able to get to know due to the chaos during my first semester of college. I knew that they were all good people, but time just didn’t align enough for a relationship to form. Thankfully, because of the …

Making a Shift From Debt to a Life of Generosity

Jesus’ miracle of feeding a crowd of 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and two fish is exactly what comes to mind when a Hope College staff member thinks about Day of Giving, our biggest giving event of the year. The person, who wishes to remain anonymous, said they were inspired to sponsor a …

The Muscle of Generosity: Words of Wisdom from a Hope Forward Senior

At the start of the year, the 2028 freshman Hope Forward cohort gathered for a meaningful introductory ceremony. They were introduced to one another, signed the Hope Forward covenant with President Scogin, and received a pin from Provost Gerald Griffin that they will wear again on their graduation day. This year, with all four Hope …

Volunteering | Opportunities to Spread Hope and Love to the World

Hope College students play a vital role in the Holland community, and Time to Serve connects them to service opportunities in their new “hometown.” From working in community gardens to restocking food pantries and caring for animals, students participate in meaningful projects. This year, the Hope Forward freshman cohort served at three Gateway locations: the …

“One of the Most Incredible Things I’ve Heard About”

Listen to MLive Michigan’s Best podcast where Eric Hultgren ’96 explores “one of the most incredible things” he’s ever heard about: Hope Forward. This revolutionary college funding model has earned Hope College a #23 ranking on U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 list of Most Innovative Colleges. President Matthew Scogin and Hope Forward Program Director …

Celebrating Our Students and Looking Ahead with Hope Forward

In about a week, Hope College will welcome our newest and largest Hope Forward cohort — 40 bright freshmen ready to embark on their college journey. This milestone marks a significant chapter for Hope Forward because the 2024–2025 academic year will be the first time we will have on campus four full cohorts — 120 …