Dr. Robert Motzer ’77
May 16-18 “Milestone Weekend” a Chance to Enjoy Hope without Exams or Papers
Talks by alumni and faculty on topics ranging from mountain climbing around the world to brain-regeneration research at Hope, campus tours and updates about the college, and opportunities to connect with other members of the Hope family will all be among the highlights of the college’s Milestone Weekend running Thursday-Saturday, May 16-18.
The event is new, but also has a long pedigree. It’s a descendent of the Alumni Weekend of years past, retaining parts of the former tradition while emphasizing opportunities to learn from alumni and faculty while enjoying fellowship on campus — like being a student, only without papers to write or exams to take.
Moving the weekend ahead a few weeks to mid-May instead of Alumni Weekend’s latter-April situates the event in an even gentler part of spring, when campus and West Michigan are at their best. It also deliberately lands near one of the most significant dates in the college’s history, and hence the new name: May 14 is the anniversary of when in 1866 the college received its Charter of Incorporation as a College of Liberal Arts from the State of Michigan.
The program begins on Thursday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. with a talk by Jenn Drummond ’01, who as featured in the Winter 2023 issue of News from Hope College is the first woman to climb the world’s Seven Second Summits. The evening’s events will also include a dinner and the presentation of Distinguished Alumni Awards to Dr. Robert Motzer ’77 of Ridgewood, New Jersey, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Research Center who has been at the forefront of research into kidney cancer for more than 30 years; and Nontsikelelo Sisulu-Singpai ’97 of Midrand, South Africa, who is chief director of the Department of Women, Children & People with Disabilities, South African government.
Multiple “Milestone Sessions” throughout the day on Friday, May 17, will include an additional talk by Drummond and addresses by Motzer and Sisulu-Singapi; a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion; updates about Hope’s academic programs, and research presentations and lab tours with faculty and students in the natural and applied sciences; campus tours emphasizing sustainability and the college’s newest buildings; and reflections by students participating in the Hope Forward initiative.
Saturday, May 18, will include a guided tour through Holland from the comfort of a Hope College tour bus and the latest exhibitions at the Kruizenga Art Museum.
In addition to the preceding activities, which are open to everyone (and mostly free, except for the opening evening and the bus tour), there will be events for the 50-Year Circle and a reunion for the 50-year Class of 1974 on Friday and Saturday.
The complete schedule and registration information are available online.
hope.edu/milestoneweekend