Class Year: 2000

Sarah Sanderson ’03

The Hope College Alumni Association will present Distinguished Alumni Awards to Dr. Michael Dickinson ’87 and Sarah Sanderson ’03 on Saturday, April 29, during the banquet held as part of Alumni Weekend. Dickinson is a specialist in cardiovascular diseases and advanced heart failure and transplant with Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health Medical Group) in Grand… Continue Reading →

Valerie Patrick ’04 Smith

Valerie Patrick ’04 Smith completed her Master of Science degree in historic preservation at Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Prior to this degree, she completed an advanced certificate with Columbia, allowing her to study architecture in Paris. Her thesis, “The Small House Movement of the 1920s: Preserving Small ‘Better Houses,’” has been… Continue Reading →

Matt Schwabauer ’06

Matt Schwabauer ’06 moved at the beginning of October to Naples, Florida, where he works as a carpenter at Gulfshore Playhouse, a premier, professional regional theatre in Southwest Florida. He was also recently cast as Captain Von Trapp in The Naples Players’ production of The Sound of Music, which ran March 1 – April 2. Continue Reading →

Sarah Herington ’08 Charles

Sarah Herington ’08 Charles and Lee Charles announce the birth of Anita Genavieve on Oct. 17, 2022. She joins her older sisters, Gavi and Jessa. They live in Waukee, Iowa, and Sarah volunteers as a clinic manager at Waukee Area Christian Services Free Primary Care Clinic. Continue Reading →

Clayton Trapp ’02

CLAYTON ALBERT TRAPP, 42, of Grand Rapids, Michigan was born July 8, 1980 and passed away on February 20, 2023 in Golden, Colorado. Clay graduated from Forest Hills Central and was a All-State Linebacker (along with his brother Clint). Clay graduated from Hope College, Holland MI with a business degree. Finally settling in Golden, Colorado… Continue Reading →

Paul Lillie ’00

Paul Lillie ’00 joined The Clear Sailing Wealth Group at RBC Wealth Management as a financial advisor. He is working out of the Chicago, Illinois, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, offices. Continue Reading →

Beth Timmer ’00 Szczerowski

Katie Wright ’06 DeKoster and Kate Bultema ’09 Ralston have been named to new leadership roles in alumni and family engagement at Hope. DeKoster has been appointed director of family engagement after previously serving as assistant director of student life. Ralston has been named director of alumni engagement after previously serving as associate director of… Continue Reading →

Maggie Schakel ’01 Hirt

Maggie Schakel ’01 Hirt, her husband Nick and their four children have spent the last six years exploring the world on a sailboat. They have spent time in the Caribbean, Ireland, Scotland and Spain, just to name a few, and are now currently in New Zealand. Nick is able to work remotely from their locations… Continue Reading →

Josiah Dykstra ’02

Josiah Dykstra ’02 has co-authored his second book, Cybersecurity Myths and Misconceptions: Avoiding the Hazards and Pitfalls that Derail Us. He also wrote Essential Cybersecurity Science. Continue Reading →

Heather Bachelor ’02 Karlson

Heather Bachelor ’02 Karlson works as a birth doula in the Chicago suburbs, entering her 13th year educating and supporting families prenatally, at labor and birth, and postpartum. She received her master’s degree from National- Louis University in curriculum and instruction and has homeschooled her five children while doing birth work. Continue Reading →

Chad Carlson ’03

Chad Carlson ’03 who has been a member of the Hope College kinesiology faculty since 2014, has become the third generation in his family to achieve the rank of full professor at Hope. His grandfather Dr. Lamont Dirkse ’50, who taught at Hope from 1964 until retiring in 1992, was promoted to professor of education… Continue Reading →

Tracey Forbes ’03 Hoesch

The Hope College Alumni Association Board of Directors has appointed four new members. The board’s new members are: Craig DeSousa ’72 of Garden City, New York; Liam Naumann ’25 of Wyckoff, New Jersey; Marissa Solorzano ’19 of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Gaye van den Hombergh ’81 of Lincolnshire, Illinois. (Pictured clockwise starting from the top… Continue Reading →