News from Hope College is published during April, August and December for alumni, friends and parents of Hope College by the Division of Public Affairs and Marketing.
Wesley Granberg-Michaelson ’67 published his 10th book, Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage. Drawing from experiences on the Camino de Santiago in Spain; Lourdes, France; Mt. Tabieorar, Nigeria; and elsewhere, he shares how faith is best experienced through embodied practices as a pilgrimage. Stories and resources are shared that encourage anyone’s inward … Continue reading "Wesley Granberg-Michaelson ’67"
Bob Terwilliger ’68 recently published a book of lighthearted essays titled Cleverly Yours: Humorous Glimpses of Life as a Christian. The book consists of a selection of Bob’s writings for the church newsletter during his 15 years as pastor of Bethany Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Each essay looks at an everyday event or circumstance … Continue reading "Bob Terwilliger ’68"
Tim Tam ’69 and his son, Isaac Tam ’01 were given the Recognition of Community Service Award on Monday, Nov. 30, by the British Columbia Dental Association for their extraordinary efforts to provide emergency dental care during British Columbia’s Stage 1 COVID-19 pandemic response.
Michael Ebbers ’73 retired in 2014 after nearly 41 years with IBM, where he worked with large mainframe computers. That career was sparked by taking a FORTRAN statistics course from Dr. Herbert Dershem while at Hope. He resides in the Catskill mountains of New York with his wife, Kathy. He reports that they ski in … Continue reading "Michael Ebbers ’73"
Mary Jo Coughenour ’78 Baker has edited and published two volumes (available through Amazon/Kindle) in collaboration with her dad, The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Coughenour, a Hope College professor 1969 to 1975, and 1974 H.O.P.E. award recipient. The first two books, from a series of four, are: In Pursuit of Wisdom: A Memoir, Vol. 1. … Continue reading "Mary Jo Coughenour ’78 Baker"
Robert Niedt ’78 and his wife, Linda, have moved to Staunton, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, where he continues to write and edit for Kiplinger Washington Editors in Washington, D.C. (remotely that is, he reports, also noting that the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains is stunning).
Marcia Vanden Berg ’78 retired on Jan. 30, 2020, after 27 years at HealthWest in Muskegon, Michigan. She held positions as a case manager, community placement coordinator, clinical supervisor I and II, contract specialist and finally provider network manager. During her time at HealthWest, she also served on the crisis response team for the county … Continue reading "Marcia Vanden Berg ’78"
The Hope College Alumni Association is honoring four alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards this year. The association plans to celebrate both the 2020 and 2021 honorees virtually at a date to be determined. The awards are normally presented at the annual Alumni Banquet during Alumni Weekend each April, but this year’s and last year’s events … Continue reading "Craig Morford ’81"
Ellen Brandle ’86 reports that after 11 years in the same position at the same school (teaching English and German to five- and six-year-olds in an English language immersion program at an international school in Berlin), she requested in September to take over a new class of six year olds who are at high risk … Continue reading "Ellen Brandle ’86"
The Hope College Alumni Association is honoring four alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards this year. The association plans to celebrate both the 2020 and 2021 honorees virtually at a date to be determined. The awards are normally presented at the annual Alumni Banquet during Alumni Weekend each April, but this year’s and last year’s events … Continue reading "Deborah Heydenburg ’87 Fuller"
Victoria Derr ’90 has recently published her second academic book, Latin American Transnational Children and Youth: Experiences of Nature and Place, Culture and Care Across the Americas with colleague Yolanda Corona. She is an associate professor at California State University Monterey Bay.
Michelle Hoppe ’90 Long is currently in her 10th season as director of education at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and celebrating her latest play adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit and its premiere on Broadway On Demand available through March 2021.
Tim Johnston ’93 has published the latest novel in his Civil War historical fiction series, Locett’s Betrayal, which is available under the pen name of T.J. Johnston.
Jeff Baxter ’94 published Exploring Israel: Helpful Insights for Studying the Land of the Bible. The nearly 300-page book explores 30 places in Israel with maps and pictures to help people understand the Bible better and grow their faith.
Evan Llewellyn ’97 has been named a principal with Edward Jones holding company. He was one of 161 individuals chosen this year from more than 50,000 associates.
Tracy Bednarick ’98 and Chris Humes were married on Dec. 19, 2020, in St. Louis, Missouri. She received a master’s in gifted education from Lindenwood University and is the executive vice president of the Gifted Association of Missouri.
Matthew Kuiper ’98 and Laurie Byington ’96 Kuiper→
Matthew Kuiper ’98 who is an assistant professor of religious studies at Missouri State University, has published his second book, Da’wa: A Global History of Islamic Missionary Thought and Practice, which was published by Edinburgh University Press in late January 2021. He is married to Laurie Byington ’96 Kuiper, and he spent nearly three years … Continue reading "Matthew Kuiper ’98 and Laurie Byington ’96 Kuiper"
The Hope College Alumni Association is honoring four alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards this year. The association plans to celebrate both the 2020 and 2021 honorees virtually at a date to be determined. The awards are normally presented at the annual Alumni Banquet during Alumni Weekend each April, but this year’s and last year’s events … Continue reading "Lara Plewka ’98 MacGregor"
Rebecca de Velder ’99 Fein and colleague Dr. Leila Kalankesh won the Coronovation 2020 Golden Award granted by the World Business Institute at the United States. Their winning project is called “COVID-19 Voices,” and is an app that allows patients with COVID-19 to track their experiences and provide the real-time data to researchers.
CAPTAIN SUSAN E. HINMAN, DENTAL CORPS, U.S. NAVY Captain Hinman graduated from Hope College, Holland, MI in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. In 2004 she graduated from The University of Michigan School of Dentistry receiving a Doctorate of Dental Surgery and was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. Upon graduation from … Continue reading "Susan Hinman ’00"
Laura Donnelly ’01, an associate professor of English and creative writing at SUNY Oswego, returned to Hope electronically on Nov. 10, when she paid a virtual visit to the poetry class taught by Pablo Peschiera ’93. This fall also saw the publication of her new poetry book Midwest Gothic, which explores themes of place, religion, … Continue reading "Laura Donnelly ’01"
Tim Tam ’69 and his son, Isaac Tam ’01 were given the Recognition of Community Service Award on Monday, Nov. 30, by the British Columbia Dental Association for their extraordinary efforts to provide emergency dental care during British Columbia’s Stage 1 COVID-19 pandemic response.
Rebecca LaRoy ’01 Town is serving as copastor, alongside her husband, Greg Town ’02, of the Knox and Thompson’s Lake Reformed Church in Knox, New York.
Laura Donnelly ’01, an associate professor of English and creative writing at SUNY Oswego, returned to Hope electronically on Nov. 10, when she paid a virtual visit to the poetry class taught by Pablo Peschiera ’93. This fall also saw the publication of her new poetry book Midwest Gothic, which explores themes of place, religion, … Continue reading "Katherine Bode-Lang ’02"
Treasure Givan ’02 Samuel is a librarian and middle school electives teacher at The Franklin Academy, a STEM-based independent school in Bellingham, Washington
Vince Scheffler ’03 and the other Parker University Board of Trustees members were honored by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges with the 2019-20 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership. The university experienced severe damage following a tornado that hit Dallas, Texas, in October 2019. The board immediately deployed resources to … Continue reading "Vince Scheffler ’03"
Kimberly Lauver ’04 Fletcher has become the data library manager for HR Consulting Group, Sapient Insights. She is also enjoying being a coach with CYO in volleyball and basketball for middle school girls.
The Black Excellence Dinner and awards ceremony hosted by the college’s Black Student Union has become a beloved tradition, and so even though the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic precluded gathering in person the celebration continued. Given the format, the fifth annual event didn’t include a banquet, but the online ceremony featured student performances and recitations, … Continue reading "Kristina Kyles-Smith ’04"
Jason Burns ’06 and Nathan Brunner announce the birth of Elizabeth Addison Brunner-Burns on July 31, 2020. They expect the finalization of their adoption to take place in early 2021.
Stephanie Koenke ’06 Kostsuca has received the outstanding clinician award from the American Physical Therapy Association of Michigan. This award is presented to one physical therapist in the state of Michigan each year who has exemplified excellence in clinical care as well as influence and mentorship to students and fellow therapists.
The Black Excellence Dinner and awards ceremony hosted by the college’s Black Student Union has become a beloved tradition, and so even though the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic precluded gathering in person the celebration continued. Given the format, the fifth annual event didn’t include a banquet, but the online ceremony featured student performances and recitations, … Continue reading "Jessica Rankins Parker ’07"
Mercedes Cowper ’08 has become the marketplace manager with the real estate development company CANA Development, managing a high-end food hall in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington, D.C. Previously, she was the wine director at Plume restaurant in downtown D.C. In the interim, after the closing of the restaurant in March 2020, she started … Continue reading "Mercedes Cowper ’08"
Erika English ’09 Mayer and Nate Mayer announce the birth of Leonys (Leo) on April 12, 2019. They report that he was born with complications but under God’s grace has since flourished and excelled.
Justine Post ’09 and her husband, Andrew Hammond, announce the birth of Edith Jane on April 20, 2020. She joins a big sister, Dorothy Ann. They live in North Carolina
Tiffany Day ’09 Russ and Garrett Russ ’09 announce the birth of Addilyn Mae on Dec. 1, 2020. She joins older siblings, Gabriel (6), Ava (4) and Mia (2).
Emily Cook ’10 Pierson completed her master’s in English literature at Grand Valley State University in December 2020. She and Preston Pierson announce the birth of Olivia Kay on Oct. 13, 2019.
Kara Shetler ’10 earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2016 from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 2020, she completed a neurology residency at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she is also completing a fellowship.
John Spruance ’10 has been coaching college basketball for 10 years. He started after graduation and was on staff at the University of Hawaii. He has also been at Lewis University, University of Indianapolis and now University of Southern Indiana. He was recently named one of the top 50 impactful assistant coaches in NCAA Division … Continue reading "John Spruance ’10"
Parker Bussies ’14 graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine with a MDMS in genomic medicine and is completing his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Cleveland Clinic
Damon Cove ’19 and Madison Lynema ’19 were married in June 2020 in Holland, Michigan. Their wedding was officiated by Professor John Yelding at Holland State Park.
