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.
Milt Nieuwsma ’63 of Holland, Michigan, authored a new book, Miracle on Chestnut Street: The Untold Story of Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, published in December. It is intended especially for teens and young adults. Milt previously created—including conducting research for and writing—the Inventing America: Conversations with the Founders trilogy filmed at Hope … Continue reading "Milt Nieuwsma ’63"
The Hope College Alumni Association will present Distinguished Alumni Awards to Jalaa’ Abdelwahab ’97 and the Rev. Dr. Tim Brown ’73 during the first in-person Alumni Weekend celebration since 2019. Abdelwahab recently became Director of Vaccine Programmes in the Country Programme of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in Geneva, Switzerland, following 10 … Continue reading "Tim Brown ’73"
Mike Ebbers ’73 and his wife Kathy completed the Great Loop in their retirement years. It is a 6,000 mile boat trip around the eastern third of the United States. It can be done in four to nine months, but it took them three years, from 2016 to 2019. The trip included waterways in Canada … Continue reading "Mike Ebbers ’73"
Jackie Venhuisen ’73 Solt reports that her son, Jeffrey, tragically passed away on June 12, 2021, at the age of 43 from diabetes complications and leaves a great void in her life.
David Daubenspeck ’74 retired as a financial advisor with California Credit Union in June 2020. He then turned his attention to researching and writing his first book, The Shocking Disconnect: Why Christians Fail to Impact Culture and Politics and How to Make a Comeback. The book was published in November, 2021. A corollary small group … Continue reading "David Daubenspeck ’74"
Addy Whitehouse ’75 has published her debut novel, Signs of Murder: A Dana Demeter Mystery, under the pen name A. F. Whitehouse. She has retired after 40 years as an American Sign Language interpreter and lives in Waukesha, Wisconsin, with Bob Carty, her husband of 30 years.
Steven Mancinelli ’75 has relocated to the Catskill Mountains from Manhattan, New York City, where he lived for 40 years. He reports it’s better being a country boy.
Dirk Bloemendaal ’76 has wrapped up a 38-year career as a public policy advocate for Amway Corporation, representing the company and its independent distributors on the state and local public policy levels. He worked in Amway’s government affairs department, part of the company’s legal division, in nearly all the state capitols (his favorites were Sacramento, … Continue reading "Dirk Bloemendaal ’76"
Jack DeRuiter ’76 received the Alumni Professorship Award from Auburn University. The awards are presented on the basis of research, publishing and teaching.
Kathy Button ’79 Beauregard has retired after 42 years with Western Michigan University. She was the longest-serving athletic director at the same institution and just one of nine female athletic directors among 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools across the nation.
Sue Sharp ’80 Anker retired as a school social worker seven years ago from Farmington Public Schools. She has been on the Young Life staff for the past four years as the Young Life Eastern Great Lakes Regional Capernaum coordinator and team leader for Metro Detroit Capernaum. Capernaum is a Young Life outreach ministry to … Continue reading "Sue Sharp ’80 Anker"
John Vander Ven Jr. ’81 and his family moved to Otsego, Michigan, from Australia, where he lived for almost 30 years. He reports that it is great to be back living in small town, rural America.
Paul Van Heest ’82 was a finalist in the 2021 International Artprize competition held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His series of color pencil drawings, titled Four Calling Birds, also earned the artist four cash awards.
Tim Kasten ’82 has returned to Nairobi to the headquarters of the UN Environment Progamme (UNEP), where he serves as director of the policy and programme division responsible for UNEP’s strategic planning, results-based management, and setting the organizational programme to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution.
Eva Dean Folkert ’83 of Holland, Michigan, retired from the Hope College staff in February. She had served most recently as interim director of public affairs and marketing, but since 1985 had served in a variety of capacities at the college, including as a writer and editor in the public relations office; a member of … Continue reading "Eva Dean Folkert ’83"
John Brender ’84 is author of the book Millennial Expats in China: Experiences and Observations, published in December 2021. He is director of special initiatives with the office of international programs at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
Wendy Vander Hart ’85 finished a call as interim senior minister at First United Church of Christ in Northfield, Minnesota, and is now serving as interim senior pastor of Union Church in Waban, Massachusetts.
David McWatters ’86 returned into the woods, one hundred yards from Lake Michigan, spending the COVID years renovating Manitou Lodge. He reports that he is grateful to wake up each morning with a beautiful girl beside him, albeit one with a large nose and hairy ears. He and his Great Dane, Gracie, go to the … Continue reading "David McWatters ’86"
Diana Krahe ’86 Steketee is a registered play therapist serving children in the Jenison, Michigan, area. She has a primary interest in the issues related to foster care and adoption, having previously worked in the child welfare system for 20 years. In March, she became president of the Michigan Association for Play Therapy after previously … Continue reading "Diana Krahe ’86 Steketee"
Chad Bergman ’89 recently purchased Farnham’s Furniture in Casper, Wyoming, where he has worked for the past 28 years. Farnham’s carries medium- to upper-end furniture and mattresses in a 45,000-square-foot showroom.
Darrin Duistermars ’90 has received the 2021 Michigan Recreation & Parks Association Fellowship Award, which is presented to a member who consistently demonstrates significant investment, support and guidance to fellow professionals. Honorees exemplify the highest level of professionalism in all aspects of the profession, in their own organization and within the membership. Nominees must … Continue reading "Darrin Duistermars ’90"
Mark Van Genderen ’90 is the president of the commercial snow and ice division at Douglas Dynamics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Laura, and their four children (ages 7-16) continue to reside in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Jeff Brown ’96"
Cindy Canavera ’96 Crannell has been teaching STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) in River Forest (Illinois) School District 90 the last three years. Recently she was awarded The Jacobs Educator Award from Indiana University for her ability to teach lessons that teach students computational thinking.
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Erik Eldred ’96"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Jeremy Van Ek ’96"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Marcus Wasilevich ’96"
The Hope College Alumni Association will present Distinguished Alumni Awards to Jalaa’ Abdelwahab ’97 and the Rev. Dr. Tim Brown ’73 during the first in-person Alumni Weekend celebration since 2019. Abdelwahab recently became Director of Vaccine Programmes in the Country Programme of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in Geneva, Switzerland, following 10 … Continue reading "Jalaa’ Abdelwahab ’97"
Lisa Bos ’97 was promoted to senior director of government relations at World Vision US, a Christian humanitarian organization addressing the root causes of poverty in nearly 100 countries.
Sarah Dingerson ’97 Geukes is a principal at Hastings Middle School. She previously served as principal at Central Elementary in Hastings and Sandyview Elementary in Hamilton. She was recognized as the MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principal Association) 2021 Principal of the Year for Region 9. She and her family live in Middleville, Michigan.
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "John Delcalzo ’98"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Lloyd Dunlap ’98"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Brian Dykhuis ’98"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Greg Folkert ’98"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Peter Martin ’98"
As noted later in this issue, 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Lara Plewka ’98 MacGregor of Louisville, Kentucky, died on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Age 45, she passed away from metastatic breast cancer. A full obituary is available online (with a link to a video interview last year in conjunction with her DAA). In this … Continue reading "Lara Plewka ’98 MacGregor"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Seth Bruggers ’99"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: … Continue reading "Mark Tenhor ’99"
Team “12 Cents,” consisting of 12 alumni of the Centurian Fraternity, won the Masters division of Ragnar Michigan on September 25. Ragnar Michigan is a 200-mile running relay race from Muskegon to Traverse City. Each of the 12 team members runs three legs varying from three to nine miles each. The team members were: Jeff … Continue reading "Eric Zondervan ’00"
Sara Sanderson ’03 and Sean Doyle announce the birth of Jack Murphy on Nov. 10, 2021. They will travel to Stockholm in August for their second tour in the United States Foreign Service.
Eric Schrotenboer ’01 and Meredith Ter Haar ’03 Schrotenboer→
Eric Schrotenboer ’01 and Meredith Ter Haar ’03 Schrotenboer published a flip board book for small children. It is an adaptation of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
McKenna Reitz ’04 received the Toledo 2021 “20 under 40 Leadership Recognition Award” on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the 26th annual 20 under 40 ceremony. She was among the 20 selected from a field of 209 nominated candidates. She is a teacher of AP psychology and a varsity volleyball coach at Springfield High School. She … Continue reading "McKenna Reitz ’04"
Sarah Wilkinson ’04 Mathews was appointed the next Cass County Circuit/Probate/Family Court administrator and Friend of the Court director on Dec. 9, 2021, by Chief Judge Susan L. Dobrich. As the Circuit/Probate/Family Court Administrator, she will work closely with the Chief Judge on policy issues, budgets, and administrative issues for all three courts. As the … Continue reading "Sarah Wilkinson ’04 Mathews"
Eric De Boer ’05 and his school robotics team from Saint Bridge Middle School, Richmond, Virginia, won first place at the Virginia State Robotics Championship in just the school’s third year of having a robotics team. Close to 70 schools participated. They will head to the World Robotics Competition in Houston in April where corporations … Continue reading "Eric De Boer ’05"
Krista Hughes ’05 completed a 1,160 mile hike around the shoreline/perimeter of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula on Oct. 23, 2021. Beginning in the summer of 2015, Krista hiked 100-200 miles per year over seven summers. Along her route, she hiked the sandy/rocky beaches of three Great Lakes, hiked through and camped in many state parks, visited … Continue reading "Krista Hughes ’05"
Laura Rippberger ’06 Westover was among this year’s Incisal Edge magazine “40 under 40” honorees, who include 46 women and 40 men from 30 states. She works for Polar Pediatric Dental Care in Mentor, Ohio.
Jason Cash ’07 of Hudsonville, Michigan, has been appointed director of public affairs and marketing at Hope College, succeeding Eva Dean Folkert ’83, who retired in February. He was formerly the director of web communications at the college. He has been a member of the Hope staff since 2007, serving initially as a campaign associate … Continue reading "Jason Cash ’07"
Nathaniel DeYoung ’07 has accepted the position of chief of mental health for VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System. He oversees the delivery of mental health services across five medical facilities in Northern Indiana to ensure that veterans have access to high-quality mental health treatment.
Ryan Otterstrom ’11 is now working as a paraeducator for the Newtown, Connecticut High School’s alternative program. She is also working towards earning her MS in school counseling from Western Connecticut State University.
Andrea Toren ’12 Erber and Nathan Erber ’12 announce the birth of Ellery Claire on Sept, 15, 2021.
Katherine Genzink ’13 Panning and Luke Panning ’13→
Katherine Genzink ’13 Panning and Luke Panning ’13 moved to Holland, Michigan, in June 2021. After a year as a chief resident at the University of Michigan CS Mott Children’s Hospital, Katherine accepted a position as a pediatric hospitalist at Holland Hospital. Luke joined Raymond James as a senior financial planner.
Meredith Busman ’14 was the third American woman to cross the finish line in the Berlin marathon with a time of 2:51:25. This was the culmination of her goal of running the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Chicago, Boston, New York, Tokyo, London, Berlin) in under three hours before her 30th birthday. She joins a select … Continue reading "Meredith Busman ’14"
Jamie Kreindler ’14 received a Master of Community Planning degree from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently working as township planner for Miami Township in Clermont County, Ohio.
Patrick Bloemendaal ’14 and Kara Dunn ’15 Bloemendaal→
Patrick Bloemendaal ’14 and Kara Dunn ’15 Bloemendaal announce the birth of their second child, Gianna, in August 2021. They have been missionaries for Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) in Jamaica. As a family of four (Silas, born September 2019) they are moving back to West Michigan in 2022 to work for the … Continue reading "Patrick Bloemendaal ’14 and Kara Dunn ’15 Bloemendaal"
Michelle Kerr ’16 Wilmes received a Master of Science in Nursing degree at Madonna University. She is working as a palliative care nurse practitioner for Aspire Health and as a nursing clinical instructor for Henry Ford College.
Alexandra (Allie) Donaldson ’19 graduated from Hope College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in geology and minor in environmental science. After graduating from Hope, Allie began pursuing her Juris Doctor at Suffolk University Law School in Boston in 2020. She is currently a second-year student and plans on pursuing a career in environmental … Continue reading "Alexandra (Allie) Donaldson ’19"
Kennadi Hawes ’20 and Josh Izenbart ’20 were married in May 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. Kennadi is getting her MDiv. through Western Theological Seminary and Josh is attending the Army Baylor University DPT program and is an active duty member of the Air Force.
