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.
William Heydorn ’55 reports that his book, Geronimo: The Rest of the Story, has been published by WestBow Press. The book features photos from 1900 and 1901 when his grandfather, Howard Rutsen Furbeck, joined three other seminary students from Rutgers College to “sing the Gospel” to settlers in the new towns forming along rail lines … Continue reading "William Heydorn ’55"
Karen Johnson-Weiner ’75 retired in 2016 but continued her research of the Amish, publishing Lives of Amish Women (Hopkins 2020) and All About the Amish (Herald Press 2020). Now her researching days are officially over. This past June, she donated her papers (including extensive correspondence with members of Amish communities) to the Young Center for … Continue reading "Karen Johnson-Weiner ’75"
Adelaide Whitehouse ’75 has published Signs of the Father: A Dana Demeter Mystery #2 under the name A.F. Whitehouse. The first in the series, Signs of Murder, is a finalist (Indie Fiction) for the Chicago Writers Association’s Book of the Year Award.
Matt Soeter ’81 lost his wife of 36 years, Grace Soeter in June 2021. He has subsequently married a widow, Becky Sue Maag Gagnon of Canyon Lake, California. He received a call in November 2021 to San Gabriel Presbyterian Church (ECO), a Chinese American congregation.
Nancy DeWitte ’82 Condon reports that many years after paddling across the U.S. in an open canoe, she has published an expedition account. Her adventure memoir is Paddle for Water, Canoeing across America with a Message and a Man I Never Intended to Marry. Armchair adventurers can now experience the trials, adventures, and achievements she … Continue reading "Nancy DeWitte ’82 Condon"
Linda Gruenberg ’86 released a middle-grade historical novel called Blazes & Brimestone, inspired by the historic fire in Holland, Michigan, 1871. The book is about three children who rescue horses from a livery stable when the city of Holland, Michigan, burns down. She is currently living in Lapland, Sweden.
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 "Michael Dickinson ’87"
William Lowry ’91 and Shalom Sonneveldt ’93 are engaged, an engagement 33 years in the making. They will be making their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shalom is the administrative coordinator and pastoral care assistant at River Terrace church in East Lansing, Michigan.
Jennifer Brady-Johnson ’92 received a post-professional doctoral degree in occupational therapy from St. Catherine University in May 2022. Her doctoral project was on evidence-based practices in mental health that contribute to regulation.
Brett VanderKamp ’94 was named to the Grand Rapids 200 List. This list recognized the most powerful business leaders in West Michigan. He is the CEO of New Holland Brewing Co.
Elizabeth Anker ’96 has written and published On Paradox: The Claims of Theory. She is a professor of law and associate professor in the Department of English at Cornell University, coeditor of Critique and Postcritique, and author of Fictions of Dignity: Embodying Human Rights in World Literature. Her new book contends that the faith in … Continue reading "Elizabeth Anker ’96"
Tracy Bednarick-Humes ’98 was recognized by the National Association for Gifted Children as a Gifted Coordinator of the Year. She is with Lindbergh Schools, St. Louis, Missouri.
Dana Lamers ’01 VanderLugt reports that Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse will be published by ZonderKidz in September of 2023. The seeds of the novel, which is written for a middle grade audience, were planted in her creative writing classes at Hope two decades ago, when her research revealed … Continue reading "Dana Lamers ’01 VanderLugt"
Ben Fedak ’03, Hartwell Gary ’00, Jamie Pierce ’03 and Jeff Templeton ’03→
Ben Fedak ’03, Hartwell Gary ’00, Jamie Pierce ’03 and Jeff Templeton ’03 will host Lyle!stock this summer. Lyle! and many special guests will crank it up to loud (and fun) at Holland’s Park Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 5, for an all-day, all-ages rock and roll celebration. Full details at lylerocks.bandcamp.com
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 "Sarah Sanderson ’03"
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 "Valerie Patrick ’04 Smith"
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.
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.
McClane Watson ’15 of Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been named a Damon Runyon Fellow by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, an honor that places him among the most promising early-career scientists in the nation. He is one of only 14 awardees in this year’s class of Damon Runyon Fellows. He is a postdoctoral fellow … Continue reading "McClane Watson ’15"
Kirstin Anderson ’19 Birkhaug will return to Hope College this fall as an assistant professor of political science. She will earn her doctorate from the University-Wisconsin Madison this summer.
Hope College and the Alumni Board of Directors are proud to announce the recipients of the fourth annual 10 Under 10 Awards. The awards are designed to honor alumni within 10 years of graduation making significant contributions in the local and global community by living out their calling. hope.edu/10under10
Kiley Corcoran ’20 Gomez is pursuing her J.D. degree at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. In October, she and her partner won the Upper Class Competition hosted by the ASLS Moot Court Board.
Mackenzie Hester ’21 works at Pinkham Notch, a visitor center at the base of Mount Washington. She educates visitors on trail safety information and assists in search and rescues.
Matthew Summerfield ’22 and Mikayla Zobeck ’22 were married on Aug. 6, 2022. Matthew is a neuroscience Ph.D. student at the Carver College of Medicine at The University of Iowa. Mikayla is an account manager at Dow Chemical Consumer Solutions.
