Campus Scene
from blogs.hope.edu
“Part of the college experience is exploring things you may not have had the opportunity to do before. Try it out and if you don’t like it, if it doesn’t fit in your schedule, or if it simply isn’t for you, don’t be afraid to step away from it. That’s okay.”
Featuring student columnists, the ongoing blog “Life in Orange and Blue” is presented by the Office of Admissions to provide on-the-ground perspective on the Hope experience. With the members of the incoming Class of 2023 soon to begin their Hope journeys, we share this entry from newly graduated senior Abigail Kyros ’19. In it, she offers and explains tips for “Finding Your ‘Thing’ at Hope College”: “Think about your interests”; “Try, try and try again!”; “Hope has many resources to help you find your place”; and “Try not to worry about finding your ‘thing’ right away!”
“You may find the activity, club, major, etc… you love to do right away, but it may take a year or two,” she writes. “Take the time to explore different options and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Gerald Griffin names Associate Provost
Dr. Gerald Griffin, associate professor of biology and psychology, has been named the college’s associate provost for academic affairs.
A member of the faculty since 2015 who has also directed the college’s neuroscience program, he assumed office on July 1.
The new, full-time position replaces — and combines and expands — two part-time associate deanships, one in teaching and learning, and the other in research and scholarship.
Arboreal Acclaim
Hope has received 2018 Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
The college, which has more than 2,000 trees spread across its 150-acre campus, earned the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree-advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and a student service-learning project.
Spring Sports Report
Hope College finished strong during the spring sports season to claim a record 37th MIAA Commissioner’s Cup all-sports trophy. Josh Gibson became the first NCAA Division III men’s golfer to repeat as the NCAA Division III Player of the Year after leading the Flying Dutchmen to a ninth-place finish at nationals. Softball’s Shay Pinhey was chosen an Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Men’s lacrosse, women’s tennis and women’s outdoor track & field all repeated as MIAA regular-season champions. MIAA most valuable athlete honors went to tennis player Claire Hallock and indoor track and field’s Mitchel Achien’g, pictured above middle with Allison VanderStoep, left, and Emily Tyner, right. Baseball recorded its first 30-win season, which included two no-hitters thrown in a span of six days in Florida. Women’s lacrosse coach Kim Vincent retired after five seasons; former NCAA Division II lacrosse All-American Keagan Pontious from Seton Hill (Pa.) was hired to lead the Flying Dutch.
Professors Receive End-of-Year Awards
Dr. Charles Green and Dr. Elizabeth Sanford received the two major awards presented to faculty and staff at the end of the school year.
Green, a professor of psychology, received the 55th annual Hope Outstanding Professor Educator (H.O.P.E.) Award announced during Commencement. The award is presented by the graduating class to the professor who they feel epitomizes the best qualities of the Hope College educator.
Sanford, a professor of chemistry and department chair, received the 20th annual Vanderbush-Weller Award. Presented based on nominations from the campus community, the award recognizes and supports the efforts of Hope faculty and staff who make extraordinary contributions to the lives of students above and beyond what is expected in their regular assignments.
Hope’s Outstanding Formula
A strong finish in international competition at Michigan International Speedway in May moved the student-run Hope College Formula Racing Team ahead in both the U.S. and world rankings.
Hope finished 30th in the May 8-11 event at MIS, which featured 109 teams from across the country and around the globe, most from comprehensive or technical universities. The performance led Hope to the top 14 percent in the overall rankings based on all competition, placing the team 20th out of 148 in the U.S. and 84th out of 621 internationally. The college was previously in the top 18 percent.
Hope first participated in Formula SAE in 2010, with the team finishing 76th out of 102 entries and winning the William C. Mitchell Rookie Award for having achieved the highest overall score among first-time teams.
Orientation and Convocation to open School Year
The college’s 158th academic year will begin formally with the traditional Opening Convocation on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 2 p.m. in the Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse. The speaker will be Matthew A. Scogin ’02, who became Hope’s 14th president on Monday, July 1.
Residence halls for new students will open on Friday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m., with New Student Orientation beginning later that day and continuing through Monday, Aug. 26. Residence halls for returning students will open on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. Fall-semester classes will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 8 a.m.
Chicago Semester Honors Sociology and Social Work
The Department of Sociology and Social Work has received the inaugural Excellence in Collaboration Award from the Chicago Semester off-campus-study program.
The department’s engagement with the Chicago Semester through the years has included organizing informational meetings for students from throughout the college. Recent emphasis for the department in particular has been on working with the off-campus program to develop new options for students pursuing a concentration in criminal justice, which requires not only course work but a semester-long internship.
The award was presented during the semester’s 45th Anniversary Awards Celebration. Hope was a founding partner in the program in 1974.
Hope In Pictures
Please visit Hope online to enjoy extensive photo galleries organized by topic and chronicling a variety of events in the life of the college.
Pictured is a moment from Alumni Weekend ’19, held on April 26 and 27. Activities included reunion events for the classes of 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984 and 1989, and for the Fifty-Year Circle, which consists of graduates of 50 years ago and longer, as well as the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Awards.