Hope College Student-Alumni Leadership Council

Senior Spotlight #6 - Mary Cantor

Whenever people ask me why I chose to come to Hope, I tell them, “You know, I don’t really think I chose Hope.  I think Hope chose me.” I love this place for so many reasons, none of which I anticipated prior to setting foot on campus as a freshman.  Now a senior, I am involved in exciting activities on campus that keep me energized (and keep my planner full), I have received unrelenting support from the faculty and staff, and time and time again, I have found myself surrounded by an incredible network of friends.  The experience of these past four years is one that I never could have planned for myself.

            Giving back to Hope is my way of acknowledging the connection I have not only to the Hope community of today, but also to the Hope communities that came before me and will come after me.  It is my thank you to Hope College for the part it has played in the creation of the person I became during my time here. If it is even possible to say a sufficient thank you for such a gift, I choose to do so by serving Hope with talents and strengths that were cultivated in this very soil—by being the best person of Hope that I can be.

29 Things to Do Before You Graduate

All right seniors, April 29 is your last day of class at Hope. What are the 29 most important things that you should do before commencement? We’ve started the list, and need you to finish it. Leave a comment with your additions.

1. Take a nap and/or study in the Pine Grove (if it ever gets warm again!)
2. Pull an all nighter at Martha Miller
3. Eat in Phelps
4. Revisit your freshman dorm
5. Go to chapel
6. Make a late night run to Good Time Donuts
7. Spend some time at the beach

Senior Spotlight #5 - Kristen Vet

Studying at Hope College is the best choice I made in my academic career. I have learned so much about myself here and I would never choose another place if I had to go back.

While at Hope I have participated in Nykerk, Delta Phi Sorority, Dance Marathon, Relay for Life and so many other outstanding opportunities that this school offers its students. I am a relatively shy person and having all of these activites to participate in has allowed me to meet people that I would not otherwise have met.

Greek Life is a huge reason why I chose to give back to Hope College. The school has been so supportive of our program and it has allowed so many men and women to find a home away from home. I know that without Greek Life my experience at Hope would not be the same and I am eternally grateful for the experience I was given.

I have worked for the Hope Fund as a caller for the past two years and in this time I have been able to hear tons of stories about alumni experiences and why they chose Hope. There has been everything from Pull to the Anchor to Greek Life and Varsity Athletics. All of these gifts that Hope gives to its students make a difference in their lives. Hearing how much they enjoyed themselves makes me love Hope even more. I chose to give back because I will soon be an alum that has had such a great time and I want to show how much they gave to me!

As I now walk through campus I think about every moment that has formed my undergraduate career and I am blessed. It is a beautiful place to go to school and has so much to offer every student that attends. I give back because Hope has given me so much.

Senior Spotlight #4 - Mallory Fox

As the last few months of my time as a student at Hope are coming to an end, I can do nothing but think back to the very first moment when I decided to come to Hope.  That visitation day, I was walking over the railroads tracks next to the Physical Plant heading toward DeVos Fieldhouse to meet with my potential Women’s Soccer Coach.  As I crossed over the tracks I can remember a feeling of, “this is where you belong”, and from that moment on, I decided that I would call Hope my home for the next four years of my life. 

Looking back, little did I know that Hope would have such a tremendous impact on my life, and although in a few months I will no longer be able to call Hope my “current home”, I will forever hold a spot in my heart that considers Hope my home.  The students, faculty and people of the Holland area are what make Hope the extraordinary place it is.  Each person I have met over the years has influenced my life in one way or another, and I know I would not have had the same experience at any other college or university.  Without Hope, I would not be the person I am today.  I give back to Hope because Hope taught me who I am, what I want to become and gave me the education and life skills necessary to accomplish my dreams.

Senior Spotlight #3 - Clare McCullough

As a Hope Fund Phonathon caller, it’s part of my job to keep in touch with alumni and hear details about their time at Hope. My friends always say that they wouldn’t want my job because calling people I don’t know must be hard. I must say that because we all have Hope College in common, there is usually quite a lot to talk about.  Throughout my four years I have had the opportunity to share how long standing traditions such as the Pull and Nykerk have transformed, hear stories about Hope graduates falling in love and getting married and learn that apparently Graves Hall has served as almost every possible type of academic building imaginable. One of my favorite questions to ask alumni is, “What brought you to Hope?” I’m always curious to hear their answers, and turns out they often shoot the question right back at me.

My response to them includes something about wanting a small school with a Christian environment that had strong science programs. I share that what sealed the deal was my visit to campus where people were so eager to help that it seemed right. At this point, I knew it was meant to be. I’ve learned a lot about both my field of study and myself through classes I’ve taken. I’ve participated in clubs and activities very unique to Hope and have met a lot of people that have greatly impacted my formation as a person intellectually, socially and spiritually. I am giving back because I know that my rewarding experience has impacted me greatly and I want to ensure that others students can benefit from what Hope has to offer.

Do you remember?

Remember back to August 2007 when you were getting ready to leave for Hope College. Do you remember what you came with?  Your car was filled with fans, a shower caddy, way too many clothes, and a mini-fridge.  You were nervous about getting along with your roommate, starting classes, and leaving home.  

Now fast forward four years.  What are you leaving with?  A well rounded education, life long friends, way too many orange and blue clothes,  funny memories from late nights in the dorms, norovirus survival skills, and TWO snow days. (and still that dang mini-fridge.)

We want to hear from you! What did you come to Hope College with and what are you leaving with? Tell us and you will be entered to win a $5 gift card to Lemonjellos or JPs!

Senior Spotlight #2 - Julia Peterson

            Someone once asked me a wonderfully thought provoking question: “What’s saving your life now?” After reflecting for a few moments and hearing some of my friends’ responses, I answered with the simple word learning. Learning, I went on to explain,  rocks my world each and every day. Each and every day, I learn something new about my friends, about how family functions, about what makes art beautiful, about how we speak and communicate with each other, and about God’s role in my life. And each and every day, through those little things I learn, I put another piece to the puzzle of how life is to be lived in this world. What’s been so beneficial about my four years here at Hope is that learning for learning’s sake is celebrated and encouraged. Not everything I learn will directly apply to what career I have, but each and everything I learn will, in some small way, impact the way I live life. My professors teach me that there is never just one way to look at a problem. They teach me that often, the process of getting to the answer is more important than the answer itself. My friends and classmates teach me to be passionate about something, about anything. They show me through their actions how to live an intentional life, one in which you chose the type of person you shall be and do whatever it takes to make that happen.

            I choose to give back to Hope because of what I’ve learned about life during these past four years. Without this education, the experiences I’ve had, and the people I’ve grown to love, I wouldn’t be the same. I’m giving back because I want someone else to have the opportunity I had to become their true self here, at Hope.

Senior Spotlight - Colton Wright!

I didn’t know what to expect when I came to Hope. I didn’t know what a liberal arts education was or what a low faculty-to-student ratio actually meant. Now I know. It meant talking about faith with professors, getting a personalized Christmas card from my president, g-mail chatting with career services, attending the best college chapel service, and serving on the Alumni Board of Directors with people who bleed blue and orange. Chances are you’ve had a similar experience. Maybe that chat over coffee with an advisor or that special chapel service that got you through a tough time. It did for me.

I’m giving back in honor of every person who changed my life over the last four years. And I’m giving back for every student who will be changed at Hope. Hope didn’t know what they were getting when they admitted me, but they know what they’re getting when I graduate - a grateful thank you. 

-Colton Wright