Hope College Student-Alumni Leadership Council

Commencement Ticket Incentive!

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:31:52 -0400

And now, the announcement you’ve all been waiting for.

The lucky winners of the Commencement Ticket Packages are…

Melody Hughes and Jacob Osburn!

Congratulations! If you have not yet made your donation to the Class of 2013 Senior Gift campaign, there is still time? Do you have $1? Because that is all it takes to be counted towards the class participation goal of 25%. If 46 more members of the Class of 2013 donated $1, this goal would be met and you would beat the Class of 2012!

Make your donation today by following this link.

Countdown to Commencement!

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:28:51 -0400

Now that spring break has come and gone, the countdown to commencement is officially on. With only 37 days until commencement, your mind is filled with thoughts of exams and job/grad school interviews. You might also be stressing about commencement weekend details, especially getting your tickets.

In the next two weeks, you will receive an email with instructions about how to reserve your tickets for baccalaureate, as well as the rain-location commencement ceremony. As you would expect, there is a limit to the number of tickets each student can have. However…we’ve got a great giveaway to reward two donors to the Senior Class Gift campaign!

Everyone that donates to the Class Gift before April 12 will be entered to win one of two “Commencement Incentive Packages” that include:

Two extra tickets to the baccalaureate service of your choice
Five tickets to the Commencement Brunch served in Cook
A reserved parking spot at the stadium for the Commencement Ceremony

You can’t put a value on this amazing package…and all it takes to get entered is a gift of ANY SIZE to the 2013 Senior Class Gift. Just $5 will secure your spot in the contest…and we’ll send you a “Class of 2013” window cling.

Make your contribution online today! (click here)

It's a big week for the Class of 2013!

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:58:20 -0500

The “Senior Days” event is happening this week, on Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM. This is THE event to attend, as you can accomplish many things at one time:

Get fitted for and pick up your cap and gown (no pre-order required, and no cost)

Order your graduation announcements

Make your donation to the Senior Class Gift campaign

Grab a snack

See your friends

Get some alumni swag

And more!

So be sure to stop by the DeWitt Lobby on February 27^th or 28^th to take care of business. Everyone that makes a donation to the Senior Class Gift campaign this week will be entered into a drawing to win lunch with President Bultman!

Also…this just in…The Director of the Hope Fund believes in the Class of 2013 SO MUCH that she has decided to personally MATCH all of your donations to move you towards your goal.

So…President Bultman believes in the Class Gift campaign, and has offered to have lunch with a donor (chosen at random).

The Hope Fund Director believes in you, so she will MATCH your donation.

That means if you donate $13…your gift will count for $26, AND you get a Class of 2013 window cling, Hope bumper sticker, Hope Fund post-it notes AND the Tribute letter sent on your behalf. Plus, you’ll be entered for a chance to win lunch with President Bultman. What are you waiting for? Make your contribution today!

And the winner is...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:58:00 -0500

Kaely Garred! After making her donation to the Senior Class Gift campaign (from New York City nonetheless!) Kaely was chosen at random as the winner of the first giving incentive. She is now the proud new owner of a Hope College diploma frame. Congratulations Kaely!

Make your gift today. If you donate $13 or more you’ll be the proud new owner of a “Class of 2013” window cling, Hope Fund post-it notes, and you can participate in the Tribute program.

Keep checking the blog for updates as will be having more give-a-ways as the semester continues! And don’t forget that Senior Days are just around the corner on February 27 and 28 - another perfect opportunity to make your donation!

The 2013 Senior Class Gift campaign kicks-off in 5...4...3...2...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:27:00 -0500

Be a part of this longstanding senior class tradition! Like signing up to walk in May, and picking up your cap and gown later this month, the Senior Class Gift campaign is an important step in your transition to Hope College Alumni. It is the alumni relationship that continually sustains the vibrant community of Hope’s students, faculty and staff. So skip a trip to Lemonjello’s and set that money aside for future generations of Hope students like you!

Donating is simple! Make your gift now by visiting the online giving form.

Donate in Honor of Someone!
Sending a Tribute letter is an incredible way to show your gratitude for your incredible Hope Experience. For students who donate a minimum of $10, the Alumni Office will send a formal letter to whomever you choose - a parent, friend, professor etc. with a short personalized message from you!

New this year for your senior class gift - what matters most? The Hope Fund supports so many things on campus. These Hope Fund gifts provide excellent academics and quality activities that tuition and fees don’t cover. With your gift, the Hope Fund can continue to make a difference in the lives of every student. You have the opportunity to support something that was especially meaningful to you. How would you choose to help your soon-to-be Alma Mater? Direct your gift to the Hope Fund to one of the following areas:

1) Essential Hope

Love everything about Hope equally? Don’t want to play favorites? Then direct your gift to Essential Hope and help support every aspect of every day at Hope…from scholarships to faculty salaries, classroom technology, light bulbs, and new books.

2) Spiritual Hope

Were you Groovin’ in the Grove? Never miss The Gathering? Enjoy discussions of faith in the classroom, from FYS to Senior Sem? If so, give to Spiritual Hope and help support Campus Ministries and the variety of campus-wide activities that provide opportunities to explore and develop your faith.

3) Social Hope

Were you an OA…or maybe you just liked that they moved all your stuff into your dorm Freshman year? Do you dominate at intramurals? Even Year? Odd Year? Flying Dutch? Flying Dutchman? If your Hope experience was as much about what happened outside the classroom as what happened in it, choose Social Hope to help keep these traditions alive.

4) Academic Hope

Still have coffee with your FYS professor? Did your Health Dy class prompt you to major in Kinesiology? Honor a favorite professor or an entire academic department with a gift to Academic Hope. These gifts help with technology upgrades, funds for travel to academic conferences, and everything else needed to create a top-notch educational experience.

If you have questions about the Senior Class Gift, or need more information please email alumni@hope.edu, or contact any member of the Student-Alumni Leadership Council.

"Why I Give" - Ryan McCall

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:32:00 -0400

“I was an avid member of the Campus Ministries worship team as a drummer, a resident assistant for Residential Life, and a semi-athletic member of multiple intramural teams, including basketball, soccer, and softball. I want Hope students in the future to have these same great experiences, so my involvement in all of these activities definitely influenced why I gave back to Hope College.

My time at Hope College has formed me into a well-rounded and holistic person who is better prepared to relate to people in a personal and professional way. The people and resources at Hope College have helped me develop into a better Christ-follower and develop me into a mature worker ready for a professional career.

I think that I have had a wonderful experience at Hope College, and someone who was a student before me gave back to Hope College so that I could have a life-changing experience. I want to do that same thing for a future Hope College student (or my brother who is a potential Hope student).”

Don’t forget to donate and share “Why You Give”! Thanks Ryan!

Student-Alumni Leadership Council!

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:33:00 -0400

Have you been looking for more ways to be involved?

Have you been looking for leadership opportunities?

Submit your application for the Student-Alumni Leadership Council before midnight on April 11 by clicking here!

The Student-Alumni Leadership Council could be exactly what you’re looking for! SALC is an organization comprised of students under direction of both the Alumni Association and Student Development. The main goals of SALC are to strengthen relationships between alumni and students and help create a smoother transition from student to alumni. This is done by organizing several events and hosting various activities for both alumni and students to be involved with. Students benefit from valuable leadership experience, unique networking opportunities and professional development training.

Events and programming that SALC is responsible for include: Homecoming, Family Weekend, Senior Class Gift, Alumni Weekend, and Senior Weekend. Not only is it an incredible experience, but it is also a ton of fun getting to know the other people on the council and alumni.

To submit your application to be considered for membership, click here. Feel free to contact Katie Garrett (katherine.garrett@hope.edu) or Andrew Haggerty (andrew.haggerty@hope.edu) for more information. Applications are due by April 10. If you have questions or interest, plan to attend the recruitment event on Tuesday, April 3^rd at 6pm in the Herrick Room. Current advisors and committee members will be there to answer questions about SALC.

"Why I Give" - Lily Poon

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0500

Lily Poon gives back because her Hope story isn’t over when she graduates. Many of her friends will still be students and she wants to make sure their experiences are as equally great as hers. Lily plans to keep in touch with many friends and stay up to date with what they’re doing. Lily is a leader of HAPA and wants to see her legacy continued. The Hope Fund helps support that so thanks for giving Lily!

And the winners are...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:00:00 -0500

Thanks so much to everyone that made a donation to the Senior Class Gift during senior days! To date, there have been 129 donations made totaling $1,250! That’s almost 19% of the class. We’re off to a great start. Congratulations to the following winners:

Hope Sweatshirt Blankets
Paige Holthof
Ashley Drew
Kurt Burmeister
Erica Long
Erin McIntrye
Jacqueline Canonaco

Alumni License Plate Covers
Bonnie Greenberg Jansma
Evan Beals
Ryan Tussey
Edith Leon

Alumni Mugs
Christina Vincent
Stephanie Skaff
Everetta Cole
Anne Jamieson

It's Senior Days!

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:30:54 -0500

Which means it’s time for you to pick up your cap & gown, your graduation announcements, give to the Senior Class Gift, and so much more. On February 29th and March 1st from 10 am - 5 pm, there will be tables set up in the lobby of Dewitt for Seniors to come and explore some of the information necessary for graduation.

If you donate to the Senior Class Gift during Senior Days, you will be entered to win one of MANY great prizes, including sweatshirt blankets, Hope gear, and so much more. You will want to be there, don’t miss it!

Congratulations Marc Tori!

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:58:00 -0500

After contributing his Senior Gift, Marc Tori was the lucky winner of this authentic Hope College Diploma Frame (worth $140)!

You may be wondering why Marc gives…

“I give because I want to see future Hope students grow here as much as I have.” - Marc Tori, Class of 2012

Why do you give? Let us know! Keep checking the blog for updates as will be having more give-a-ways as the semester continues! And don’t forget that Senior Days are just around the corner on February 29 and March 1 - another perfect opportunity to share Why You Give!

"Why I Give"

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:42:00 -0500

By now you’ve heard about the Senior Class Gift Campaign and are probably wondering why it makes sense to give back to Hope. We hope to help you come to understand that giving financially to Hope is so much more than a donation of money…it’s seizing the opportunity to participate in something that is much greater than us, and much greater than the four years that we have spent here.

Over the next few months, as commencement draws closer, we will feature your classmates and the reasons why they have chosen to give.

Make your donation now…and let us know…why do you give?

SENIORS - 100 Days!!

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:50:00 -0500

Thats right, we have 100 days left until we walk across that stage!

100 days before we start our new jobs, move to new schools, or move back home.

I don’t know about you, but I am looking at that 100 days with a weird mix between stress and excitement. Stress in finding our next step, excitement in all the opportunities the future may hold. Let’s not forget the excitement in still relishing in the benefits of being college students - random naps, insane schedules, coffee dates, chapel, constant community - such great things - and we still have 100 days to take advantage of those!

Live it up.

~Andrea Converse, Class of 2012

Introducing...the Student-Alumni Leadership Council! by Katie Garrett '12

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:11:00 -0500

A recent venture that Hope College has stepped into is the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC). This council, based off of what many colleges label the ‘student-ambassador’ program, has been in full existence for about one year. The group is meant to bridge the relationship between students and alumni. A group of about twenty students were accepted to be a part of this council and have helped out already with several different events. Some of these events have been The Greater Hope Campaign kick-off dinner, Homecoming, Family Weekend, The Last Hurrah (Graduation event for seniors), various community events, and more. This committee is the perfect connection point because it takes current students and allows them to meet and establish an alumni relation before they graduate. This will promote a heavier involvement with alumni events, when students become alumni, which in turn creates a stronger Hope College community.

The group has been an immediate success in the life of the campus, and among Alumni events. Alumni enjoy meeting and connecting with current students, and students enjoy meeting with Alumni to discuss life at Hope and the way it has evolved throughout the years. Through SALC, Alumni and current students have been able to connect. Both students and Alumni have commented on how much they have enjoyed the opportunity to connect and meet.

Last year, I was asked to be a part of this group, and specifically serve on the sub-committee that focused on parent involvement for graduation weekend. I immediately loved serving on the group. The people that are involved with SALC are people that I truly enjoy working with; they’re hard-working, fun, creative people. They are great at planning events, and making existing events better. This year, we had to have an almost entirely new SALC group, because many of the members last year graduated. However, everyone that has been involved has surpassed any of my expectations. We have had an incredible amount of fun getting to know one another, and spending time with current students and alumni. I have had wonderful conversations with people who have graduated from Hope ten, twenty, even fifty years ago, and still continue to come back to Hope and get involved in what is currently happening on campus. I love listening to their stories, and why Hope was important to them. It’s an incredible privilege talking to the people who have come before me, and to hear how what they are doing is personally impacting my life at Hope. This is why I am a part of SALC.

Senior Spotlight #7 - Jamie Poppema

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:39:15 -0400

What I love about Hope College is the all-encompassing experience and the many opportunities to grow as a person. I not only received an excellent education, but also a chance to develop my character, push my limits, strengthen my faith, travel around the world, create lasting and meaningful friendships, interact with administrative staff and faculty and gain valuable job skills.

My areas of study have given me a global perspective in life and an increasing passion for international work. I have been blessed with so many opportunities to go beyond the familiar and embrace fully the beauty and creativity of the world. I am most thankful for the chance I had to study abroad for a year in France, where I was able to step out of my comfort zone and experience a new lifestyle, culture, and worldview. It tested me culturally and academically, but also spiritually: I grew stronger both as a person and in my faith. I also had the opportunity to travel again on a spring break immersion trip to Miami, Florida, where we immersed ourselves in a neighborhood called Little Haiti. We were surrounded by Haitian languages, history, culture, and artwork while we learned about and engaged in community development. The point of that trip was more to learn than to do, in order that we might better serve later.

That is what Hope has done for me: allowed me to learn about myself and the world, and then prepared me actually to go out and be a part of it. I give back to Hope because I know the experiences students have here will forever impact and change their lives, encouraging them to go above and beyond. I give back to Hope not only as a huge thank you, but also to continue giving these opportunities to future students.

Senior Spotlight #6 - Mary Cantor

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:10:15 -0400

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

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:58:28 -0400

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.

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

Senior Spotlight #5 - Kristen Vet

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:37:23 -0400

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

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:47:00 -0500

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

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:23:00 -0500

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.