Student Profile: Devin Berghorst ’11

Devin Berghorst is all about people. “It’s fun to walk around campus and say, ‘Who am I going to visit?’” he says. “Other places, your friends might be 25 minutes away, but at Hope, it’s almost like a family.”

Devin speaks highly of Hope now but ironically almost didn’t even consider the college. In middle school—his hometown just a few miles from Holland—he took part in PATH (Program for the Academically Talented at Hope), an accelerated class studies program on Hope’s campus, and the place became so familiar to him that he resolved to try somewhere new for college.

“I didn’t want to come here,” Devin remembers. “I was so set against it.”

Yet as a junior and senior in high school, Devin kept Hope on his list, and in the end he knew where he belonged.

“When I officially visited Hope, I absolutely loved it. I felt like Hope was where I was supposed to be.”

Hope has allowed Devin to pursue his greatest passion: working with and meeting new people. As operations director for SAC (Student Activities Committee) Devin gets to work with a lot of people. “My job is to make sure everything is organized and efficient with the SAC events. It has been a good experience. I’ve met a new group of people.”

Another place where Devin has met a lot of new faces is Greek Life. Devin is part of the Emersonian fraternity, which he says has opened up a lot of doors.

“It was what allowed me to get so involved at Hope.” As a member of the Emersonians, Devin has not only found long-lasting friendships, but has also been able to give back to Hope and the Holland community. He has participated in the inter-fraternity council, which he calls “a student council for men’s Greek Life,” as well as the 5K Run for Rotary Club and a Root Beer Kegger during the first week of classes.

In addition to being reflected in his activities outside of the classroom, Devin’s focus on connecting meshes well with his academic program and his goal of becoming a history teacher. He has found additional inspiration through his professors, who have helped him to feel passionate about becoming an educator.

“Education profs here are great. You can tell by the way they teach that they have a lot of experience.” Professor Richard Mezeske, chair of the department of education, has been particularly influential in Devin’s time at Hope. “People like him confirm that I want to be a teacher.”

This profile was written by Charlie A. Walter, a Hope College senior from Grand Rapids, Mich., for the 2010-11 Hope College Catalog.

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