In this issue...
- From the Director
- Faculty Kudos
- Introduction to the Parents' Council
- Emergency Contact Information
- Critical Issues Symposium
- Parents' Weekend: Nov. 7-9
- Refer a Student to Admissions
- Planning Calendar
- E-News Subscription
From the Director
The school year is in full swing and we couldn’t be happier to have the students back on campus. Things look a little different if you are a returning family: streets have been removed, residence halls remodeled, and the Graves Hall restoration is consuming the center of campus. The first month of school flew by in a flurry of activity starting with Orientation when we welcomed over 800 families into the Hope community. Then came the first classes, co-curricular programs and volunteer opportunities. Now we are steadily moving through the semester. We will soon have opportunities to bring parents back to campus for Parents’ Weekend (November 7-9), recognize the outstanding contributions family members have made in their student’s lives and enjoy some of Hope’s greatest traditions including Homecoming, Nykerk and Vespers. We hope you will be able to join us to experience some of these events and immerse yourself in the life of Hope College.
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Mary Boelkins '96
Remenschneider Director of Alumni and Parent Relations |
Faculty Kudos
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Nursing Research Project Wins National Award |
A nursing research project led by Dr. Susan Dunn of the Hope College faculty and focused on the recovery of heart patients has won this year's "New Investigator Award" presented by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
The award was presented on Saturday, Sept. 20, during the AACVPR's national annual meeting, held in Indianapolis, Ind. A total of six projects selected for oral presentation during the meeting had been nominated. The award is given to a scholar making a first-time presentation at the meeting. Selection for the award is based on the quality and significance of the research and the presentation.
The Hope project focused on the recovery of patients who were hospitalized for a coronary heart disease event, and examined the origins of the symptoms of hopelessness that persist in some patients for up to eight months later. Such hopelessness, noted Dunn, who is an associate professor of nursing and chairperson of the department, is related to lower physical functioning and also poorer rehabilitation exercise participation in recovering patients.
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Steve Talaga Named |
Steve Talaga, who is an instructor of music at Hope College, has been named Jazz Musician of the Year by the West Michigan Jazz Society.
In a feature in its May 2008 newsletter, the society described him as "The Bruce Lee of The Piano," noting that "his hands are like musical weapons." The society honored him with a banquet on Thursday, May 29, at Aquinas College, where he is an adjunct member of the music faculty.
A member of the Hope faculty since 1999, he teaches jazz piano, applied composition, and various jazz studies courses. In June, he, faculty colleague Brian Coyle and the student members of the college's Jazz Chamber Ensemble represented Hope as participants in "The Big Hope," a global youth congress held at Liverpool Hope University in Liverpool, England, during which he and Coyle taught a jazz styles and history class each day.
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Donald Cronkite to Receive Association’s Highest Honor |
Dr. Donald Cronkite of the Hope College biology faculty has been awarded the highest honor bestowed by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT).
Cronkite, a professor of biology and member of the Hope faculty since 1978, is receiving the association's "2008 Honorary Membership Award" for his distinguished teaching and service in the biological sciences. He will receive the award, which includes lifetime membership in the association, during the NABT's National Professional Development Conference, which will be held in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 15-18.
"Honorary Membership is the highest honor given by NABT and recognizes individuals who have achieved distinction in teaching, research, and service in the biological sciences," said Todd Carter, who is the 2008 NABT president and a member of the biology faculty at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan. "Dr. Cronkite's many teaching awards, publications, and presentations for scientists, educators, and the public certainly meet the criteria for this honor. However, perhaps most important to the mission of NABT is his passion for teaching and his success with helping teachers at all levels improve student learning in biology."
Student Team Wins Mathematical Contest |
A team of four Hope College mathematics students won the "Jeopardy" contest at the national MathFest conference in Madison, Wis., on Wednesday, July 30. The members of the Hope team were senior Forrest Gordon of Rockford; senior Dan Lithio of Downers Grove, Ill.; sophomore Zachary Mitchell of Stevensville; and junior Blair Williams of Fenton. They defeated teams from Lafayette College, Texas A&M and MountUnionCollege. The competition's questions tested knowledge of mathematics, both in problem solving and general history. The Hope team went into "Final Jeopardy" with the most points and then answered the final question correctly to take the victory.
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Textbook Economy Wins National Award |
A Hope professor's effort to save his students money has led to a national award.
Dr. Steve VanderVeen, professor of management and director of the Center for Faithful Leadership, is one of only eight professors nationwide recognized through the Faculty Recognition Textbook Scholarship Contest coordinated by the Used Textbook Association (UTA). He has been honored for reducing students' book-buying costs by choosing to use an earlier edition of a textbook that he feels continues to be just as relevant in the material it presents.
The award includes a $500 textbook scholarship from the UTA. The funds are being used to reduce textbook costs for students at the college.
Introduction to the Parents’ Council
Hope College values the opinions and experience of parents. Therefore, we have established the Parents’ Council; a group of dedicated Hope parents who serve as liaisons between the parent and college community. Parents from around the country are invited to serve for one-year terms while their student is on campus. The Parents’ Council contacts current parents, they host events during Orientation and Parents’ Weekend, volunteer with students, provide input and guidance on parent services, and support the college through financial gifts.
We greatly appreciate the contributions that these parents make to Hope College and also to the parent community. They have helped tremendously to enrich the Hope experience for everyone.
2008-2009 Parents’ Council
Larry and Deborah Bauss. Kalamazoo, MI.
Student(s): Emily '11
Jim and Rosanne Davis. Holland, MI.
Student(s): Anna '07; Ryan '09
Mark and Joy Dulmes. Oostburg, WI.
Student(s): John '08; Eric '12
Mike and Susan Fezzey. Farmington Hills, MI.
Student(s): Jessica '09
Ernest and Shirley Hinson. Eagan, MN.
Student(s): Julian '10
Wes and Patti Jetter. Greenville, OH.
Student(s): Chris '09, Maggie '07, Elizabeth '04
John and Lois Jordan. Pilesgrove, NJ.
Student(s): Chris '09
Joseph and Darci Kessie. South Whitley, IN.
Student(s): Kaitlin '10; Taylor '12
Darl and Laura Leman. Elmhurst, IL.
Student(s): Tracy '02, Brook '05, Michael '09
Vince and Monica Newendorp. Pella, IA.
Student(s): Brett '10; Craig '12
Dave and Suzanne Shier. Chicago, IL.
Student(s): Sarah '10
Cy and Gail Urbancic. Hudson, OH.
Student(s): Courtney '09
To contact a Parents’ Council member, please visit us online at www.hope.edu/parents/council
Emergency Contact Information
Notification System
Hope College utilizes the Emergency Contact Information (ECI) system to quickly and effectively communicate emergency situations with the student body. This system includes a cell phone text message service that can be sent to phone numbers the students provide to the college. This system was implemented last year and is tested on a regular basis to ensure it is operating correctly.
The College will use ECI to contact persons when there is a sudden unforeseen crisis that can cause physical or environmental damage, and requires immediate action. These will include:
- a critical medical situation in which the person's well being is at risk;
- a serious or life threatening injury, a serious car accident, or a serious illness;
- a potential threat to the person's safety or security when participating in a College sponsored activity; or
- a serious and threatening situation on campus.
For more information about ECI, please visit the Student Development website to see the policy, frequently asked questions and instructions for students to update their contact information.
Critical Issues Symposium
For over 20 years the Critical Issues Symposium (CIS) has been an integral part of the Hope College academic landscape. A committee of faculty, staff, and students, in consultation with President Bultman, select one topic to focus on each year. Hope College takes this academic endeavor seriously enough to cancel classes for one day each fall in order to allow the campus community to fully participate in examining the topic at hand. CIS has sponsored international leaders in a variety of fields, but also calls on the resources of the West Michigan and Hope College community to provide input on our discussions.
CIS is currently taking place on campus (September 30-October 1) and is titled Global Health: From Catastrophe to Cure. All students are involved through their classes and the community is invited to the keynote speakers and special presentations. If you would like to learn more about CIS, please visit http://www.hope.edu/cis
Parents' Weekend 2008
Make your travel plans now to attend Parents’ Weekend, November 7-9. Parents' Weekend offers opportunities for parents to see their students and learn more about the college through open classrooms, concerts, the President's Breakfast, Interest Sessions, Nykerk and a Sunday morning worship service. There is something to interest most everyone, including parents of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.
For a full schedule and registration form visit: www.hope.edu/parents/parentsweekend.
Parents’ Weekend also features the Family Anchors Award, which is given annually to a family member who has made a significant impact on the life of a student. All students are invited to submit an essay about a family member and how they influenced their lives and from those essays, a committee of reviewers selects the recipient of the award.
For more information about the award, please visit www.hope.edu/parents/parentsweekend/essay.htm
Refer a Student to Admissions
Visiting
Hope
One
great way to get a feel for Hope's campus is
to pay us a visit! The Admissions
Office offers a variety of ways to pay Hope
a visit throughout the year to introduce potential
students to campus life. You
can choose from the following list of visit
options:
Individual
Weekday Visit
Saturday
Morning Visit
Overnight
Visit
Summer
Visit
Call the Hope College Admissions Staff at 1.800.968.7850. They'll help you explore your options for a campus visit.
Refer a student to Hope!
Know someone you think would just love
Hope College? Let us know! We would be more
than happy to send him or her information about
Hope. Complete a student
referral form and we'll do the rest.
Planning Calendar
Campus
Calendar of events taking place on Hope's
campus.
Regional
Events sponsored by the Office of Alumni
& Parent Relations.
E-Newsletter Subscription
Would you like to receive future issues of the Parents' e-newsletter via email? To subscribe, please click here and complete the subscription form.
Current Subscribers -- Have you recently changed your email address? If so, please send the new information to parents@hope.edu.
If you no longer wish to receive the Parents' E-Newsletter, please email parents@hope.edu and provide your name and email address.