Hope College Press Releases

THIS PAGE HAS MOVED. THE NEW ADDRESS IS -
http://www.hope.edu/pr/pressreleases/

67th Annual Nykerk Cup Competition
Will Be Saturday, Nov. 3

Posted October 24, 2001 HOLLAND -- Hope College will host its 67th annual Nykerk Cup competition on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. in the Holland Civic Center, located at 150 W. 8th St.

The event, one of a variety of activities scheduled during the college's Parents' Weekend, will feature more than 325 members of the freshman and sophomore classes competing in song, play (drama) and oration. The participating classes this year are the freshman Class of '05 and the sophomore Class of '04.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

This year's competition will be carried live on local cable channel 6.

The competition, first held on March 16, 1936, is named in honor of the originator of the program, John Nykerk, a professor, college dean and founder of the Hope College department of music. The event is continuously staged before a large audience.

The sophomore song will be "This Little Light of Mine" arranged by Clifton J. Nobel Jr., additional words by sophomores Sara Luneack of Alma and Anna Sutton of Dimondale and additional music by seniors Teresa Sheffield and Megan Zeneberg of Roscommon. The sophomore song will be coached by Zeneberg and Jodi DeHaan of Mason.

The sophomore song morale coaches are seniors Pat Kinne of Syracuse, N.Y., and Jacob VanPernis of Ashland, Wis.

The freshman song will be the 1964 #1 hit, "My Guy," words and music by William "Smokey" Robinson and arranged by Mac Huff. The freshman song will be coached by juniors Erryn Jenks of Lincoln and Courtney Beechick of Barrington, Ill.

The freshman song morale coaches are juniors Eric Jones of Grand Rapids, Justin Janik of Tinley Park, Ill., and Matt Zwier of Portage.

The sophomore play will be "There's No Place Like Hope," adapted (from L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz") and coached by seniors Lindsay Maharg of Cass City and Erin Wysocki of Plymouth.

The sophomore play morale coaches are seniors Charles Kroll of Caledonia, Ian Samson of Clinton Township and Jason Mellema of Fremont.

The freshman play is "The Disconbobulated Fairytale," written and coached by juniors Jordana Blondin of Grand Blanc and Anne Oppenhuizen of Grandville. The freshman play morale coaches are juniors Nick Denis of Saint Clair Shores, Daniel Hendricks of Novi, and Chad Sampson of Portage.

This year's oration theme is "Young Enough to Know." The sophomore orator will be Meridith De Avila of Holland, and her speech is tiled "With a Bold Step." She will be coached by seniors Briony Peters of Menominee and Heather Dustin of Contoocook, N.H.

The freshman orator will be Gretchen Schmidt of Atlanta, Ga., and her speech is titled "The Genuine Treatment." Schmidt will be coached by juniors Kristi Cummings of Howard City and Kristin Tiscornia of Geneseo, N.Y.

The general chair of Nykerk is senior Renee Mursch of San Antonia, Texas. Serving as general chair-elect is junior Hillary Noordeloos of Rockford. The senior treasurer is Lori Brown of Cass City. The junior treasurer is Abbie Gonzales of Holland.

Marta Liang of Fairview, Ill., is the senior publicity chair. The junior publicity chair is Annie Hilbrecht of Kalamazoo. The secretary for the 67th annual Nykerk Cup competition is junior Lisa Hardy of Midland. Junior Sarah Crisman of Downers Grove, Ill., is the production coordinator.

The weekend will feature several other performances and presentations in addition to the Nykerk Cup competition.

Josiah Dykstra, a senior and violinist from Sioux City, Iowa, will present his senior recital on Friday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. in Wichers Auditorium of Nykerk Hall of Music, located between College and Columbia avenues along the former 12th Street. Admission is free.

The Hope College Orchestra and Hope College Wind Symphony will perform on Friday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel, located on College Avenue at 12th Street. Admission is free.

The Knickerbocker Theatre will show the Czech film "Divided We Fall" on Friday, Nov. 2, as well as on Monday- Thursday, Nov. 5-8, at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. The film is rated PG-13, and tickets are $5 for regular adult admission and $4 for senior citizens and students. The Knickerbocker Theatre is located at 86 E. 8th St.

The football team will host Olivet College on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. at Holland Municipal Stadium, located on Fairbanks Avenue between 13th and 16th Streets. Tickets for the game are $4 for general admission, $1 for students high school age and younger, and $6 for reserved seating.

The men's and women's swimming teams will host Calvin College and Olivet College on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. in Kresge Natatorium of the Dow Center, located on 13th Street at Columbia Avenue. Admission is free.

The Faculty Recital Series will continue on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. in Wichers Auditorium of Nykerk Hall of Music. The program, featuring three sonatas for piano and cello by Ludwig van Beethoven, will be presented by pianist Joan Conway and cellist Richard Piippo. Admission is free.

The gallery of the De Pree Art Center is featuring the exhibition "Gabra Sellase: Ethiopian Icon Painter" through Friday, Nov. 16. The De Pree Art Center is located on Columbia Avenue at 12th Street, and the gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

-30-