Holland Area Beautiful recognized 18 sites for 1997during an awards presentation held on Wednesday, July 16, at theHolland Township Fire Station #1.  In addition to a plaquepresented during the awards event, Hope will receive a Holland AreaBeautiful lawn sign that will stand through Tuesday, Aug. 19.
          Holland Area Beautiful is a non-profit organization whose projects include the annual flower-give-away, Adopt-A-Bed program, Adopt-A-Highway along M-21 and U.S. 31, and highway mowing and landscaping.  Holland Area Beautiful also calls attention to the efforts of individuals who have made significant improvements to their residences and commercial facilities.
          The mission of Holland Area Beautiful is to provide funding for and administer programs which promote the cleanliness and beautification of the focus area through enhancing the overall attitude of the citizenry toward their environment.
          The two college buildings stand near one another between Ninth and 10th streets near College Avenue.  They share a landscaped area intended to serve as a bridge to downtown Holland, which stands immediately to the north.
          At the Admissions Office, the on-going efforts of the college's groundskeeping department have been bolstered through the work of the six students working in Admissions this summer.  With the department's help, guidance and material support, the students added enhancements around the buildings such as plantings and wood chips.  New decorative stone flower pots sporting bright red flowers add color to the entrance.
          The Admissions grounds also include dogwood trees planted some years ago in honor of Phil Toppen, a member of the Admissions staff who died in 1985.
          The Haworth Conference and Learning Center is fronted by the Gene and Mary Van Tamelen Plaza, which includes portions of the Admissions Office grounds.  The Plaza features a curving walkway that travels from 10th Street to a stone bench at Ninth and College, as well as decorative lampposts and ornamental trees and bushes.
          The Van Tamelens, who live in Los Altos, Calif., provided funds for the landscaping in the section that bears their names. They are both alumni of the college, and grew up in the Holland area.
          The Haworth Conference and Learning Center opened in January and was dedicated in May.  The conference center has 50 hotel rooms and offers meeting and banquet space for up to 400 people. The Admissions Office was completed in 1988.

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