Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among Hope College graduates in the class of 2003 were presented to two students during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday(April 24).

Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among Hope College graduates in the class of 2003 were presented to two students during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday(April 24).

Amanda Kerkstra of Grandville was presented the John Schouten Award while Chad Carlson of Holland is the recipient o fthe Otto van der Velde All-Campus Award. The Schouten award is given to a senior woman who, inaddition to excelling in athletics, possess other strong character traits and leadership abilities. The award is named in memory of John "Jack" Schouten who was a long-time physica leducator and coach at Hope, in addition to serving as the college's first director of athletics. The van der Velde award is presented to a senior man for outstanding contribution to the college in athletics, scholarship and participation in student activities. The award, presented annually since 1932, is named in memory of Dr. Otto van derVelde, a 1915 Hope College graduate who lettered in four sport sand was later the team physician for more than 40 years.

An accounting major, Kerkstra achieved All-America distinction as a four-year letterwinner in basketball. This pas tseason she was voted the most valuable player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). A 1999 graduate o fCalvin Christian High School, she is the daughter of Ruth Schimmel. A social studies composite major, Carlson lettered four years in basketball and was captain of the team as both a junior and senior. He achieved all-conference (MIAA) honors for three seasons. He is the son on Robert and Susan Carlson. His father was the recipient of the Otto van der Velde Award in 1975. He is a 1999 graduate of Holland High School.