Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among Hope College graduates in the class of 2006 were presented to two students during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 27).
Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among Hope College graduates in the class of 2006 were presented to two students during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 27).
Kurtis Blohm of Wilmington, Ohio (Wilmington HS) was presented the Otto van der Velde All-Campus Award while Bria Ebels of Holland (Holland HS) received the John Schouten award.
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 der Velde, a 1915 Hope College graduate who lettered in four sports and was later the college's team physician for more than 40 years.
The Schouten award is given to a senior women who, in addition 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 physical educator and coach at Hope, in addition to serving as the college's first director of athletics.
A special education teaching major, Ebels was a four-year letterwinner in basketball. This season she was a member of Hope's national championship team and was named the outstanding player of the final four. She is the daughter of Doug and Pam Ebels of Holland, Mich.
A chemical engineering major, Blohm was an NCAA All-American swimmer and two-time most valuable swimmer in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. He is the son of Ed and Jan Blohm of Wilmington, Ohio.