Debra Fischer Bechtel (second from left) presented the donation for the endowed director position in memory of her late husband and Hope alumnus, Lee A. Bechtel, during a 50th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C. in February. Pictured with Debra from Hope's leadership team are: Dr. Alex Jones (far left), vice president of philanthropy and engagement; Matt Scogin, president; and Dr. Lindsey Root '03 Luna, dean of social sciences.
As Hope College celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Washington Honors Semester program, the college also recognized a significant donor gift that will help support the program indefinitely.
The honors program is a long-standing experiential education program that includes a cohort of Hope College students who spend a full semester in Washington, D.C. engaging in academic seminars, working a 32-hour-per-week internship, and gaining exposure to careers in the nation’s capitol. A Hope College faculty member rotates in each spring semester to lead and support the student cohort. The Washington Honors Semester has a proven track record of placing qualified students in prestigious internships at such places as the White House, National Museum of Art, World Bank, American Bar Association, Naval Medical Research Center and the U.S. Supreme Court.
At a Hope College Connection event in Washington, D.C., in February, the college announced a major estate gift that will endow the rolling faculty program director role. Attending the special anniversary celebration were current Honors Semester students, 120 Hope alumni, political science faculty, Hope College President Matt Scogin and several others from the college leadership team.
In recognition of the program’s 50th anniversary, a generous donation was made by Debra Fischer Bechtel in memory of her late husband and Hope alumnus Lee A. Bechtel, class of 1977. The fund — named the Lee A. Bechtel, ‘77 endowed director of Washington Honors Semester — will be used to support the director position for the program. Bechtel was among the earliest students participating in the honors semester, and according to Debra, the D.C. experience “was life-changing and sparked his interest in politics and lobbying.” After serving in various political roles early in his career, he founded the health care lobbyist firm Bechtel and Associates, helped establish the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and served as president of the American League of Lobbyists. Bechtel was also appointed a legislative liaison for the Department of Health and Human Services by President Ronald Reagan in 1989. Bechtel passed away Dec. 30, 2023.
About the Hope College Washington Honors Semester
The spring-semester program was established in 1976 by Hope College professor Dr. Robert Elder (retired) while Dr. Jack Holmes (retired) served as the program director for 12 terms. The program provides hands-on experience through full-time internships and academic instruction in the nation’s capitol for an entire semester. Students can earn 14-16 credits while participating. Part of the academic training involves 45-60 public policy group interviews over the semester. These interviews involve students spending one day a week as a group meeting and interacting with a broad range of policy professionals such as U.S. senators and congressmen, Hill staffers, lobbyists, journalists and interest-group advocates. Students also participate in weekly policy seminars, exploring a wide range of contemporary policy debates and political developments.
Many Washington Honors Semester students return to the nation’s capital after graduation, making Washington, D.C. one of the largest and most active centers of Hope College alumni.