Meet the Congress

Executive Board

Luke Rufenacht

President

Luke Rufenacht is a senior at Hope from Quincy, Michigan, studying political science and business. Luke is in his second year of serving as president, and has been involved in Congress since his first year. Outside of Congress, he works as a career ambassador for the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career. His activities at Hope have included serving as a resident assistant in Durfee Hall, the Arcadian Fraternity, Nykerk play morale, and working with the Events and Conferences Office, Dance Marathon and the Student-Faculty Judicial Board.

Mara Benitez

Vice President

Mara Benitez is a senior at Hope from Alma, Michigan, studying civil engineering with a minor in Spanish. Mara has been involved with Student Congress for the past three years serving as a Dykstra Hall representative, freshman class representative, secretary, junior class representative and now as vice president. Her involvement at Hope has included Residential Life as a hall and cottage RA, the Dorian Sorority, and having the best job on campus as a tour guide for Admissions. She is passionate about making Hope a welcoming place for every student and is excited to use Congress as a way to empower others. 

Haley Whitmore

Controller

Haley is currently a senior at Hope College studying political science. At Hope she is involved in Student Congress as the controller, Greek Judicial Board, Panhellenic Council, and a member of the Kappa Beta Phi Sorority. While in high school and completing her Girl Scout Gold Award she was able to spark a social mental health movement called We Stand Together. This led her to New York where she advocated for mental health public policy reform in front of the United Nations. She has also spoken nationwide inspiring young girls to embrace themselves while promoting positive mental health in order to make the world a better place, one person at a time. She is planning on continuing her education to earn a master’s of public administration to continue work in the nonprofit sector. 

Garett Shrode

Chief of Staff

Garett Shrode is a senior political science major from Hamilton, Michigan, interested in urban planning. He has served on Student Congress the past three years as Wyckoff and Kollen Hall representatives, as well as junior class representative. In addition to Student Congress, Garett is involved in Nykerk Even Year Play, Chapel Choir, 12th Street Harmony, and TEDxHopeCollege. Additionally, he works in Print and Mail Services and is a neighborhood coordinator for Residential Life. 

Mary Kamara-Hagemeyer

Chief of Culture and Inclusion

Mary Kamara-Hagemeyer is a senior at Hope from Holland, Michigan, double majoring in history and business with a minor in political science. Mary has been involved with Student Congress for the past three years serving as a Scott Hall representative, chair of the Academic Affairs Task Force, and currently serves as the chief of culture and inclusion. Her involvement at Hope has included the Black Student Union, Vox Populi, Center for Leadership Consulting, the Hope College Student-Faculty Judicial Board and Mortar Board. She is dedicated to making Hope a more inclusive place for all students. 

Lizzy Bassett

Chief of Assessment

Lizzy Bassett is a junior from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, studying communication and organizational leadership. Along with being involved in Student Congress, Lizzy works as the director of TEDxHopeCollege, a College East RA, a Nykerk oration coach, and a camera technician for video services. During her time at Hope, Lizzy has completed undergrad research with Dr. Kornfield and founded TEDxHopeCollege. As chief of assessment, Lizzy will be leading the task forces in the first academic year of assessing Hope College services and entities as they serve the student body.

Cabinet

• Andrea Hernandez, Chief of Culture and Inclusion Elect
• Esther Seeley, Controller Elect
• Cecilia Casper, Secretary
• JD Murray, Chief of Public Affairs
• Devin White, Academic Affairs Task Force Chair
• Helen Weston, Administrative Affairs Task Force Chair
• Anders Bogard, Campus Life Task Force Chair
• Kate Kalthoff, Critical Issues Symposium Director
• Justin Kneeshaw, Social Media Coordinator
• MacKenna Shampine, Graphics Coordinator

Class Council

• Abby Holm, Senior Class Representative
• Paige Nielsen, Senior Class Representative
• Sam Martino, Junior Class Representative
• Morgynn Vallieres, Junior Class Representative
• Josh Abbas, Sophomore Class Representative
• Sophomore Class Representative: Applications open in November. Contact congress@hope.edu if you are interested in representing the Class of 2024!
• Freshman Class Representatives: Applications open in November. Contact congress@hope.edu if you are interested in representing the Class of 2025!

General Congress

• Cook Hall: Jane Altevogt and David Slakes
• Durfee Hall: Drake Yatooma
• Dykstra Hall: Miyako Coffey and Shelby Smego
• Gilmore Hall: Contact congress@hope.edu if you are interested in representing the Class of 2025!
• Kollen Hall: Grace Baker, Van Lian, and Will Novak
• Lichty Hall: Elle Boettcher
• Phelps Hall: Ethan Clarke, Luong Tran
• Scott Hall: Katie Donahue
• Van Vleck Hall: Maureen Cole
• Voorhees Hall: Ty Holzwarth
• Wyckoff Hall: Ben DuBay
• Neighborhood Representatives: Onnah Dereski, Ethan Getchell, Josh Haddad, Cameron Hamilton, Hope Herremans, Meghan Smith, and Anna Walta
• Off-Campus Representative: Grace Purdue
• Appointed Campus Representatives: Megan Barta, Lauren Bryan, Ben Catton, Charlie Michels, and Elle Oom
• Appropriations Representatives: Elle Boettcher and Angela Green
• Culture and Inclusion Representatives: Sara Cerda and Tsion Weldetsadik

Appropriations Committee

• Elle Boettcher, General Congress Representative
• Angela Green, General Congress Representative
• Maggie Gillich
• Lulu Mans
• Sydney Randall
• Meghan Smith
• Leah Thomas
• Lydia Won

Culture and Inclusion Committee

• Bereket Bessie
• Sara Cerda, General Congress Representative
• Kylea Canada
• Jazmin Diaz
• Lillian Droscha
• Joy Gregson
• Ali Koehl
• Taryn Meyer
• Nereyda Sanchez gama
• Hailey Schumann
• Tsion Weldetsadik, General Congress Representative
• Sunnie Zou