Even in the 147th year, there is room for firsts. It was 30 minutes before Hope College’s Commencement on Sunday, May 6, was scheduled to begin at Holland Municipal Stadium. Family and friends were in the stands, the graduates were lining up and making ready to process to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” and… the skies rumbled. Change of plan.
Approximately 690 graduating seniors participated in this year’s ceremony, the college’s
147th. The class consisted of students from throughout the United States as well
as from overseas, including from Armenia, Brazil, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Palestine,
Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
In addition to celebrating the Class of 2012, the college presented honorary degrees
during the ceremony to Joel Bouwens and Martie Bultman. Bouwens, of Holland, chaired
the college’s Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2011. Bultman, who didn’t know in advance
that she was receiving the recognition, has been an active member of the campus community
as the wife of President James Bultman.
Also, the graduating class presented the 48th “Hope Outstanding Professor Educator” (H.O.P.E.) Award to Dr. Sonja Trent-Brown, associate professor of psychology. The award, first given in 1965, is presented to the professor class feels epitomizes the best qualities of the Hope College educator.
The commencement address was delivered by Dr. Heather Sellers, professor of English,
who presented “And your homework is…” She asked the graduates as they commenced their
post-Hope lives to complete the same assignment with which she noted that she ends
every class: “Stay up late. Keep the music loud. Make interesting choices.”
During the college’s Baccalaureate services in Dimnent Memorial Chapel earlier in the day, the Rev. Dr. Trygve Johnson, who is the Hinga-Boersma Dean of the Chapel at Hope, delivered the sermon “So… now what?” It was a natural question, he noted, at a time of transition such as graduation.