HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – It was nearly a picture-perfect Sunday afternoon to send the 154th Hope College graduation class off into the world.
Before sunny skies and temperatures in the 60’s, 713 seniors participated in the annual event at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium. Dr. Kristen Gray, associate dean for health and counseling at the school and director of Hope’s Counseling and Psychological Services Office, told the crowd of several thousand that what the graduates learned at Hope, “is intended to inspire and prepare you for lives of leadership and service in our global society.”
The Class of ’19 also named Dr. Chuck Green, a professor of psychology, as the winner of the 55th Hope Outstanding Professor Educator Award, given to the instructor that the graduates feel “best epitomizes the best qualities of the Hope College educator. He was unable to attend the graduation ceremony due to a family commitment but did express his appreciation for this hour through a prerecorded video shown on the stadium’s video screen.
This was the final ceremonial act for outgoing Hope president Rev. Dr. Dennis Voskuil, who took over on an interim basis two years ago when Dr. John Knapp left for Washington and Jefferson (PA). Matthew Scogin assumes the presidential helm of the Holland school on July 1.
