HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Hope College held its Commencement ceremonies for the graduating class of 2021 on Sunday (May 16, 2021).
In two separate sessions at Ray & Sue Smith Stadium, a limited number of family and friends were able to witness about 650 participating graduates get their symbolic sheepskin from the Holland school of higher education. “This year, our pomp is occurring under a slightly different set of circumstances,” said Hope President Matthew Scogin in his introductory remarks. “Because of how all of you have endured through these circumstances, we have a lot to celebrate today. The world has thrown a lot at you during your time in college, and if you can survive this, you can do anything. To you have I have one this to day – you are going to crush it.”
Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren, an associate professor of psychology at Hope, was the featured speaker, focusing his remarks on the theme, “The Final Assignment.” “When you realize that life is finite, it helps you prioritize the things in your life that are truly meaningful,” he said.
In the Baccalaureate service beforehand, held in the Pine Grove with only graduates present, the Reverend Dr. Trygve Johnson, the Hinga-Boersma Dean of the Chapel, delivered the sermon titled “How Will You Spend Your Day?”
During the graduation ceremonies, the Class of 2021 honored Dr. Jennifer Hampton with the Hope Outstanding Professor Educator award. It was the first time the annual honor for the instructor that the seniors felt epitomizes the best qualities of a Hope teacher went posthumously, as Dr. Hampton died in an auto accident this past March 14th. She had been a professor of physics at Hope since 2007, and was the department’s dean at the time of her death.
This was the first graduation ceremony at Hope in two years, as last year’s scheduled event was canceled due to the COVID 19 outbreak. The school plans to honor the Class of 2020 with its own celebration at Pine Grove this coming Saturday.
