Hope College Celebrates Its Student-Athletes
as Part of NCAA Division III Initiative

Hope College has been a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) since 1956 and Division III since its founding in 1973. The NCAA in 2010 launched a new initiative in Division III that highlights its student-athletes as they excel on the athletic field, pursue their chosen field of study in the classroom, and participate in the life of their college and surrounding community. Throughout the 2010-11 school year, the MIAA and its member institutions are recognizing students who exemplify that model -- young people following their passions and discovering their potential.

Hope College students, teams and coaches are featured based on each of the six initiatives - Proportion, Comprehensive Learning, Passion, Responsibility, Sportsmanship and Citizenship.

RESPONSIBILITY

Being a part of a Division III college volleyball program not only provides a tremendous experience as a student-athlete, but other opportunites such as to coach at summer camps and for club volleyball programs.

Ten members of the 2010 MIAA co-champion Hope College squad were involved in coaching club volleyball this spring and virtually all of them have the opportunity to return to campus during the summer to work the college's volleyball camps.

"As a coach, I have realized the importance of responsibility," said senior and team co-captain Sara DeWeerdt of Holland, Mich. (Hamilton HS). "I have grown to understand how important communication is to minimizing conflict, how much easier it is to achieve goals when I am prepared and how I am responsible for my student-athlete’s actions on and off the court."

With that being said, Sara sets an example of what is acceptable – being kind, motivating, excited, passionate, encouraging and responsible. When she demonstrates these characteristics, her student-athletes do as well.

"Above all, coaching has helped me learn more about myself – about what I expect from my student-athletes and what I expect from myself."

PROPORTION

Long before the formation of NCAA Division III, Hope College was committed to the balanced academic and athletic development of their student-athletes. They have earned Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, and NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarships; numerous student-athletes have been named to the all-academic teams in their respective sports.

The Hope women’s cross country program has distinguished itself. These student-athletes have earned All-Academic Team national honors every year since the honors program was initiated in 1990. No other Division III women's cross country program has achieved that distinction. In addition, there have been 62 women cross country team members who have earned individual all-academic national accolades during this period of time. These young women have established a strong reputation in the classroom and on the playing field. They have gone on to serve as leaders in their communities as physicians, lawyers, teachers, businesswomen, and in a variety of other professions.

Dr. Mark Northuis, coach of the Hope cross country team notes: “It is a true joy to work with young women who are high achievers, both in the classroom and field of competition. It is even a greater joy to know that they are accomplishing what they came to Hope College to do and are graduating well prepared for life."

PASSION

By Ben Thomas, Hope senior from Spring Grove, Ill.
The pride of a student body is many times reflected in its enthusiasm for its sports teams. Hope College is no exception. Tradition anchors the Dew Crew student cheering section in spirit and passion.

If passion were a color, it would be orange. If passion were a person, it would be Dutch. If passion were a place it would be Hope.

Welcome to Hope, Home of the Dew Crew, and home to some of the most passionate student fans on earth. The Dew Crew isn't afraid to spar with the Izzos or the Cameron Crazies. They like to say that it isn’t the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the size of the passion in the stands that makes a difference. In small, division three schools, athletics rely on the voices of a few to carry the tradition of a fan base. Yet at Hope the concept of “few” is replaced by the enthusiasm of the “Crew.”

With each bite of passion comes the lingering taste of tradition. Since its founding in 1996, the Dew Crew has become contagious. Each graduating class is replaced by a freshman body of eager fanatics. Many have grown up around Hope basketball. Many have grown up with a habit of watching the Dew Crew more than watching the game. And yet some are experiencing the heartbeat of Hope for the first time. But no matter what background Hope students come from, everyone’s chest shares the same racing rhythm.

Visiting teams put the Dew Crew in their scouting reports. The “Dew Crew” dominates attendance records and decibel levels while creating a homecourt atmosphere of passion. For those who play the game, all they need to do is look into a sea of their peers to find motivation. The painted chests of their classmates, the horse throats of their RA’s and Professors, their entire student population in the stands, all combines to unify both athlete and school under an orange and blue flag of passion.

From the opening tip, to the final horn, the Hope Dew Crew runs on Premium Passion. They are the soul of DeVos Fieldhouse. They are the heartbeat of Hope basketball.

“THIS IS OUR HOUSE.”
And it is our home.
We are tradition.
We are success.
We are pride.
And we have PASSION.

CITIZENSHIP

Integral to the athletics program of Hope College is the development of the student-athlete as a whole person -- Mind, Body, Spirit. Community service is a key component for all Hope's athletic teams.

Recent examples include organizing cancer awareness initiatives, working on home renovation projects for Habitat for Humanity, collecting hundreds of pairs of soccer shoes for youth in Jamaica, Zambia, Sierra Leone and the Dominican Republic, being reading tutors at elementary schools, serving at a local soup kitchen, and developing one-on-one relationships through Special Olympics and No More Sidelines.

It is truly teamwork that extends beyond the field of play. "Our student-athletes take this sense of service with them upon graduation and become leaders in their communities," observed women's basketball coach Brian Morehouse.

COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING

John Donkersloot
Senior from Zeeland, Mich. (Zeeland East HS)
Three years ago, John Donkersloot was looking for a college that would allow him to pursue an education as a "three-dimensional person" committed to academics, athletics and the arts. That goal is being fulfilled as John has found Hope College to be the ideal fit for his varied interests.

An all-state high school high jumper, Donkersloot was pursued by Division I university athletic programs. He chose Division III Hope determined to achieve balance in his life. It has worked for the Zeeland, Mich. senior who is a two-time NCAA All-American high jumper, has been honored as a CoSIDA first team Academic All-American while maintaining a 3.9 GPA as a chemistry major, and is an acclaimed pianist. Read more about John Donkersloot

SPORTSMANSHIP

KATHERINE GARCIA
Senior from Battle Creek, Mich. (BC Central HS)
Hope College senior tennis player Katherine Garcia of Battle Creek, Mich. grew up with the idea that respect for the game and regard for its players is of the highest importance, more so than even the outcome of any match.

“I try to treat all my opponents in the same way. It helps to look at a match as an opportunity to improve, rather than a chance to beat someone. This helps me stay focused on the purpose of playing instead of letting my emotions kick-in to play,” says Katherine who was the recipient of the MIAA’s 2010 Sue Little Sportsmanship Award and will be a co-captain in 2011. “It is hard to be both a good loser and a good winner, but approaching a match with a constant set of behavior standards helps keep me level-headed.”

“Katherine leads by example,” says her coach Nate Price. “She is a standout both athletically and academically and is someone that all her teammates look up to as a great leader.”