Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among
1998 Hope College graduates were presented to three students
during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 23).
Rebecca (Becky) Schmidt of Holland has been presented the
John Schouten Award while Brandon Graham of Hudsonville and Joel
Holstege of Grandville are the co-recipients of the Otto van der
Velde All-Campus Award.
The Schouten award is given to a senior woman who, in
addition to excelling in athletics, possesses other strong
character traits and leadership abilities. The award is named in
memory of John "Jack" Schouten who was a long-time physical
educator and coach at Hope, addition to serving as the college's
first director of athletics.
The van der Velde award is present to a senior man for
outstanding contribution to the college in athletics, scholarship
and participation in student activities. The award, presented
annually since 1932, is named in memory of Dr. Otto van der
Velde, a 1915 Hope College graduate who lettered in four sports
and was later team physician for more than 40 years.
A kinesiology major at Hope, Schmidt has been a standout
volleyball player. Last fall she was voted the most valuable
player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
(MIAA) as the Flying Dutch captured the conference championship
and earned a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. A 1994
graduate of Holland High School, she is the daughter of Dr. John
Schmidt of Holland and Sara and Dr. Boyd Wilson of Holland.
Graham and Holstege were All-American athletes in football
and basketball respectively. Graham has majored in kinesiology
while Holstege is majoring in accounting. A running back who
established several college and conference records, Graham is
also a GTE Academic All-American and has been presented an NCAA
Post Graduate Scholarship. A 1994 graduate of Hudsonville High
School, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Graham of
Hudsonville. Holstege had the distinction of playing of four
conference championship basketball teams, including two that
advanced to the NCAA Division III national championship game. A
1994 graduate of Covenant Christian High School, he is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Holstege.

Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among
1998 Hope College graduates were presented to three students
during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 23).
Rebecca (Becky) Schmidt of Holland has been presented the
John Schouten Award while Brandon Graham of Hudsonville and Joel
Holstege of Grandville are the co-recipients of the Otto van der
Velde All-Campus Award.
The Schouten award is given to a senior woman who, in
addition to excelling in athletics, possesses other strong
character traits and leadership abilities. The award is named in
memory of John "Jack" Schouten who was a long-time physical
educator and coach at Hope, addition to serving as the college's
first director of athletics.
The van der Velde award is present to a senior man for
outstanding contribution to the college in athletics, scholarship
and participation in student activities. The award, presented
annually since 1932, is named in memory of Dr. Otto van der
Velde, a 1915 Hope College graduate who lettered in four sports
and was later team physician for more than 40 years.
A kinesiology major at Hope, Schmidt has been a standout
volleyball player. Last fall she was voted the most valuable
player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
(MIAA) as the Flying Dutch captured the conference championship
and earned a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. A 1994
graduate of Holland High School, she is the daughter of Dr. John
Schmidt of Holland and Sara and Dr. Boyd Wilson of Holland.
Graham and Holstege were All-American athletes in football
and basketball respectively. Graham has majored in kinesiology
while Holstege is majoring in accounting. A running back who
established several college and conference records, Graham is
also a GTE Academic All-American and has been presented an NCAA
Post Graduate Scholarship. A 1994 graduate of Hudsonville High
School, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Graham of
Hudsonville. Holstege had the distinction of playing of four
conference championship basketball teams, including two that
advanced to the NCAA Division III national championship game. A
1994 graduate of Covenant Christian High School, he is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Holstege.