Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among
1999 Hope College graduates were presented to two students during
the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 29).
Rebecca Timmer of Pella, Iowa was presented the John
Schouten Award while Adam Paarlberg of Alto, Mich. was the
recipient 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, possess 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, in addition to serving as the
college's first director of athletics.
The van der Velde award is presented 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 physicians for more than 40 years.
A chemistry and Spanish major at Hope, Timmer has been a
standout cross country and track athlete. She is a two-time NCAA
Division III All-American in cross country. She was recently
named a GTE Academic All-American. A 1995 graduate of Pella
Community High School, she is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David
Timmer of Pella, Iowa.
Co-captain of the football team, Paarlberg was an all-
conference Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA)
football linebacker. He is a business administration major. A
1995 graduate of Caledonia High School, he is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Tom Paarlberg of Alto, Mich.
Both Timmer and Paarlberg were recently inducted into the
Hope College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the highest academic
honor can bestow upon its graduates. Each has received senior
awards in their respective academic areas, Timmer in chemistry
(the duPont Company for Research in Chemistry) and Paarlberg in
economics and business administration (Allan C. Kinney Memorial
Award).