During its May meeting, the Board of Directors of the Hope College Alumni Association chose its officers for 2007-08 and appointed five new members.

Karen Navis of Grandville is continuing her two-year term as president and Mark VanGenderen of Cedarburg, Wis., is continuing as vice president. Sara Van Anrooy of Castle Park, Colo., has been appointed secretary, succeeding the late Dr. John Witte of Vero Beach, Fla. Witte died in early May shortly after marking the conclusion of his six-year term on the board, having served the last two years as secretary.

The board's new members are Anita Bateman, a 1998 graduate from Austin, Texas; Lisa Bos, a 1997 graduate from Washington, D.C.; Lori Droppers, a 1983 graduate from Maitland, Fla.; Brett Kingma, a Hope junior from Grand Rapids; and Elias Sanchez, a 1978 graduate from Hinsdale, Ill.

Jason Cash, formerly Senior Class Representative, was appointed representative of the most recent graduating class. Sarah Oosterink, formerly Junior Class Representative, was appointed Senior Class Representative.

In addition to Witte, the board members who have concluded their service to the board are: Leah Haugneland of Katy, Texas; Kristin Tichy Pagenkopf of Glenville, Ill.; Allison Pawlowski of Pinckney; and Beth Snyder of Arlington, Va.

Bateman is an IT software architect with IBM, where she has been employed for the last nine years. She received her first patent in 2006, and received IT Architect certification from IBM and the Open Group earlier this year.

Her community and volunteer involvement include providing IT administration and webmaster services for the Latin American Leadership Development Program; Bethany United Methodist Church; membership in Impact Austin; and IBM's community partnership eMentoring program.

She and her husband, John Bateman '97, who met at Hope, live in Austin, Texas, but continue to be involved with Hope in various ways.

She majored in computer science at Hope and minored in Spanish and mathematics. She also holds a Master of Science in Computer Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.

Her activities as a student included the Nykerk Cup competition, of which she was general chair her senior year; summer research in computer science; serving as a resident assistant; the Summer of Service program; spring break mission trips; Fellowship of Christian Students; Mortar Board; I.VE League; and intramurals.

She was a second-generation student, the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Charles '70 and Jean Taylor '70 Van Engen, and has many other family members who have attended Hope.

Bos is a lobbyist and vice president with Cassidy and Associates, a Washington, D.C., government relations firm, where she has been employed for two-and-a-half years. She had previously been policy director with the House Republican Study Committee and a legislative assistant with U.S. Congressman Pete Hoekstra '75.

Her involvement in her community includes serving as a Sunday school teacher, as a member of the Capitol Square condo board, and being active in political fundraising and campaigns.

Since graduation Bos has been involved in Hope events, including coordinating a Hope-Calvin basketball satellite party. She has also spoken with students participating in the college's Washington Honors Semester and has represented Hope at area college fairs.

She majored in political science and minored in history at Hope. Her activities included participating in the Washington Honors Semester, Student Congress, Hope Republicans, Model United Nations and the Nykerk Cup competition, and serving as a resident assistant. She was a second-generation student, the granddaughter of Marie Blauwkamp '62.

Droppers has been a school physical therapist in the Orange County Public Schools for the past two-and-a-half years. She previously held a variety of full- and part-time positions in physical therapy from 1984 to 1990 before taking additional time to spend with her family.

Her involvement in her community includes serving as a Bible study fellowship leader, leading middle-school mission trips and serving as president of the parent-teacher association.

She attended Hope as a second-generation student, the daughter of Dr. Harrison '51 and Mary Zweizig '52 Visscher. Her involvement with Hope since graduation has included attending class reunions, attending and organizing regional events, and recommending students to admissions. In addition, her son Neil is entering his second year at the college.

Droppers majored in biology and minored in physical education at Hope. Her activities as a student included the Delta Phi Sorority, Pull tug-of-war and the Nykerk Cup competition.

She and her husband, Karl Droppers '82 have four children: Neil, Jack, Nina and Mara.

Kingma has a pre-dental focus at Hope, majoring in psychology with minors in business management and biochemistry.

He is a member of the Fraternal Society, of which he will serve as treasurer during 2007-08. His activities at Hope have also included volunteering with the Children's After School Achievement (CASA) program, serving as a Judicial Board representative for Greek Life judicial affairs, participating in a mission trip to aid in hurricane relief in Gulfport, Miss., in the fall of 2005, and competing in Hope baseball in 2006.

Since the fall of 2006 he has worked with the department of chemistry, assisting in weekly laboratory sessions for area home-school children, and he has also been gaining professional experience as a student assistant in a local dentist's office. He also works in his family's business, Kingma's Market, and at the New Holland Brewing Co.

Kingma is a 2005 graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. Among other honors, he was named a Congressional Medal of Merit recipient in May 2005, receiving his award from Congressman Vern Ehlers. He received a Presidential Scholarship from Hope.

Sanchez is a financial advisor. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 2005, and was previously with Morgan Stanley. Since graduation he has also been president of his own company, Market Segment Services; held advertising sales positions with USA Weekend, Buena Salud and Time; and worked in marketing with Herman Miller Inc.

Sanchez's community involvement has included serving as an associate board member with Scholarship Chicago, working with the Special Olympics in soccer and serving as a "Principal for a Day" with the Chicago Schools.

He has been active in Hope regional events in the Chicago area, where he has also assisted with student recruitment. He has also returned to campus for Hope activities, including Homecoming events and the college's annual Bob DeYoung Hope Classic Golf Outing.

He majored in economics and minored in business administration at Hope. His activities as a student included the Baker Scholars, track, soccer, intramural football and the lacrosse club.

He and his wife, Lynne Schack '80 Sanchez, have two children, Angela and Eric.