Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among Hope College graduates in the class of 2011 were presented to two students during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 28).
Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among Hope College graduates in the class of 2011 were presented to two students during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 28).
Kara Vande Guchte of Hamilton (Hamilton HS) was presented the John Schouten award while John Donkersloot of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS) received 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, 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 contributions 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 the college's team physician for more than 40 years.
° An accounting major, Kara Vande Guchte is a two-sport athlete who has been captain of both the volleyball and track and field teams. She has received All-MIAA honors in both sports and is an NCAA Division III All-American heptathlete. She is the daughter of Jim and Lori Vande Guchte of Hamilton.
° John Donkersloot is a biochemistry and molecular biology major and has a minor in philosophy. He is an NCAA All-American high jumper. He is captain of the track and field team. He is the son of James and Sara Donkersloot of Zeeland.
Both have been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll each of their years at Hope. Earlier this week they were each named the 2010-11 Outstanding Female/Male Athlete during the first student-initiated Hopeys awards ceremony.