Tom Renner, who retired at the end of December as associate vice president for public and community relations after serving at Hope College for 47 years, will receive the “Hope for Humanity Award” from the college’s alumni H-Club during halftime of the home Hope women's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the DeVos Fieldhouse.
Tom Renner, who retired at the end of December as associate vice president for public and community relations after serving at Hope College for 47 years, will receive the “Hope for Humanity Award” from the college’s alumni H-Club during halftime of the home Hope women's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the DeVos Fieldhouse.
The presentation was originally to take place during the college's Winter Happening on Saturday, Jan. 25, but was postponed due to region-wide inclement weather.
The game on Saturday, Feb. 15, will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature the Flying Dutch playing Trine University. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for those under 18, and will be available at the door.
The “Hope for Humanity Award,” first presented in 1990, recognizes Hope athletic alumni and honorary letter winners for consistent service to others and demonstrating the values of Christian commitment and service. The H-Club consists of Hope alumni who were athletic letter winners and other honorary letter winners.
Renner, who joined the Hope staff in 1967, developed and directed the college’s overall program in public and community relations, which includes the college’s news, sports information and media relations programs; community programming such as Community Day and Winter Happening; college home web pages; and multiple publications.
In 2006 he received recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow from the Holland Rotary Club for service and humanitarian efforts in Holland and for Hope College.
Renner, who is a member of the college’s Class of 1967, received a Meritorious Service Award from the Hope College Alumni Association on April 28, 2012.
He was named a recipient of Hope’s “Vanderbush-Weller Award” on May 2, 2013, for strong, positive impact on students. In his role at Hope, especially in the area of sports information, he involved many students in the life of the college.
Renner’s family was devoted to his work, regularly participating in his activities at the college through the years. His wife, Carole, is a Hope alumna, Class of 1967. They have four children, Deb, Susie, Daniel and ReBecca, all of whom attended Hope, and nine grandchildren.
In addition to his work with the college, his involvement in the Holland community included serving on the Tulip Time Board of Directors and Executive board for several years, and the committees for the commemoration of Holland’s 1997 Sesquicentennial and “Celebration 2000” event. He has also co-chaired the college’s United Way drive. He and Carole are members of Christ Memorial Reformed Church in Holland.
The DeVos Fieldhouse is located at 222 Fairbanks Ave., between Ninth and 11th streets.