Three Hope College alumni attending graduate school were notified of award offers from the prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) for the 2026-27 academic year. One other Hope alumnus received honorable mention recognition.

Hope College student Gloria Kozak ’27 of Midland, Mich., received the highly competitive scholarship from the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Kozak is a chemistry major, working with her research mentor Dr. Meagan Elinski, assistant professor of chemistry at Hope. Kozak was one of just 14 Goldwater Scholarship Award recipients from Michigan colleges and universities, and one of 454 nationally

With much appreciation, Hope College celebrates the following esteemed faculty members retiring at the close of the Spring 2026 semester. They are an exceptional group of educators, scholars and mentors representing a collective 350 years of dedicated service to the college community — across many disciplines, from the sciences and social sciences to the humanities and arts. Their commitment has shaped the lives of countless students, contributed significantly to their respective fields and helped define the academic excellence of Hope College for decades. Each will be recognized during the May 10, 2026, commencement ceremony at the Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.