Coach Page will be missed......

Tennis Coach Karen Page Loses Battle With Cancer
Karen Page, a leader in the advancement of tennis at the high school, college and community levels, died Friday, July 3, at the Hospice House in Holland following a long, courageous battle against cancer.

Page, 60, most recently was serving as Director of the DeWitt Tennis Center at Hope College and was the coach of the college's women's tennis team the past 12 years.
"Karen promoted the game of tennis, but also promoted an enthusiasm and high energy for living," said longtime colleague Dwayne "Tiger" Teusink.

"Positive energy and spirit were the hallmarks of Karen Page's life. Every woman she coached, every person she touched was the beneficiary of her strong touchstones of enthusiasm and passion, not just for the game of tennis but for the joy of life," said Eva Dean Folkert, co-director of athletics at Hope. " I honestly can't remember a time when in the space of five minutes -- whether in competition or conversation, I did not see a smile come across KP's face. We will greatly miss such a terrific role model to students and women. We will greatly miss such a treasured coach and friend."

Page guided the Hope Flying Dutch to conference championships in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009. The 1998, 2000 and 2009 Flying Dutch earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. A reoccurence of cancer this spring did not allow her to actively coach the team, but it did not deter her from being with her squad at the conference and NCAA tournaments.

Page had an extensive background as a teacher and coach of tennis. She previously served as coach of the boy's and girl's varsity teams at Holland West Ottawa High School. She also coached the Holland community's adult women USTA travel teams.
She served as president of the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association and was a certified tennis teaching professional. She was presented the distinguished service award by the Western Michigan Tennis Association for outstanding leadership and service and named to the Hall of Fame of the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association. She was a graduate of Iowa State University.

Hope's Graduation Rate

Hope's Graduation Rate is Among the Best in Michigan!

The rate of graduation at Hope College ranks among the best in Michigan, according to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in a new report, "Diplomas and Dropouts: Which Colleges Actually Graduate Their Students (and Which Don't)"

The study of nearly 1,400 colleges and universities was in response to a challenge from President Obama that America have the highest proportion of colleges in the world.

The Institute conducted its study using the classfications of the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education and admissions selectivity scheme from "Barron's Profiles of American Colleges".

Hope College is classified as a baccalaureate (undergraduate) institution and considered to be very competitive in its admissions selectivity. The graduation rate is determined by the number of first-time students who graduate within six years of enrollment. The study is based on 2001 enrollrees and 2007 graduates.

Hope College and Kalamazoo College shared the top spot among baccalaureate colleges in Michigan with a graduation rate of 78%.

The highest graduation rate among all colleges and universities in Michigan was the University of Michigan at 88%. The average graduation rate for all colleges and universities in Michigan was 52% and the average of the institutions included in this survey was 55%.

"Such differences suggest that while student motivation, finances and ability matter greatly when it comes to college completion, the practice of higher education institutions matter, too." Frederick M. Hess, lead author of "Diplomas and Dropouts", said.

The Institute noted that parents, students and guidance counselors too often lack information on graduation rates when selecting schools or deciding where to spend thousands of dollars in savings -- or take on thousands of dollars in debt.

""At a time when growing unemployment disproportionately affects workers with a degree, it is critical that this information is available and accesible so that consumers can make informed decisions," Kevin Carey, a coauthor said.

The survey was funded in part from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"This report helps identify the problem that our ciollege completion rates are too low," said Hilary Pennington, director of education, post-secondary success, and special initiatives at the Gates Foundation. "For too long we've been focussed only on access to college. Now we need to turn college-goers into college graduates because a postsecondary credential is the best path to success for young adults."

A complete report can be found
http://www.aei.org/docLib/Diplomas%20and%20Dropouts%20final.pdf

A Mystery Unearthed

Workers excavating the site of the new Van Andel Soccer Stadium unearthed a surprise on Tuesday (May 12). They discovered a tunnel that is believed to be part of the homestead of the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The tunnel is believed to have connected Rev. Van Raalte's home to a barn. The buildings on the 87-acre estate were removed in the early 1960s to make room for what is now the Buys Athletic Fields.

Groundbreaking

Hope College Women's Soccer team members and new alumni participate in the ground breaking for the new Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

Follow Hope Women's Soccer

Follow Hope Women's Soccer and the progress of the new stadium.
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The New Stadium!

NEW SOCCER STADIUM ANNOUNCED

Construction will soon begin on a new stadium to serve the Hope College soccer program and Holland-area sports and recreation community.

The stadium, with an estimated construction cost and maintenance endowment totaling $5.3 million, will be located on the site of the college's existing soccer fields along Fairbanks Ave. near 11th Street.

"This is a continuation of our efforts to revitalize the eastern gateway to downtown Holland and Hope's campus," said President James E. Bultman.

The soccer stadium has been designed to compliment the college's nearby Wolters softball and Boeve baseball stadiums and De Vos Fieldhouse which have all opened over the past four years.

President Bultman also noted that it is an opportune time for this project because of its ability to stimulate the local economy through construction jobs and from the business that will be given to material suppliers and service providers.

This project is being made possible by a leadership gift from a generous donor which will fund the majority of the project, according to President Bultman. The naming gift will be revealed Friday, May 1, during an 11:30 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony at the stadium site. The public is invited to attend.

"Hope College is committed to excellence in programs and facilities that enable faculty, staff and students to perform at the highest levels. We are grateful for this and other gifts which are enabling the continuation of construction of quality academic and athletic facilities that are allowing Hope to serve generations of students to come," President Bultman said.

The stadium will accommodate an estimated 1,400 fans in stadium-style and bleacher seating. There will be accompanying terrace areas for picnicking and tailgating. There will be a concession stand, public restrooms, a first aid/training room, two full locker rooms for Hope's teams, a meeting room for visiting teams, a ticket booth and a press box. The field surface will be of artificial turf and there will be stadium lighting for night contests.

The architect is GMB Architects and Engineers of Holland and the construction manager will be GDK Construction of Holland.

The project is scheduled for completion in time for a dedication tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 when both Hope soccer teams have a home game.

Hope has sponsored intercollegiate soccer for men since 1963 and for women since 1989. Both programs have distinguished themselves at the conference level and in the NCAA. Since 2002 the programs have combined for seven Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships. Over the past five seasons the teams have a combined home field record of 72-17-5.

"This stadium will be a dream come true as we seek to elevate the visibility of soccer in the Hope and Holland communities," men's soccer coach Steve Smith said.

"The women's soccer team is looking forward to having the privilege of playing in what we think will be one of the finest small college soccer facilities in the country," women's soccer coach Leigh Sears said. "The stadium will provide our players and fans with a playing and viewing environment that will be unmatched around the region. The Flying Dutch soccer team is very grateful to those who have made this new stadium possible."