Calvin News

The Calvin Alumni Association Board met last month and voted to honor the following persons with awards:

The Outstanding Service Award

The Outstanding Service Award has been presented annually since 1969 to persons who have given extraordinary service to the college. The recipients need not be alumni of Calvin College and, in fact, neither of this year's recipients is. 1998 honorees Bruce and Sue Osterink of Grand Rapids have made their mark on Calvin in recent years, despite never having attended the school. They have not only been instrumental in helping to shape Calvin Chaplain Dale Cooper's mentorship program, but also have served as mentors to many Calvin students via that program. Indicative of the importance of those mentoring relationships: one former Calvin student, now in medical school, chose Bruce Osterink to be his best man at his wedding this past summer. The Osterinks also host some 150-200 Calvin students per school year at their house and are the college's partners in the new Project Neighborhood endeavor. Their award will be presented at the Homecoming Awards Luncheon on February 14, 1998.

The Faith-and-Learning Award

The Faith-and-Learning Award has presented annually since 1992 to the Calvin faculty member who has had a lasting impact on students. The 1998 recipient is Dr. Henrietta Ten Harmsel, a professor of English, emeritus. In her years of teaching Ten Harmsel not only taught but did publishing and translation work that was national and international in scale. In retirement she has continued to stay busy, traveling across the country to share her passion for literature. The award recognizes excellence in teaching, spiritual impact, concern for students and lasting influence. Ten Harmsel also will receive her award at the Homecoming Awards Luncheon on February 14, 1998.

Additional Awards

In addition, the Board voted to make a special presentation at that same luncheon to the Kalamazoo Alumni Chapter for its inspiring efforts to support the families of the Calvin students who were seriously injured in the January 1997 car accident that claimed one life and injured three others. From the very first day of that accident members of the Kalamazoo Alumni Chapter were at the hospital to comfort and support the families, opened their homes to friends and family members, brought meals to the hospital, took siblings of the injured students to basketball and hockey games, played cards and many other expressions of comfort and support. The Calvin Alumni Association Board felt that the outpouring of support from the Kalamazoo Alumni Chapter deserved to be recognized.

Contact: Mike Van Denend, executive director of the Alumni Association, at 957-6142