Calvin News

When I was at Calvin, God bless me with amazing teachers and friends as Prof. Kraker, as an second language student she encouraged me and had always a nice remark or comment about my work. I stopped at her office more than once to talk about my studies and life. She even took me to the Meijer's Gardens once during the winter. I loved her and I know God has a special place for her.
— Ruth Palma, student
In January of 1993 I went with Dr. Kraker and 5 other students on an Interim to the Atlanta Speech School. We were all impressed by Dr. Kraker's boundless energy-- she seemed never to tire! In fact, on this particular trip she even proved that she had more energy than 6 college kids. After working all day at the Speech School, she was always ready to go touring in the evenings, and we finally had to beg her for an evening off! Dr. Kraker's vivacity and her enthusiasm made this a trip I will never forget, and the experience at the Speech School helped fuel my desire to become a Speech Pathologist. I will always be grateful to her for this opportunity and I was blessed to have been able to get to know her this way. 
—Heather W. Honeck, student
I had a class with Myra as part of my Master's work at Calvin. I was teaching computers at a charter school at the time and was feeling very frustrated with my work. Myra was very encouraging to me and she always believed in me. She always told me there was something special out there for me to do. I am now happily working as the education coordinator and preserve manager for the Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve. She was right — I found my niche!
— Cheryl Hoogewind, knew Myra as professor for master's work, an encouraging friend, and later as aunt through Myra's marriage to John Worst
Myra was a dedicated teacher who loved her 4th grade students at Ontario and was always trying to find ways of helping those children who struggled with learning. We kept in touch over the years, even though we were far apart in miles but never in our mutual interests and thought-provoking discussions. My last visit with Myra happened last summer (2003) when my husband (Ted) and I were in Grand Rapids. We three went to a coffee shop, and what I remember was Myra's positive attitude towards life — how God had been so good to her, how grateful she was for being able to see the beauty of living and appreciating life one day at a time. She did not want to dwell on the fact that her latest cancer treatment was not effective anymore, and other alternatives would be sought by her doctor. We had wonderful conversations about God, church, education, marriage, our families, friendships, etc. Ted and I both felt enriched and inspired by her enthusiasm, her ready smile, and her desire to enjoy each moment given to her by God.
— Tena Mejan, fellow teacher at Ontario Christian as well as friend 
I met Myra when we were in the 8th grade at Allendale Chr. We commuted to Calvin together and shared a house our senior year. After Myra returned to the GR area we got together in the summer of a wonderful evening of talking and catching up. Our most recent dinner was this past August. I always looked forward to our long talks and treasure our friendship. Her battle with cancer was courageous, but she did not want to dwell on her illness. She was always much more interested in what was new. I will miss her greatly!! Good-bye my dear friend.
— Sue Bouwma Grefe, friend
I only had Professor Kraker for one class, but she was an inspiration to me because she was so full of energy and zest! While I was earning my education degree at Calvin, she encouraged me to remain active for the rest of my life, even if I married someday. I thought of her as a "go-getter." I appreciated her example of maintained passion for education and for life as well as her personal words of encouragement to me. I am now married and, true to her words, I am still just as passionate about helping students. She will be missed.
— Anonymous