Located on the shores of little Lake Macatawa, just off the coast of expansive Lake Michigan, Holland is the epicenter of West Michigan's Dutch history and culture. Not surprisingly, then, the city is perhaps best known for its annual Tulip Time Festival in May. But there's much more to the Tulip City than, well, tulips. The city's downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts as much retail activity as any urban core in the region. The community is flush with wildly popular waterfront beaches like Tunnel Park and Holland State Park. And Hope College lends the clean, conservative town a bit of youthful spirit. Holland is the quintessential family town that's a choice destination to work, live, and recreate.
Michael Sandoval was surprised when he received a Holland/Zeeland Promise Scholarship, which meant he could attend MSU without accumulating student debt. He credits summers spent in Upward Bound classes at Hope College with keeping him focused on what he wanted to achieve, academically and in life.
Capital for Compassion comes alongside Lakeshore nonprofits as they strive to provide affordable housing and shelter for the homeless. The Holland company wades through complex funding regulations to ensure they have the resources to carry out that mission.
DISHER, which started as an automotive product design firm, has branched out to engineering, marketing, and business solutions. Investing in the community is important, and the company puts a percentage of its annual profits into stewardship programs.
September brings the last throes of summer, offering Ottawa County residents and visitors plenty of interesting and engaging places to explore. This list includes options for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or interest.
With a philosophy of caring for Earth and the people who inhabit it, Eighth Day Farm provides produce for CSA members and the food insecure in the Holland community from a former mall parking lot. The farm’s influence also includes composting, support for local growers, and connecting the next generation to the food cycle.
Elliot Busta volunteers once a week teaching Holland Middle School students about STEM, providing a positive role model, and leading harvesting tours. He says he learns as much from the students as he teaches them.
Growing up in a single-parent home taught this 2020 Holland High School graduate independence and resilience. Nelson Figueroa believes those attributes will serve him well at U-M, where he plans to study environmental engineering.
The Holland/Zeeland Promise is a renewable scholarship program aimed at giving students the financial boost they need to further their education. The program will allow these 10 hard-working Lakeshore students to attend college in the fall.
Tammy Dockins has been interested in fitness for as long as she can remember. Though “not friendly with technology,” she found ways to make it work so she could help others during the pandemic.
After months of planning and training, six West Michigan men recently took a swim — across the Big Lake. The relay team made the almost 55-mile journey in just under 21 hours, setting a new record.
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