Drs. James and Mary Jane Lamse

This scholarship is established through the estate of Drs. James and Mary Jane Lamse to support and promote the study of German language and culture. Jim graduated from Calvin in 1958 and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan. Mary Jane’s lifelong love of learning began in childhood and was nourished during her years as a student at Calvin College, the University of Goettingen, and the University of Michigan, where she received a PhD in Germanic Language and Literature. Mary Jane’s career included teaching at Calvin College and working as a translator, writer, and editor for Amway Corporation. During his 31 years in the German department at Calvin, Jim was known to be “that rare combination of both profoundly passionate about the subject matter and deeply caring about his students and their learning,” He began taking students to Germany during interim in 1971 and also began the German Work Exchange program, which sent Calvin students to Germany and German students to the U.S. In honor of the profound impact the Lamses have had on Calvin’s German language and culture program, this scholarship will provide opportunities for Calvin students to pursue the same interests in the language and culture they both loved.