William Vogelzang

As a high school student prior to World War II, Bill Vogelzang admits that he focused on the non-essential aspects of his education and did not apply himself to the level that he was capable. He thought that he had jeopardized his opportunity to attend college because of less-than-stellar high school performance.

But a college dean looked Bill straight in the eye, saw the potential of a new attitude and gave him a chance to excel in college when his high school record would not have predicted that this would happen.

Bill’s wife, Betty, who passed away in 1996, was the daughter of a home missionary father and a homemaker mother who never saw college as a possibility. He now wishes to honor his beloved spouse, Betty, who was a woman who believed in second chances and always believed in the potential of people. One of her favorite phrases was “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” meaning, always remember the big picture that God has for your life. The establishment of this scholarship is to support and reward a student who has demonstrated significant improvement over the four years of his or her Calvin experience.

Bill realizes that the transition to Calvin from high school may be very difficult for some students, and through this award, wished to say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” to someone who realizes their shortcomings and makes a concerted effort to make their Calvin experience a success.