Meet Anna

Anna Snader ’26 decided to attend Hope College because of the focus on hope, purpose and service.

Any day on campus, you might find the Hope Forward junior painting in Depree, reading in Lubbers, or running around campus. Wherever you find her, Anna will speak enthusiastically about her classes and college friends.

But that’s not all she values about hope. She came to campus to be part of the Hope Forward Program. “I loved that virtue was core to Hope Forward, that the program was committed to hope, purpose and service,” said Anna, who is studying English literature.

People often think of the economic side of Hope Forward. And while this is certainly part of it, Anna’s life has been touched the most through her Hope Forward cohort friendships. As freshmen, they all arrived from different places across the country and globe, with various majors and interests; and yet, they all immediately clicked.

“My cohort members saw despair, suffering and challenges in the world, but continued to believe that there could be a way forward,” Anna said. “They had purpose. They had hope.”

Even though she did not interact with them every day, their time together enriched her, rekindling her own drive and aspiration to make the world better. “I think that is what Hope Forward is meant to be, a place where we grow in gratitude and generosity for each other until we go forth into the world to help bring it to others,” she explained.

Anna says the monetary generosity of Hope Forward has changed her life. A liberal arts degree is centered around learning for the beauty and sake of the learning itself. Hope Forward allows her to delve into literary and political theory, oil painting and creative writing. “I am able to learn because I love it, and by doing so, it enriches my life, my relationships and my purpose in the world,” she said.

Since she is given the opportunity to pursue a truly liberal arts education, she is inspired to do the same for the thousands of students who do not have the same opportunities or resources. “Generosity has spurred my own desire to give back to these children, and to the very schools and educators who cared for me and the person I wanted to be,” Anna said.

Upon graduation, Anna would like to teach English or creative writing. She wants to focus on finding ways to integrate art and personal story into educational models to help bring equity and recognize purpose within each student.

Anna is grateful to Hope Forward donors because the program wouldn’t exist without their generosity. She would like to thank donors like you for investing in Hope Forward and in students like her. “By doing so, you are changing not only my life, but the lives of countless others,” she said. “Generosity is contagious, continuing forward like waves. It is through your generosity that we are able to live deeply into our purpose, and therefore, be generous to our communities and beyond.”

Will you help other students like Anna live for a deeper purpose and bring Hope to the world? Make your gift to Hope Forward today and help set in motion a contagious wave of generosity that will last for generations to come.