Olivia Hoshiko Joins Kuyper Admissions Team

Olivia Hoshiko recently joined the Kuyper Admissions team as an Events & Program
Development Specialist.

Born and raised in the metro Detroit area, she came to West Michigan to attend Calvin University, where she earned dual degrees in Marketing Management and Music in 2021.

“That’s when I really fell in love with the west side of the state,” she said with a wide smile. “Near Grand Rapids, you get the best of both worlds with the city and nature not too far away. It’s so beautiful.”

After graduating from Calvin, Hoshiko spent three years working for Grace’s Table, a local nonprofit organization that equips teen mothers with the resources and community they need to thrive. 

While there, she spent much of her time expanding their fundraising and events programs as a Development Associate, and she said she is excited to bring that experience to her work at Kuyper.

Ann Essenburg, Interim Director of Admissions, echoed her enthusiasm.

“We are thankful to God for bringing Olivia to Kuyper and she has been a wonderful addition to the team. Olivia will be concentrating on enhancing our guest experience and building relationships with internal and external partners, among other tasks,” she said. 

Hoshiko says that Kuyper’s 85-year track record as a faith-based higher education institution was what initially drew her in.

“I was really impressed with Kuyper’s dedication to its mission and to Christian education,” she emphasized.

But, she added, it was the culture on campus that sealed the deal for her.

“Everyone I met was super nice, and I could tell it was a really great community,” she said. “Everybody knows who you are, checks in on you and cares about investing in the students which I think is pretty neat. It’s not something you see everywhere.”

Though Hoshiko only joined the Kuyper community in late April, she has already begun diving into her new role.

“I’ve been learning about the upcoming summer orientation and collaborating with our Student Development office to help create a memorable experience for our incoming students,” she said. 

And, according to Essenburg, she is already a valuable member of the team.

“Olivia brings wonderful experience in the development of relationships and event planning along with marketing expertise that will help us grow in our efforts to reach more students for Kuyper,” she said.