By Justin Hall ’22, staff writer
Kevin Van Bokkelen is a senior digital communications major at Lebanon Valley College who has spent his four years on campus as both a dedicated a student and a terrific athlete on the men’s ice hockey team. His abundant enthusiasm for everything he does, and friendly demeanor towards everyone he meets makes Kevin a great example of what it means to be a Dutchman.
Van Bokkelen was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Growing up, “KVB” as he likes to be called, was a tremendously talented hockey player. He played for numerous travel hockey teams across Ohio and consistently proved to be one of the state’s best young hockey players. His skill drew the attention of junior hockey scouts all over the country, who recruited KVB to join their programs. He ultimately took his talents north to Wisconsin to play for the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings.
“Playing in Wisconsin was some of the most fun years of my life,” Van Bokkelen said. “It was a really small town that didn’t have any other sports teams around, so they absolutely loved us. People would recognize me in town, even though I was just a junior hockey player.”
After his brief stint with fame in Wisconsin, Van Bokkelen had offers from several college programs to achieve one of his dreams of playing NCAA hockey. He weighed all of his options carefully and visited multiple colleges before ultimately deciding to attend LVC due to its strong academic reputation.
“It was a perfect fit for me,” Van Bokkelen said. “I knew I was going to have a chance to play right away my first year and I felt really comfortable with the campus. My parents were happy because they knew about what a good school LVC was academically.”
From the moment KVB arrived on campus, it was clear that he was indeed a perfect fit. His goofy, fun-loving personality made him an instant favorite around campus and in the locker room with his teammates.
“Kevin has always been that guy that everybody wants to be around,” Danny Galvez, senior team captain, said. “He’s never in a bad mood and always joking around, he’s just a fun guy to have in the room.”
On the ice, KVB had an instant impact right out of the gates. He registered an impressive 7 goals and 4 assists in his freshman season and was voted by his teammates and coaches as the freshman forward of the year.
KVB also excelled in the classroom as well, as evidenced by his selection to the Dean’s List on multiple occasions. His teachers and classmates echo the praises of KVB’s enthusiasm and friendly personality.
“I love having classes with Kevin because he’s usually telling a joke or doing something to keep the class amused,” Austen Zimmerman, fellow digital communications major, said. “It’s hard to have a boring class with Kevin because he is so entertaining.”
As KVB prepares to move onto life after LVC, he hopes to use his passion for graphic design as a platform in the professional workspace. During his career with LVC ice hockey, KVB worked to create graphics for the team to use on its social media accounts. He also helped produce a weekly update show on the team Instagram, by editing and producing video.
“I’m interested in graphic design because it helps me use my creativity to make content that people enjoy,” Van Bokkelen said. “I have always loved producing my own content and this is a great way that I could get paid for it.”
There are several possible employment opportunities lined up for KVB after he graduates. He is most excited about a potential position as the social media coordinator of the Cleveland Monsters, a minor league hockey team from right in his hometown.
“That would be so cool for me,” Van Bokkelen said. “I grew up going to Monsters games all the time and to be able to work for them while staying in hockey would be a dream.”
KVB says he hopes to use the Monsters job to gain valuable experience before hopefully achieving his dream of landing a graphic design position for the Washington Capitals, his favorite team.
“Working in Washington for the Capitals is my ultimate goal,” Van Bokkelen said. “That’s the job that I know I’ll wake up and love going to every day.”
Kevin Van Bokkelen will be remembered for his infectious attitude and amiable personality that helped make him a part of the fabric of LVC. His likeability, coupled with his hard work and dedication in both the classroom and at the rink, make KVB a lasting example of what a Dutchman should be.