The inspirational story of Hope College two-sport, student-athlete Derik Smith was nationwide on television this fall.
 
Smith, who competes with a prosthetic leg, was featured as part of "Courage in Sports: Gridiron Greatness" presented by USAA on CBS on Sunday, Nov. 12. He is a junior physical and health education major from Niles, Michigan (Edwardsburg HS) who competes on the Flying Dutchmen's football and track and field teams.
 
As a child, Smith had part of his right leg amputated after a cancer diagnosis.

A TV crew interviewed Smith and head football coach Peter Stuursma in September at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium prior to the Flying Dutchmen's game against the University of Northwestern (Minn.).
 
This fall, Smith appeared in two games and made one tackle as a defensive lineman for the Flying Dutchmen football team, which finished the regular season with an 8-2 overall record.
  
In track and field, Smith has competed in the discus for the Flying Dutchmen during the indoor and outdoor seasons as well as the long jump during the outdoor season.
 
Smith also represented Team USA at the 2022 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation World Games in Santo Antonio, Portugal. Smith won his division in the discus, long jump and 100-meter run.