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Thomson began her service at Trinity in January 1981, after responding to an ad in her church bulletin. She started out part-time in accounts payable, and after 1 ½ years, moved up to the position of full-time business office manager, a role in which she has served faithfully for more than 30 years.

“I didn’t realize that when I took the job I would just stay,” said Thomson, who had quickly recognized the job was well suited for her.

Along with her work in the business office, Thomson has been a member of the Academic Benefits Committee and Staff Council and has participated in student events, such as talent shows. The Alumni Board also awarded Thomson the status of an Honorary Alumni in 2006.

Her connections with Trinity do not end there. Thomson’s three children all graduated from Trinity, each with a different major. “It is interesting to view the college as a parent and an employee,” said Thomson. “Trinity has been a really big part of my life and my children’s lives.”

Thomson’s responsibilities include helping students with financial registration, giving an introduction speech at Blueprints, and discussing financial issues with them. One of her favorite aspects of Trinity is watching students grow throughout their time at college.

“Trinity is good at seeing the student as a person, and is willing to help them,” said Thomson. “Students are always a name, not just an ID number.”

She said she also enjoys reconnecting with Trinity parents who were students earlier on in her career.

“When I see former students return to Trinity as parents of new Trinity students and they greet me with a big smile and a ‘do you remember me,’ it reinforces how important community is here at Trinity and how blessed I am to have been a part of it.

As she retires from her position, Thomson will not forget the community of Trinity. “It’s been good to me,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed my time here. When you work at a college, everything seems relevant.”

After her last day on July 15, Thomson plans to take the rest of her summer off before exploring other opportunities. She also plans to spend more time with her children and five grandchildren.

“I’m open to some other opportunities. I’m just not sure what they’re going to be yet.”

After 35 years of faithful service to the College, Dr. Dick Cole, professor of psychology, retired in May and was honored with emeritus status at the spring Commencement ceremony. Cole joined Trinity’s faculty in 1979.

Earlier in his own educational journey, he planned to serve in ministry in order to pursue his longtime call to counseling. In the early 70s, several challenges existed in the field of counseling, including the gap between the study of psychology and the Christian community’s trust in the practice. In addition, most college psychology programs were research focused rather than counseling focused and even fewer were taught from a Christian perspective.

While pursuing his master’s at Covenant Theological Seminary in Missouri, Cole picked up a copy of the Journal of Psychology and Theology published by the Rosemeade School of Psychology at Biola University, which had one of the first graduate psychology programs with a Christian emphasis.

“I remember thinking, ‘Now we’re talking,’” Cole said. “It was an exciting time, but there just were not many places to pursue that type of education.”

Trinity’s psychology program, however, was geared toward the counseling side of psychology, which attracted Cole to the faculty opening in 1979. After accepting a professorship, he continued his education, earning his Ph.D. from Saint Louis University.

Cole said that over the years, Trinity’s program has evolved under the leadership of Dr. Michael DeVries ’74, chair of the department and Cole’s longtime colleague and friend. The program grew to be more competitive, especially early on, preparing students for licensure, something that wasn’t a requirement for counselors years ago.

While teaching, Cole remained active in counseling practice, devoting 17 years to the Christian Counseling Center in Orland Park, Illinois. Three years ago, he was invited to join his two former students, Chris Yadron ’93 and Michelle (Vruggink) Van Noord ’98, at their practice, Clinical Associates in Counseling, LLC, in Orland Park, where he continues to counsel.

As a professor, Cole integrated his professional experience into his teaching, something his students appreciated since most of them planned to pursue clinical work or counseling. He strived to relate the bulk of classroom discussion to the clinical world, including therapeutic techniques and diagnostics. Students also found his insight into developments in the field and the route to a counseling career valuable, especially during the years when the field of psychology was evolving.

Cole was also instrumental in placing students in internships and helping to develop Trinity’s graduate psychology program. He also spent several years overseeing OPUS, the annual student scholarship event.

Yet helping students move from freshman year through senior year into careers as practicing therapists has been his most rewarding work as a professor. While recalling his contributions to the College, Cole said that he has in turn received much from his time at Trinity, including his interactions with students and the friendships he has established.

“Trinity also gave me my wife, Lois,” said Cole. Graduating from Trinity in elementary education when the College was still a two-year institution, Lois ’67 started the physical education major and taught here. The Coles have two children, Jacob and Jennifer.

In his faculty profile, Cole stated that he saw his task to be “helping the students get a sure foundation, a place to stand, to see and evaluate the world of psychology.” And he taught students that God is the author of the psychological domain. “It is our job to know it and take care of it.”

The tulips were blooming on Trinity’s campus, but there was a snowstorm back home in Manitoba where Dr. Ken Austin, professor of music emeritus, was considering a teaching position at Trinity in 1991.

He discussed the possibility of taking the job with his wife Lynn, who had always supported him in his career as a professional trumpet player and conductor. Austin said he felt compelled at that time to follow God’s leading to teach and to also support his wife Lynn’s new writing career.

“I told her since she gave me the first 20 years, I would give her the next 20,” Austin said.

More than 20 years of teaching and directing later (and more than 20 novels for Lynn), Austin retired from his professorship at Trinity in May.

In addition to serving as a professor of music, Austin directed Trinity’s Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Brass Quintet. During his teaching career, he remained active as a symphonic musician and trumpet and cornet soloist, experience he brought into the classroom each day.

Austin has performed with the New Philharmonic Orchestra, the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, the Yankee Brass Band, and the Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band. He trained with some of the greatest brass players in the world, including Armando Ghitalla and Roger Voisin (Boston Symphony), Arno Lange (Berlin Opera), Robert Nagel (Yale), and Arnold Jacobs (Chicago Symphony).

Used to performing about 40 concerts each year at the College, nationally, and internationally, Austin stood before Trinity’s Wind Ensemble, baton in hand, for a farewell concert on May 3. A dozen alumni joined Trinity musicians in the performance. To honor Austin, student Alexander Salto ’15 and alumnus Marlin Exton ’07 composed and conducted a special song, which was performed as a surprise for their beloved music mentor.

Austin was also honored with emeritus status at Trinity’s Commencement ceremony on May 17.

Retirement for Austin is far from the stereotype. Following the end of the semester, the consummate musician and traveler began an itinerary that includes travels to Europe and Netherlands; 20 concerts between May and August with performances at the Masterworks Festival in Indiana, Colorado, and with alumnus Christian Lopez ’10; and time with his family.

Trinity Christian College celebrates the life of Rev. Gerard Van Groningen as it also mourns the passing of its friend and former president. The College extends its sympathies to his family and to his son, Dr. Willis Van Groningen, Trinity’s chaplain and dean of spiritual formation. Van Groningen was 93.

“Dad was a large and powerful figure to many people. His legacy spans the globe,” wrote Chaplain Van Groningen to Trinity faculty and staff. “Mom celebrated her 90th birthday two weeks ago, which provided an occasion for all eight children, and the grandchildren and great grandchildren, to celebrate life together, even as we began to say farewell to Dad.”

Van Groningen served as Trinity’s president from 1980-84. During his presidency, Van Groningen used his experiences at Reformed institutions of higher learning nationally and internationally to articulate a distinctly Reformed worldview. Under his leadership, the business administration and computer science programs were strengthened and the Metropolitan Studies program (known today as Chicago Semester) experienced growth.

Prior to that, Van Groningen served for 14 years as a missionary to Australia, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne. He served 11 years as a professor of Old Testament and homiletics at the Reformed Theological College in Geelong, Victoria, and also held positions at Dordt College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Covenant Theological Seminary. He loved to teach and students regularly sought his counsel long after graduation.

On two separate occasions, Van Groningen served as a seminary planter in Brazil and Latvia. He is the author of several books, including The Covenant Family and the three-volume From Creation to Consummation.

He is survived by his wife Harriet; their eight children Betty (Herman) Westendorp, Rev. Jerry (Sherri), Jay (Laura), John (Patti), Rev. Dr. Willis “Bill” (Connie), Beverly (Bob) Jonkman, Dave (Dawn), and Dr. Chuck (Laura); and 34 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.

Visitation and a memorial service were held at Colonial Funeral Home in Orland Park.

Memorials to Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL for the Gerard and Harriet Van Groningen Presidential Scholarship Fund.

On Friday and Saturday, June 20 and 21, incoming freshmen began their Trinity adventure at Blueprints, the annual registration event. Blueprints provides a perfect opportunity for students to meet future roommates and professors, pick out that favorite study spot in the Bootsma Café, and praise God with fellow Christians.

Friday activities included a Chicago-style dinner; praise and worship; and games and movies late into the night. A highlight of the evening was a performance by Second City, Chicago’s premier comedy club and improv group.

Saturday began with the faculty-hosted breakfast, followed by one-on-one advising sessions with professors. At the Information Expo, students learned more about the variety of campus organizations, as well as local churches, banks, and businesses in the neighborhood. Students also attended sessions about the First Year Experience and Trinity’s thriving community life and enjoyed a BBQ lunch with their families.

Summer assignment: Stay connected on Facebook (/trinitychristiancollege) and Twitter (@trinitytroll).

Last year, Trinity’s education department piloted an initiative to establish student teachers in year-long clinical placements. Student teachers are generally placed in two semester-long experiences during their senior year—novice teaching in the fall and student teaching in the spring–but the longer placement comes with its advantages.

Dr. Rhoda Mattson, Trinity’s director of education unit, said year-long placements offer the added benefit of continuity for all involved, including the Trinity students, the students in their classrooms, and the cooperating school districts. In addition, Trinity seniors will now witness the beginning of the school year and be able to take part in their respective schools’ professional development opportunities.

“Students with year-long placements are even better equipped with a strong understanding of the intricacies and demands of being a teacher,” said Dr. Joy Meyer ’78, Trinity’s director of teacher education. “Those who participate in the year-long internship benefit greatly from this program.”

Mattson said less than 10 percent of universities offer year-long placements to their student teachers. She is even more optimistic about this option being available to Trinity education majors since five students were accepted by one local district, District 146, Tinley Park, for the 2014-15 school year.

“In our meeting, they spoke highly of our graduates and are interested in the mentorship of our teachers,” said Mattson, who hopes to establish even more such partnerships with other districts in the future.

Professor of Business Lynn White, Ph.D., was honored recently with Trinity’s Professor of the Year Award. White joins previous recipients Dr. Robert Rice and Dr. Brad Breems.

Before starting at Trinity in 1989, White worked in financial consulting, realizing it was imperative to gain experience before pursuing her calling to teach, a call she discovered as a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois.

Over the past 25 years, White has seen her job in teaching accounting and business change as the world of business has evolved. And she continually works to keep the program current.

More recent changes to Trinity’s business program were sparked by the awarding of a NetVUE Program Development Grant in 2012. Faculty and staff from the business department, Cooper Career Center, and Trinity Business Network have been working to develop a model program to support students and serve alumni and business partners with regard to vocational formation.

Specifically, White and her Trinity colleagues have implemented new courses, such as Creativity in Business, Business Planning, and Negotiations; added more experiential learning through partnerships with businesses; and more deeply integrated Christian values into the curriculum.

“What we want business graduates to bring into their profession are vocational qualities and skills that are grown and nurtured through the course work,” said White.

The traits, which include self-awareness/empowerment, ingenuity/creativity, critical thinking/technical excellence, are also evident in White and her fellow business department colleagues who have not stopped at teaching only the theories of business but have created opportunities for students to live out what they are learning in the classroom

Business students have served as “consultants” for local businesses, interned in the community and in Chicago, been mentored by business men and women in various industries, and talked with alumni now working in myriad careers.

“We have been ‘wow-ed’ by the support of alumni and community members,” said White, referring to the more than 125 guest speakers, mentors, internship supervisors, and employers who were involved with students in the 2013-14 academic year alone.

Alumni, in particular, visit classes to share their experiences with current students. “The alumni give back,” said White. “They know their success is not based only on their own efforts but people in the community who provided internships.”

White said her vision, which is shared by her colleagues, is for the department to be further developed into a resource for the broader community. This partnership has the potential for creating even more opportunities for students through mentorships, internships, and careers while also serving businesses and organizations.

“It’s about having people in place,” White said. “People assembled here are creative, energetic, and they bring the experience from their professional backgrounds into the classroom.”

White said she loves both the continuity of her job and the variety it offers, because of the different students, alumni, and community members and because of changes in the business world.

That ever-evolving world tends to make time fly for the long-time Trinity professor. “It doesn’t seem like it has been that long,” said White, “but ‘it’ is always changing.”

Imagine heading to the local library, one shared by approximately 180,000 people, and finding only a closet-sized section of books. A couple of years ago, this used to be the situation in Huaycan, Peru. But thanks to Trinity alumna Lara DeVries’ dedication to education, this is no longer the case.

DeVries ’08 is the founder and executive director of the Light and Leadership Initiative (LLI), an organization she started the year after her graduation from Trinity. LLI provides free afterschool and weekend education programs to children and women in Huaycan, a community located outside of Lima.

The motivation to help the people of Peru that began with DeVries’ community development internship in Lima never waned and continues to grow as LLI recognizes and meets more challenges each year—a lack of library books being one.

After noticing that the reading levels of students in LLI’s after-school program were not as high as they could be, DeVries discovered a disturbing lack of books available to students, and LLI responded.

“In January 2012, we held our first ‘biblioteca,’ or library, session for several kids in of the areas we serve,” said DeVries. “The response was exciting. Kids were interested in exploring the world of reading.”

Since then, LLI has offered hundreds of library sessions and has expanded the program to four different areas.

The addition of library sessions is not the only expansion LLI has experienced since its founding five years ago. While the number of participants in the program has stayed consistent with around 140 children and women, the strength of those relationships has grown significantly.

“LLI has definitely been re-shaping its programs in the last few years to concentrate on the values we want to develop and the goals our participants want to achieve,” said DeVries. “We’ve really focused on nurturing those relationships and making them long-lasting within the community.”

The story of Eduardo illustrates the impact LLI has on students. Eduardo, who started in the program three years ago, participates in private English classes, art and chess classes, the reading program, and contests.

“He is such a great example of our kids and their thirst for more education,” said DeVries. “Most importantly, his family is highly involved in his success in school and with LLI. Thankfully, it’s not just Eduardo. Though he’s a great example, we have tons of kids who are excited about our programs and we are really starting to see the difference.”

One reason LLI has been able to succeed and help students like Eduardo is through the support of the Trinity community, in both donations and volunteerism.

“We’ve had several volunteers from Trinity come through our doors in the past five years, including an Interim group and students on their spring break. Plus, we’ll be welcoming a Trinity alumna, Jess Wiltjer, this August,” said DeVries.

For their fifth anniversary, LLI will be holding a picnic fundraiser on June 28 to celebrate the success of over 8,500 classes offered. DeVries and LLI thank the Trinity community for all the support they continue to give.

“It’s great to see so many familiar faces at our fundraisers, and many of them are from the Trinity community,” said DeVries. That’s really incredible when I think about it—to think about all the people, specifically professors and friends made in college, who have contributed to LLI’s success. For that, I am always grateful.”