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Two high school senior students have been awarded Trinity’s Greater Chicago Christian Leadership Scholarship: Jose Gonzalez of Chicago and Nathan Smith of Lake in the Hills.
The four-year renewable grant covers tuition costs and is awarded to students from the Chicago area who are from under-represented populations at Trinity and have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and Christian commitment.
Nathan Smith, a Jacobs High School student, plans to enroll in Trinity’s criminal justice program. He has been a member of the soccer team since his sophomore year at Jacobs and hopes to continue playing at Trinity. Smith stated that he is looking forward to meeting new people on campus and learning from others who are part of the College’s diverse community.
“Receiving the GCCLS was a huge surprise to my family and me,” said Smith. “I am very excited about attending Trinity. From the first time I walked on the campus, I knew that this was where I wanted to be.”
Jose Gonzalez attends John Hancock High School and plans to major in art and design. He participated in the After School Matters program in the Hancock Verde club, which focused on redesigning and reconstructing the garden space and high school. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, math team, and various sports teams.
Last year’s recipients were Alejandra Romo of Chicago and She’KunnahGlorri Striverson of Crete.
CMC sure has its share of surprises throughout the semester! With just six total staff members the number of connections each one has in this town alone truly amazes me. Each one speaks with ease about their friends, generally settling for first names. They often mention “Kelly” (Clarkson, of course) and “the Jars boys” (aka Jars of Clay). Clarkson’s back-up singers are CMC alums and the director of our program taught the guys of Jars of Clay when they attended Greenville College.
From week to week, all 28 of us are given chances to make connections and spend time with people involved in the industry at varying levels. From conversations with long-time managers of world renowned artists, to intimate indie performances on the stage we call home for the semester, to load-ins and staffing major tour stops, it all happens here in Music City.
Earlier this month, recently-signed and Grammy-nominated Provident act Royal Tailor came to our building in Brentwood for a live video shoot. While the majority of music videos are shot using playback, the young band showcased the stamina of their stage presence and skill by playing live the whole night.
The band’s bio is spot-on describing their sound as one that “evokes Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, and a hint of Michael Jackson, Royal Tailor captures audiences with an infectious musicality.”
The energetic, soulful quartet originally met while attending Bible college in the St. Louis area and played around while ministering to youth in the area. After playing a battle of the bands showcase for INO records, guitarist DJ Cox said the guys got their hopes up only to find that nothing would initially come of it.
Refusing to give in, the now Nashville-based guys played at every opportunity before finding themselves with a gig at Leeland Mooring’s home church in Texas. According to Cox, the band gained the attention of PMG’s A&R team because Mooring got a hold of their EP.
A week later, the band signed a recording contract and began working on the 50 songs viable for their debut album, Black and White. Cox noted that their career didn’t skyrocket as soon as they had hoped, as they lived in “lawyer land” for six to eight months prior to Black & White’s May 2011 release, the first single, and a tour with label-mate band “Building 429.”
Currently on the road with Casting Crowns through the spring, Royal Tailor has hit the ground running in regards to promotion. Just off the heels of a trip down the Grammy red carpet, the band has also been touring non-stop for months.
Following an engaging, live set, the four band mates and their management hung around with both CMC students and staff to talk about anything from gear and early musical influences to future endeavors.
Guitarist DJ Cox grew up in Virginia where he played mandolin and acoustic by ear before discovering his mom’s funk CD. He laughed at the childhood memory, “I was like ooh man, so I stole it”. Cox discussed his “monster” pedal board, featuring a vast range of brands and effects, with resident CMC electric player Jase Hackman. He also drew quite a crowd as he moved on through his guitar collection and his favorite players.
I’m always intrigued when musicians talk in detail about their gear. In many ways, it’s another language, but it creates the sounds that we music freaks live for.
Cox came back to his youth ministry roots as he spoke about the band’s current vision: visiting middle schools and high schools to perform and encourage kids to speak out against bullying. The passion was evident in DJ’s voice as he spoke about both the ministry and the music.
Like other visitors, the guitarist talked on the value of taking risks in life. “It’s been a rough first year [being on a label], but whatever you’re going to do, you just got to get out there and do it”.
Life in Nashville
There is certainly something special about living in the South. Although there are days I miss the blooming trees on our beautiful campus, Tennessee is in some ways even more gorgeous this time of year.
Life in Nashville has been so much more than I ever could have imagined. It truly is a big city with a small town feel. This tight-knit community (just 28 students and six total staff) has been just what I needed. It’s been really great getting to know everyone—we feel as if we’ve known each other for years instead of mere months!
Time is surely flying by as we will be heading home in less than a month, but we are continuing to learn so much. The director of our program says that because of the hands-on nature of CMC, what we learn here in 14 weeks takes 3+ years to learn on your own in the industry, so I’ve been soaking in every second of it! (Now you know why I don’t get to update you as often as I’d like—my apologies!) I know now more than ever that this is where I am supposed to be and that I could not have experienced any of this elsewhere. Through our classes and staff connections, we have the pleasure of meeting up with producers, engineers, and managers who work with world-class artists and musicians on a day-to-day basis.
As a part of the business track, I’ve been managing 3 of the 15 artists who are also studying here. Along with that, the business students carry the responsibility of planning and promoting a week-long tour of CCCU schools where the artists perform their original works and the tech students take care of audio, lights, etc. Our tour begins Thursday night in Indiana; from there we will travel to a few Illinois schools. Trinity was booked, but it would have been great to bring CMC to everyone there.
Through this experience, I have not only learned an incredible amount about the industry, but also so much about myself. I praise God for this amazing opportunity each day and for those at Trinity who made it logistically possible.
As I was warned, I’ve certainly become attached to this place… Do I really have to come home for one last year of normal school?
Read more about Heather’s semester at the Contemporary Music Center.
When Amanda Carr ’12 of Terre Haute, Indiana, began her internship at the University of Illinois Medical Center she did not expect to lose all of her hair, but after a few weeks there she knew it was something she had to do.
Carr, who is interning at the medical center through Trinity’s Chicago Semester program, signed up to raise money for St. Baldrick’s Day. Participants in the event raise money for research for childhood cancer in exchange for shaving their heads.
As a psychology major, Carr spends her time on the pediatric floor unit and shadows a Child Life Specialist. The specialist works with children and prepares them for surgery by answering questions, familiarizing them with the medical equipment, and playing with them.
After working and playing with the children, Carr began to feel connected to them and felt the call to do more. It was then that she decided to sign up for the St. Baldricks Day event hosted by the hospital on February 23.
“When seeing these courageous young patients fight cancer every day, my desire and compassion for this cause grew even stronger,” said Carr. “I decided that since I could not offer them anything medical-wise, perhaps I could offer them my time, dedication, and my hair.”
So far, Carr has raised over $1,700 and is continuing to get donations. Carr is thankful for her mother’s support both through finding donations and attending the shaving event.
“I think my mother was very apprehensive and shocked that her long-haired daughter was going to be bald at first,” said Carr. “However, once I told her the stories about the patients she immediately was compelled to help me raise donations to shave my head.”
Carr plans to go to graduate school after graduating from Trinity this spring, but hopes to continue working on pediatric floors through volunteering.
To see Carr’s progress or to donate, visit: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/523261/2012
Alumni and friends of the College are invited to join Trinity at one of Chicago’s many cultural events this summer—the Grant Park Music Festival.
Representatives from the College will gather in the southwest corner of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park for fellowship with our friends and an evening of music with the Grant Park Orchestra.
“The city of Chicago and all it has to offer is a part of what makes Trinity so uniquely wonderful,” said Vice President for Development Larryl Humme.
Join Trinity at any of the following events:
Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Opening Night – Masterpieces by Elgar and Dvorak
Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony
Saturday, June 23, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Koen Kessels, Guest Conductor
An American in Paris
Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Rossen Milanov, Guest Conductor
Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances
Wednesday, August 8, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Brahms’ Double Concerto
For more information on the Grant Park Music Festival: http://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/
More than 1,100 packed Trinity’s Ozinga Chapel Auditorium to see the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters Chorus perform on March 12.
The chorus put on a spectacular performance as the audience enjoyed patriotic selections, folk songs, hymns, and the diverse sounds of opera and Broadway.
The chorus includes 20 singers along with a piano, bass, and drums. As the official chorus of the U.S. Navy, the group has performed at events such as President Obama’s Inauguration and other national events taking place at the White House.
Trinity worked in partnership with the SouthtownStar newspaper.
Trinity students have a heart for service whether that service involves tutoring children at a local after-school program or traveling to Haiti to build homes for earthquake victims.
While travel to places that need aid is not always possible, help can be offered through events on campus that raise awareness and funds for hurting people around the world. One such initiative involves student support of the organization LiNK, Liberty in North Korea. The organization works to rescue North Korean refugees in China as well as help with resettlement and raising awareness.
Raising awareness is an area in which various student groups at Trinity have been active, especially over the past year.
Nikki Ferreria ’13 of Orland Park, Illinois, co-president of Trinity’s Asian American Alliance (AAA), began her involvement with LiNK during her freshman year in 2009. She said former classmate Sharon Chun ’11 and alumnus Aaron Roh ’06 have gone on to serve the organization as “nomads,” visiting campuses around the country to inform more students and encourage involvement. Chun spoke to students at Trinity about LiNK and how they could help.
Students and groups such as AAA, Academic Initiative, Social Justice Chapter, Historical Association of Students, and Law and Politics Society held various fundraisers, screened informative documentaries, and partnered with a local South Korean church to raise money for the cause.
The latter effort, which Ferreria was instrumental in arranging with the church, raised $2,500 to help rescue one refugee. The students raised $1,038 of that total.
“I hope that this is a cause that Trinity as a campus can continue on supporting,” said Ferreria. “I believe that we have to speak for those who don’t have a voice and fight for freedom and justice.”
In February, graphic design student Heather Van Sant ’14 of Sully, Iowa, accompanied by Ellen Browning, assistant professor of art and design, attended the 12th Annual Self Employment in the Arts Conference sponsored by the Coleman Foundation.
The conference brings together professionals across the arts for everything from portfolio review to negotiating contracts.
“The opportunity to meet and talk with professionals in the field opens up all kinds of doors for students,” said Browning. “It’s a confidence builder and provides another perspective that helps students see where and how exactly they fit into the job world after school.”
Browning was able to help Van Sant obtain a scholarship through the Coleman Foundation to attend the conference.
“The conference was a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of what my life will be like as a graphic designer and photographer,” said Van Sant. “I feel much more prepared now and know what is to come. I also had the chance to talk to a graphic designer and photojournalist one-on-one.”
Story written by Kelsey Barnett ‘12
Members of the Trinity Campus Ecological Stewardship Advisory Group (CESAG) recently met in the Heritage Science Center to see how well students were recycling. The demonstration was an effort to improve the College’s recycling habits.
Members of CESAG asked custodians to refrain from throwing out the trash and recycle bins in the Heritage Science Center for one week. They then opened up all the bags and bins to see what students think should be recycled and what should be thrown away. After observing each pile, the members sorted them properly.
The initial response was that the bins were much better than when they did this experiment at the Bootsma Bookstore Café last semester. Another thought was that the volume of each pile was similar.
The most common mistake was that plastic bottles, cans, and paper are being thrown away and should be recycled while Styrofoam and other biodegradable items should not be recycled but thrown away.
When CESAG Chair Dr. Thomas Roose, associate professor of physics and science education, was asked what he would grade the Science Center, he said a low A to a high B for what is being recycled, but a C for the garbage pile. Recalling the same experiment at the BBC last fall, Roose said he would have given both piles a D or lower.
“Our desire should be to be good stewards of God’s creation,” said Taylor Bandstra ’13 of Pella, Iowa, and member of CESAG. As a member of CESAG, he says the vision statement of this group explains why the recycling habits of the college must improve.
It reads: “A Reformed worldview mandates that humans be good stewards of God’s creation. Trinity seeks to teach this worldview and to practice good stewardship, working to care for and redeem the earth.”
“God commands us to care for his creation, no buts or ifs about it,” added Bandstra. “That is the only motivation we should need.”
CESAG challenges Trinity students, faculty, and staff to be more conscious of what they throw away and to follow signs explaining what is recyclable.
CESAG addresses questions and issue concerning recycling and their mission here: tcc.trnty.edu/about/habitat-for-life.pdf.
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On Monday, February 27, students and faculty heard the real-life stories of three guest speakers who shared their experiences about being homeless.
The guests were part of a speaker’s bureau from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit organization that works against homelessness in Chicago.
Elizabeth Brice ’12 of Tinley Park, Illinois, organized the event. The social work major is an intern with the organization and appreciates hearing the powerful stories of those helped by the Coalition.
“Hearing each of their stories keeps me energized and focused,” said Brice. “It can be easy to get bogged down in the details of my work. It’s great to hear from these survivors that our work is meaningful and impactful.”
At the campus event, students listened to stories about the speakers’ journeys, including struggles with prostitution and living on the street while raising children.
“I learned that homelessness is more complex that you might think,” said Ben Borst ’13 of Grand Rapids, Michigan. “The term is thrown around a lot, but there are many variables that come into play.”
The event was sponsored by the College’s Department of Social Work, Department of Sociology, Social Justice Chapter, and Sunday Snacks.
Three Trinity photography students recently had their photos published in “Best College Photography 2012,” a book distributed worldwide to college libraries and to instructors of photography, and art and design.
Annalise Flier ’12 of Lowell, Michigan; Steve Martinez ’13 Chicago, Illinois; and Michael Hume ’13 of Evergreen Park, Illinois, entered their photos in Photographer’s Forum 32nd Annual College Photography Contest. From nearly 14,000 entries from around the world, the three were chosen as finalists.
The photos submitted were projects for a photography class taught by Assistant Professor of Art and Design Ellen Browning, who encourages student to enter the contest each year.
Flier, who is minoring in photography, was glad to be recognized outside of the classroom for her photo, “Oranges.”
“There is a big difference between achieving success in the classroom and achieving success in the art world,” Flier said. “I am constantly taking more photos, and I find this is the best way to continue expanding my technical abilities as well as my understanding of my photographic style.”
Hume expressed appreciation for what he learned in Browning’s class to help him with his entry, “Tattoo.”
“In class, I gained a wide variety of knowledge behind lighting and what makes a good composition,” said Hume. “If the light source had been anywhere else, then the photo would be less successful.”
See the winning images below:
