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Trinity’s move-in crew welcomed incoming resident students during the College’s official Move-in Day for freshmen on Friday, August 24.

Shopping carts were stacked high with the essentials and wheeled back and forth between family vehicles and the residence halls as freshmen settled in to their new home away from home.

In the afternoon, resident students joined fellow classmates living off campus for the beginning of First Year Forum (FYF), a program in which first-year students are mentored as they learn more about living in this Christian academic community.

The College also welcomed transfer and returning students moving in on August 27. Classes begin Wednesday, August 29.

 Tania Anzaldi ’11 teaches 4^th grade at Steele Creek Elementary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although she is just starting out, her commitment to her vocation and especially to her students was recently recognized with the First Year Teacher of the Year award presented by the school.

Recipients are selected by the school’s principal, and Anzaldi was one of two teachers chosen out of approximately 15 with less than four years of experience.

“The reward came as a big surprise,” said Anzaldi, who started her position a week after school began and hit the ground running. “Trinity’s education department taught me to teach (serve) with excellence. The principal stated that my commitment to my job and caring attitude with student/parent and teacher relationships really shined through.”

Originally from Trevor, Wisconsin, the former elementary education major first enrolled at Trinity with plans to enter nursing but changed her major sophomore year. Her teacher aide experience at a high-needs school solidified her decision. “After working with those kids and my cooperating teacher for a semester, I knew that without a doubt teaching was where God was calling me.”

And the reward of answering that call is experienced every day.

“If I only had to name one thing I love about teaching, I would have to say the students,” said Anzaldi. “As difficult and challenging as kids can be there is nothing better than looking back at the end of the year and seeing children do a complete 180 degree turn all because someone took the time to care and challenge them to be who God called them to be.”

“To watch an anime film is to travel to a foreign country—to a place where people think in unfamiliar ways about nature, history, technology, and spirituality; and where the animated film itself presupposes an audience quite different from that of the latest Disney feature.”

So states the proposal for an inaugural honors composition course titled Anime and Worldview that explores the world of Japanese animation and challenges students to engage contemporary culture as Christian thinkers.

Japanese “anime” differs from American animation in everything from characterization to landscapes. Dr. Mark Jones, professor of English, compares the experience to “walking through an art gallery.”

Jones said anime makes an ideal subject for the study of world view.  While some anime films are informed by a set of religious and cultural values that are distinctly non Western, others display biblical story and Christian theology in ways that are de-familiarizing and thought provoking. 

Trinity’s English department has incorporated more visual literacy into its first-year curriculum, including the work of photojournalists and graphic novels such as Maus, an illustrated narrative of Holocaust survival.

Japanese anime was recently introduced to Trinity students as part of another writing course. After viewing “My Neighbor Totoro,” a pastoral children’s fantasy, and “Grave of the Fireflies,” a film about war, students noted interesting parallels in the two films, such as relationships between parents and children and the way children find beauty in desperate circumstances.

 “A single film may offer insight not only into the worldviews of others, but also into the ways in which those others think about Western, and specifically Christian, ways of seeing,” said Jones.

Jones takes the teaching of this course beyond the purely academic, having participated over the years in viewing the films with his children and attending yearly conventions with hordes of anime fans, a group he calls an “accepting” and “cross-generational” sub-culture. For the past several years, he and his neighbors have brought several children from their Blue Island community to ACen (Anime Central), a local convention. This year, interest was so high that a school board member worked with the city’s park district to provide a bus trip to bring even more children to the convention.

In the Anime and Worldview course, anime films will form the main body of “text” for study, with supplemental reading and weekly writing assignments. This course will be offered as part of the Honors Program.

For more information, e-mail Dr. Jones at mark.jones@trnty.edu.

Two recent Trinity Christian College graduates were commissioned into the Marine Corps on July 17. The ceremony, attended by family and friends, was held in the Ozinga Chapel Grand Lobby.

After their commissioning documents were read by an enlisted Marine, Paul Jasperse ’12 and Raymond Zaagman ’12 were sworn in as 2^nd Lieutenants and received their first salute.

“It meant a lot to the parents and other family members,” said Zaagman. “For Paul and me, it was great to finally be considered officers after the intense summer at Officer Candidate School we had gone through in Quantico, Virginia.”

Jasperse is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is the son of Neil and Ruth Jasperse and the grandson of Gordon and Margaret Van Wylen. Gordon is a former Trinity board of trustees member and former president of Hope College. Neil, senior pastor of West Leonard CRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offered words of reflection and encouragement.

Zaagman is from Mokena, Illinois, and double majored in political science and history. He is the son of Raymond ’86 and Jolee ’85 Zaagman. His sister Kimberly is a junior at Trinity, and his sister Kristin will be a freshman.

They will be returning to Quantico for an intense six-month program at The Basic School. 

“Setting a Christ-like example while leading will be a challenge, but also an opportunity for witnessing while I serve,” said Zaagman. “I am sure that God wants me to be a Marine. My Christian faith has already given me strength in tense times and will give me even more in the future.”

He wasn’t sure exactly why, but Trinity senior Samuel Lankah ’13 knew in his heart it was time to go back home.

Born in Liberia, Sam was a baby when his family fled the country in 1990 to escape the grip of one of Africa’s bloodiest civil wars, a war that would last until 2003, displace millions, and take the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians.

Although the country was still in turmoil years later, the Lankahs returned to live in their village. When the Lankahs once again left Liberia for the Ivory Coast in 1995, Sam took with him a few years of memories of planting rice and being surrounded by family. He and his mother and eight siblings said goodbye again not only to grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles, but also to Sam’s father who left for America.

“I have been an immigrant for more years than I spent in my homeland,” said Sam, who moved to the States with this mother, five brothers, and a sister in 2001, finally reuniting with Sam’s father and starting another new life. “You learn to rely on family a lot. They are all you have.” Along with a strong faith.

“Through it all, it was evident that God was still there,” said Sam. “In every situation, we counted on him, as well as on our church, for support.”

As he acclimated to life in America, first in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, then in Warrenville, Sam said he always felt the need to return to Liberia someday—to connect, to help. So during high school, he began to collect schools supplies, visiting churches to share the need of children in Liberia. That effort continued even as he entered Trinity.

He said he hadn’t considered Trinity as an option until he met Jose Dominguez ’03, men’s soccer coach and recruiter. “Coach Dominguez had a similar story, because he’d come from Mexico,” said Sam. “We connected, and I wanted to know more.”

After a chance to play some soccer, Sam said he fell in love with Trinity’s campus. He also had the opportunity to meet a fellow Liberian, Koyah Bleah ’12. “When I heard his name,” Sam recalled, “I realized I knew his family. His father was the principal at the first school I ever attended in Liberia.”

Sam decided Trinity would be his next new “home.” He applied with plans to major in exercise science and was offered the Greater Chicago Christian Leadership Scholarship, a four-year renewable grant that covers tuition costs for students from underrepresented populations who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and Christian commitment.

He has spent the past three years heavily involved on and off campus, playing soccer for two years, serving as Student Association president (2011-12) and as a teaching assistant in the College’s Bridge program, participating in Interim and spring break service projects, working in Admissions, volunteering at a local animal shelter, and interning at a physical therapy facility.

“I am inspired by this community and what it does in terms of service,” Sam said.

But the ministry he said God laid on his heart never waned, and when Sam returned to Monrovia, Liberia, this spring after 16 years, he was “greeted” by the school supplies he had collected over the years, generously shipped by United Liberia Inland Church Associates and Friends, an organization started by Liberian refugees in the States, including Sam’s father and Koyah’s father.

Sam visited six orphanages, three schools, and one two-year college, speaking to classes and handing out school supplies. “I wanted to do something small,” he said. That “small” effort provided notebooks, pencils, erasers, and even Troll stickers, to more than 300 students and faculty. “I hoped that the school supply ministry would encourage the children to keep up with their studies. The civil wars devastated families, and like my experience, set the students back in their education.”

Sam also spent his seven weeks reconnecting with his two sisters, who had returned to Liberia years prior, and with his grandmother and his grandfather, who is 105. “My grandfather told me stories for hours and was so happy that he danced around the house for days.

He visited aunts, uncles, and cousins, and the village where his father came from. “It was like the prodigal son returning,” said Sam. “The people were so hospitable.”

But Sam was also blessed to have the opportunity to make another visit, though a difficult one. While he was in Liberia, he learned of the untimely death of Koyah’s mother. Koyah was unable to return home, but Sam visited the family, hoping to bring comfort to Koyah’s father and sister. “I look up to Koyah,” said Sam. “We have stayed friends since my first visit to Trinity, and he is an inspiration to me.”

Sam said he’ll go back home again someday. “I have a heart to serve God. If I could take just one thing from Trinity, it would be a service mentality,” he said. He prays that through his recent trip, God will open doors for his school supply ministry to grow and that others who hear his story will be inspired to “stay close to family” and to “go back home.”

Eleven students from Noble charter schools in Chicago participated in Trinity’s inaugural College Quest program July 15 through August 3. During the three-week residential learning experience, the soon-to-be high school juniors earned three college credits in political science and got a taste of life on campus.

Noble is composed of a network of high quality public high schools located in Chicago’s communities of greatest need and serving 6,500 students.

Much of the students’ day was spent in class, receiving academic coaching, and completing homework for the accelerated course, the equivalent of one week of classes per day. Other activities included a service trip to Feed My Starving Children, dinner with President Timmermans, and free time for bowling, sand volleyball, shopping, and a bonfire on campus.

The program was overseen by John Sianghio, assistant professor of political science, and Lisa Kuiper, coordinator of student support services. Trinity students Gina Ciametti ’13 and Samuel Lankah ’13 served as resident assistants.

Ciametti said she applied the skills she learned as a student director in Trinity’s First Year Forum (FYF) in her RA role. “I saw my hard work executed by their hard work,” she said, “I’m thankful to have been a Trinity ambassador.”

She also witnessed how College Quest provided a great pre-college experience as students learned to manage their time and workload and work with a professor.

Lankah, multicultural committee chair, said he and Ciametti became “substitute older sister and brother” as they guided, taught, and interacted with their “younger siblings.”

“I am elated to have served such a diverse, smart, and animated group of students,” said Lankah. “A thrill for me was seeing the students’ faces light up when they were having fun but learning at the same time. It is a great experience to get a young men and women excited about going to college.

On Friday, August 3, the program ended with a celebration in the Grand Lobby and recognition of the achievement of the College Quest students.

“In addition to earning college credit, their success took the form of seeing college in a positive light and making new friends,” said Ciametti.

After missing each other by a few years as students at Trinity, Matt Steigenga ’92 and Steve Cooper ex ’86 eventually ended up being not only fellow alumni but brothers-in-law and business partners.

The two will open their eighth Batteries Plus store in Florida this September. The first opened in 1997 after Matt and his wife Mary Beth (Steve’s sister) moved to Bradenton, Florida. The couple had researched the opportunity offered by the franchise on the suggestion of Mary Beth and Steve’s father Marv Cooper, benefactor (along with his wife Joan) of Trinity’s Cooper Career Center.

The Coopers operated an office products and furniture store for many years in Milwaukee, and acting on their passion for using education to launch a career, they established the Cooper Center in 1997. The Center offers Trinity students a variety of services including resumé writing guidance and networking events.

“I think my dad saw people needing a boost to apply their degree to a career, to take the next step,” said Steve.

Steve’s brother Bob Cooper owns stores in Washington, and their brother Craig works in the Batteries Plus corporate office. Steve’s nephews Bryan ex ’06 and Brett ’06 Cooper have also worked in the stores.

The “tight” economy has been one factor in the success of their businesses, said Matt. “People are hanging on to equipment and replacing batteries rather than buying new.”

Steve, who is married to fellow alum DeAnn (Vegter) ex ’88, also credits his family, as well as his Trinity education, with his personal business success. “We’re family, but we’ve learned to be partners. We have support from each other and operate with a Christian attitude,” he said.

And he integrates what he learned at Trinity into his business, especially “interacting with people and operating in community.”

As names were called during the 2012 May Commencement ceremony, Lorna Sobilo ’12 crossed the stage to receive her long sought after bachelor’s degree in music. A few hours later, her name was again called as she accepted a degree earned through the Adult Studies program.

Sobilo started her education in Trinity’s music program on a part-time basis in 1983. After presenting her sophomore recital, she decided to put her education on hold to start a family. For the next two decades, Sobilo stayed home with her children, Lisa, Jonathan, and Catherine. She also worked as an administrative assistant for her husband Larry’s computer consulting business.

But in 2003, Larry was diagnosed with cancer, and Sobilo said the next five years were full of challenges for their family. Five years later, his treatments not enough to turn the tide, Larry passed away. Sobilo spent a year trying to determine her next step, and in September 2009, she returned to Trinity, enrolling in the Adult Studies Business program. 

“It’s challenging to do a three-credit course in six sessions,” Sobilo said. “Our job was to learn the information and then begin to apply it rather than just to spit back facts. That was good training for the business environment. It built confidence that I could learn something quickly, understand it deeply, and apply it effectively.”

On January 20, 2011, walking across campus on the first day of the spring semester, Sobilo said she had an “ah-ha” moment. “‘Why didn’t I finish my music degree?’  I had been putting off the gen ed courses, but now I had those completed.”

With help from the registrar’s office and Dr. Mark Peters, professor of music, Sobilo was a registered student in both the Adult Studies and traditional programs within the week. “I had this in my heart for so long, and I didn’t give up even when it looked like it wasn’t going to happen,” she said.

As she finished her journey with her adult studies cohort, she resumed her journey toward a music degree. For her senior recital, Sobilo was required to sing for 45 minutes in four languages. “It was like doing the classes in adult studies—it was very fast-forward. I ended up doing 17 songs in five languages plus English,” she said.

Years prior, after she had performed her sophomore recital, she and Larry bought music in anticipation of her senior recital—a book by Chopin in Polish to honor Larry’s heritage and one by Bach. She was able to use both in her 2012 recital.

“My program was really connected with my own love of singing and my own purpose for singing and that is to glorify God,” said Sobilo.

The Trinity Christian College Department of Nursing has been accredited  by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) since 2003.  Trinity is now seeking comments from the public about the Bachelor of  Science in Nursing (BSN) program for its scheduled reaccreditation by the  CCNE. The comprehensive evaluation visit by a team representing the CCNE  will take place October 17-19, 2012. The team will review the institution’s  ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the BSN program to:

Cristina Walcott
Administrative Assistant
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW Suite #530
Washington, DC 20036

 
Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the BSN program. Comments must be in writing and signed; comments cannot be treated as confidential.

All comments must be received by September 17, 2012.

Trinity Christian College is offering the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in counseling psychology in only five years. The 3+2 track combines an academically intensive three years of undergraduate work with Trinity’s master’s degree program.

The “3”

The“3”includes18 credit hours per semester for six semesters at Trinity and two summer sessions at a local community college.

The “2”

The “2” includes 48 credit hours completed over two years. Six credits are taken per term—Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.

Applying what they’ve learned in the classroom, undergraduates will complete a field education requirement, and graduates will complete a practicum and internship experience.

Click here to download a 3+2 brochure with the list of required courses.

Students who enroll as freshmen psychology majors will:

• Complete the three-year bachelor’s program in psychology
• Gain guaranteed admission to the two-year master’s degree program in counseling psychology (with 3.0 GPA). There is no requirement to take the GRE.
• Experience study in the helping professions from a Christian perspective
• Enjoy a special community throughout their education with the same caring professors and fellow classmates

Dr. Michael DeVries ’74, director of the counseling psychology graduate program and professor of psychology, pursues a clinical practice at Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc., in Oak Forest, Illinois, an agency founded by his wife, Louella ’93.

“The 3+2 option at Trinity gives students with a clear sense of calling from God and a passion for helping others an opportunity to complete a liberal arts degree in psychology and a graduate degree in counseling psychology through an efficient and economical course of study without sacrificing educational quality or rigor,” said Dr. DeVries.

For more information, contact Dr. DeVries at 708.239.4755 or michael.devries@trnty.edu.

Professors in the program bring a variety of research focuses to their teaching, including integration of Christianity and psychology, counseling outcomes, yoga therapy, clinical and research ethics. Meet the faculty here.