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A bagpiper, Sinterklaas, and the Trinity Troll paraded around campus on Tuesday, April 24, to begin OPUS, an academic celebration for all departments sponsored by Trinity’s Academic Initiative.
The event, which celebrates academic gifts in all fields of study, featured several afternoon sessions during which students showcased class projects, Interim experiences, choir performances, and more.
“For me, OPUS was amazing,” said Christina Clair ’14 of Chicago, who performed her first-prize winning poetry interpretation with a poem she wrote herself. “It was truly a blessing to share with the campus and to let them know how God changed me.”
In addition to the oral interpretation contest, awards were given for music, art, and writing submissions.
New to this year’s OPUS celebration was an ice sculptor. The sculptor spent the day carving a Trinity Troll along with an OPUS sculpture, which both served as decorations for the evening’s picnic dinner.
The event also featured a beanbag tournament, improv group, and a praise and worship time in the event tent.
“OPUS was spectacular this year,” said Joshua Knol ’14 of Crown Point, Indiana, chair of Academic Initiative. “The committee put a ton of work into pulling it all together, and it definitely showed.”
OPUS award winners—Click here for the complete list.
Tuition Remission Winners
$100 Winners—Jessica Burns ’13, Christina Clair ’14
$150 Winners—Vivienne Handumon ’12, Shannon Smith ’12
$250 Winners—Bill Kamp ’12, Kelsey Mattson ’12
$400 Winner—Amber VanderLey ’12
$500 Winner—Benjamin DeYoung ’14
OPUS 2012 Committee Members
Faculty
Dr. Dick Cole, Chairperson
Dr. Clay Carlson
Dr. Mauricio Nava D.
Professor Rebecca Harkema ’05
Dr. Mackenzi Huyser ’97
Dr. Mark Jones, Chairperson
Professor Pete Post ’74
Dr. Patti Powell
Dr. Laurel Quinn
Dr. John Sebestyen
Professor Maureen Sweeney
Students
Joshua Knol ’14, Chair of Academic Initiative
Jonathan Engbers ’14
Cassandra Martinez ’15
Keli Ooms ’13
Allison Wier ’13
Art and Design
Drawing/Painting/Mixed Media:
First Place: Jessica Timmermans, “Late Afternoon”
Second Place: Amanda Evers, “Trade Your Fears”
Third Place: Yasmin Fernandez, “Set Your Eyes”
Printmaking/Photography:
First Place: Chris Colvin, “Look Up” and “To Mankind Which Are Delivered”
Second Place: Leigh Twaragowski, “Purple”, “Multiple”, and “Flower”
Third Place: Heather VanSant, “Through the Looking Glass 1 & 2” and “Cityscape”
Graphic Design:
First Place: Kaleb Dean, “FYF Mentorship”
Second Place: Bridget Earnshaw and Karl Gesch, “Studio Rat”
Third Place: Hannah Snow, “Spoon Letters” and “Gourmet Dish”
Sculpture:
First Place: Karl Gesch, “Drawing in Space: Mondrian’s Pier & Mountain”
Second Place: Lauren Sandberg, “Junkyard Talisman”
Third Place: Jonathan Engbers, “Try and Open a Book (But Not Really)”
Best of Show:
Karl Gesch, “Real Animal Cookies”
Music Performance
Keyboard
First Place: Brittany Homan
Second Place: Leah Laky
Third Place: Haley Zandstra
Vocal Ensemble
First Place: William Gesch, Shannon Smith, Daniel Thayer
Second Place: William Gesch, Daniel Thayer
Third Place: Dwante Jones, Da’Maris King
Vocal Solo
First Place: William Gesch
Second Place: Kristen Blok
Third Place: Adam Perez
Instrumental Ensemble
First Place: Cassandra Nelson, Patrick Page, Adam Perez, Christina Pacholik, Daniel Thayer
Second Place: Adam Perez, Alexander Salto
Instrumental Solo
First Place: Adam Perez
Second Place: Matthew Mulder
Third Place: Alexander Salto
Oral Interpretation
Dramatic Lit.
First Place (tie): Graeme Scott and Brooke Wigboldy
Third Place: Gina Ciametti
Poetry Interp.
First Place: Christina Clair
Second Place: Jennifer Hill
Third Place: Dominique Evans
Prose Interp.
First Place: Daniel Thayer
Second Place: Stephanie Avila
Third Place: Da’Maris King
Original Oratory
First Place: Christina Clair
Second Place: Gina Ciametti
Third Place: Graeme Scott
Poetry and Essay
Fiction:
First Place: Brian Haak, “The Water in the Piazza”
Honorable Mention: Kim Malinowski, “The Death”
Non-Fiction:
First Place: Kyle VanEerden, “Bear, My Burden”
Second Place: Vanessa Noonan, “Third Chances”
Third Place: Holli Moote, “Moment”
Poetry:
First Place: Teryn Leaper, “Preserved and Charitable”
Second Place: Teryn Leaper, “Unrequited Mistake”
Honorable Mentions: Hannah Wasco, “If I Had to Tell You” and “Rhyming” and Jenna Rae Reidenga, “The 5-Paragraph Essay”
Trinity students celebrated cultures from the Philippines, India, and Korea during the Celebration of Asia held on April 19. The event, sponsored by the Asian American Alliance (AAA), allows students to experience different Asian cultures through food and entertainment.
Students and faculty first enjoyed a shared meal including sushi, Korean bulgogi, Indian butter chicken, and Singaporean shrimp noodles.
“The Celebration of Asia was a great chance to experience different cultures,” said Brian Hofman ’13 of Waupun, Wisconsin. “I was blessed by the evening and am very glad I attended.”
After the dinner, students enjoyed entertainment through songs, readings, and a performance with bamboo instruments called angklungs led by Dr. Yudha Thianto. Christina Clair ’14 of Chicago read a poem titled “Don’t Lose Hope.”
Members of the Asian American Alliance also spoke about current issues in Asian countries and student involvement with the organization Liberty in North Korea (LiNK).
“Our goal was to raise awareness for the issues that are affecting different Asian cultures but also for the campus to come together and celebrate the diversity that God has given us,” said Nicole Ferreria ’13 of Willowbrook, Illinois, leader of the AAA.
Elections for the 2012-2013 Student Association Executive Committee were recently held, and four new students will represent their peers next year in the executive positions. Elections for the 2012-2013 class representatives were held April 18-19.
Executive Committee
Kathryn Woodside ’15 of Kearney, Nebraska, will serve as the association’s president. Woodside is serving this year as a freshmen representative and a student representative to the General Education Committee. She is double majoring in special education and elementary education and is also involved in Academic Initiative, Service Committee, and the Honor’s Program at Trinity.
Woodside hopes to use this position to increase communication between the students and the association.
“One of my goals is to improve communication in a way that engages all parties in a proactive discussion to improve life at Trinity,” said Woodside. “Through our collaborative effort, students can be more aware and involved in issues that pertain to them.”
Megan Kuiper ’14 of McBain, Michigan, will serve as next year’s vice president. Kuiper is currently serving as a resident assistant and is majoring in theology and church and ministry leadership. Kuiper also volunteers at an afterschool program, the Good News Club.
Kuiper is excited to improve the role of the Student Association.
“I hope that we can find some new ways to meet the needs of the student body,” said Kuiper. “It will be interesting to find new ways to communicate and grow with the student body, especially as there is a growing number of commuters.”
Nate Tameling ’14 of Burr Ridge, Illinois, will use his business major with a concentration in management to help him take on the role of the association’s treasurer. Tameling is currently a sophomore representative on the Student Association and has served in Hall Council the last two years. He is also a member of the baseball team and Athletics Committee and served on the Student Activities Committee last year.
Jacob Maatman ’14 of Lynwood, Illinois, will be the association’s secretary. In the current school year, Maatman serves as a member of Tibstra’s Hall Council. He is also working on a major in mathematics and philosophy and a minor in physics.
Class Representatives
The Trinity Christian College Student Association thanked the student community for supporting this year’s election, which saw a high turn-out, according to the association.
The 2012-2013 Student Association Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Representatives are:
Sophomore
Adam Frankenfeld of Oskaloosa, Iowa
Rebecca Garcia of Crown Point, Indiana
Megan McDonald of New Lenox, Illinois
Hannah Wasco of Lees Summit, Missouri
Junior
Caleb Copeland of Arlington Heights, Illinois
Kirsten Harms of Tinley Park, Illinois
Andy Reidsma of Wyoming, Michigan
Joshua Schumann of Yorkville, Illinois
Senior
Erin Boyle of Naperville, Illinois
Kaitlyn Fondrk of Belvidere, Illinois
Joshua Pollema of Rock Valley, Iowa
Megan Regalado of Glendora, California, and Samantha Cechowski of Darien, Illinois
Trinity recently held the annual “Mr. Troll,” a spoof pageant competition for male students.
Participants are scored by a panel of judges in categories such as creativity, effort, originality, sportsmanship, and personality.
“We wanted the show to eliminate all the traditionally objectifying and superficial aspects of pageant shows and focus on providing a fun, family-friendly, entertaining show for Trinity students,” said Residence Director Kara VanMarion, who helped organize the event.
This year’s six contestants competed in four different areas beginning with two catwalk competitions. First, contestants displayed their formal attire, then their own unique style in lumberjack, nurse, and Batman apparel.
The contest continued with a “mystery task,” where contestants popped balloons and football hiked toilet paper rolls into a plastic bin. This was followed by the talent portion, which included an interpretive dance, guitar playing, and scarf knitting.
“The Mr. Troll pageant was such an amazing experience,” said Tyler DeKoekKoek ’14 of Martin, Michigan, who won first place and credited this to shaving his long beard between portions of the competition. “There is no doubt that if I would not have shaved my beard I would not have been the winner.”
The pageant also included spoof “commercials” by Trinity’s improv team and Tibstra Hall Council.
This year’s competitors:
Tyler DeKoekKoek ’14 of Martin, Michigan—First Place
Luke Monsma ’14 of Denver, Colorado—Second Place
Caleb Copeland ’14 of Arlington Heights, Illinois—Crowd Favorite
Mark Davis ’14 of Palos Heights, Illinois
Steven Martinez ’13 of Chicago, Illinois
Christopher Steinke ’14 of Glendale Heights, Illinois
Trinity’s production of Thornton Wilder’s comedic play “The Matchmaker” opened Friday, April 20, to a nearly sold-out crowd. The next performances are April 27-28, at 7:30 p.m., in the Marg Kallemeyn Theatre (Art and Communication Center).
Tickets are $11 for general admission; $8 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased online: www.trinitychristiancollegetickets.com. Handicapped seating is available by calling 708.597.3000.
“The Matchmaker” is set in Yonkers, New York, during the 1880s and tells the story of Horace, an old, rich merchant who is searching for a wife. He hires Dolly Levi as a matchmaker, and she gets into several comedic situations with two of Horace’s clerks while looking for a match.
“While set in the late 1800s, this play still packed tons of jokes and laughs that entertain audiences in the 21st century,” said Luke Monsma ’14, Denver, Colorado, who played the role of Cornelius Hackl.
“Since this play is a farce, it allows the actors and actresses to experiment with ‘larger than life’ actions and voices, which made it very fun.”
Monsma has acted in other Trinity productions including Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by Dr. John Sebestyen, associate professor of communication arts.
“Dr. Sebestyen worked extremely hard with the cast and crew to ensure the production was top-notch,” said Monsma.
This play works with the theatre program’s overarching themes this year of wisdom and folly.
“This play can explore how [wisdom and folly] intersect in a multitude of ways,” said Sebestyen. “These issues are important for us to ponder as theatre-makers, and I hope that our audiences will consider them, as well.”
Kudos to the cast and crew:
Dolly Levi – Heather Hernandez ’14, Mokena, Illinois
Horace Vandergelder – Bobby Strange ’14, South Holland, Illinois
Cornelius Hackl – Luke Monsma ’14, Denver, Colorado
Barnaby Tucker – Chris DeWaard ’14, Holland, Michigan
Irene Molloy – Shannon Smith ’12, Portage, Michigan
Minnie Fay – Jess Timmermans ’14, Palos Heights, Illinois
Ambrose Kemper – Daniel Thayer ’12, Buchanan, Michigan
Ermengarde – Alisha Riepma ’12, Boyden, Iowa
Malachi Stack – Adam Frankenfeld ’15, Oskaloosa, Iowa
Flora VanHuysen – Kristen Blok ’15, Lynden, Washington
Cook – Gina Ciametti ’13, Hickory Hills, Illinois
Cabman – Da’Maris King ’14, Detroit, Michigan
Rudolph, the waiter – Chadd Huizenga ’15, Highland, Indiana
August, the waiter – Jonathan Engbers ’14, Elmhurst, Illinois
Joe Scanlon, the barber – Kyle Harms ’15, Tinley Park, Illinois
Gertrude – Brooke Wigboldy ’14, Tinley Park, Illinois
Stage Manager – Becca Reed ’14, Jenison, Michigan
Asst. Stage Manager – Bridget Earnshaw ’12, Cedar Lake, Indiana
Asst. Directors – Graeme Scott ’13, Oakville, Ontario and Teryn Leaper ’13, Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
Production Asst. – Hartrick Ryan VanderPloeg ’15, Frankfort, Illinois
At a recent Trinity Business Network (TBN) event, Chief Operating Officer of ACE Hardware Corporation John Venhuizen ’92 shared thoughts on faith and business, drawing from his 20 years of experience.
“Business students appreciated hearing from a successful business professional who started his career from exactly the same place that they will be starting theirs,” said Dr. Lynn White, professor of accounting in the business department at Trinity.
Venhuizen graduated from Trinity with a degree in marketing and began working at ACE Hardware shortly after. He has received several awards, including being named to Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” in 2004. The award recognizes individuals in the Chicago area who have made a major impact in their respective industries before the age of 40.
Junior Kevin Hahn of Cedar Lake, Indiana, said: “The TBN events are always really encouraging for me. Each time I’m in attendance, I’m inspired to keep my faith in the business world. Mr. Venhuizen was an excellent, engaging speaker. He offered us great stories and advice on how to stand above the rest during these tough economic times; he shared with us his methods for success; and finally, he proved that Trinity students can become people who can shape and change the world to become coworkers with Christ.”
Dan Harris, owner of Palos Ace Hardware, also commented on the event, praising Venhuizen’s work as well as the College. “John Venhuizen is just another example of the great people I have had the opportunity to meet who are associated with Trinity Christian College,” said Harris.
A record-breaking number of grandparents visited campus on Wednesday, April 18, for Grandparents’ Day.
Trinity welcomed 224 grandparents to the annual event, which included a morning of music, student addresses, worship, lunch, and campus tours.
Two families were recognized for both having four grandchildren currently attending Trinity. Gordy and Bev Gundy of Huntley, Illinois, are the grandparents of the Copeland brothers, Joshua ’12, Jacob ’13, Ben ’14, and Caleb ’14 of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Elmer and Georgian Van Drunen of South Holland, Illinois, are the grandparents of Anna Gesch ’12 of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin; Karley Van Dyke ’12 of Kouts, Indiana; and Becky ’14 and Scott ’12 Vanderzee of Dyer, Indiana.
During the opening program, guests enjoyed a performance by the Brass Quintet and by Robert Cager ’14 of Homewood, Illinois, who sang “To God Be the Glory.” Cager was accompanied by Elvert Williams III ’14 of Freeport, Illinois.
Student speakers Tyler DeKoekkoek ’14 of Martin, Michigan; Alexa Dokter ’15 of Homer Glen, Illinois; and Jeannette Perez ’12 of Palos Hills, Illinois, shared what the influence of their grandparents has meant in their lives.
DeKoekkoek explained ways his grandparents have shown love with examples ranging from “sharing the Word to those in prison” to “overpaying a broke college student for easy chores.” In closing he said, “I learned what it takes to be a giving, caring, loving person because of what my grandparents did for me.”
Dokter shared her gratitude as well. “My grandparents taught both [my parents and me] the importance of surrounding yourself with a Christian community,” she said. “This Christian community that I now find myself in is due to my grandparents being convicted in what is right. I am so thankful that they have given me the support and guidance I needed to find the right college that provides me with the opportunity to grow in Christ and receive a good education.”
After thanking her grandparents for the roles they played in her life, Perez extended her thanks to all the grandparents in attendance. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do and have done for your grandchildren,” she said. “It does truly mean a lot to have you all here today to share this special day honoring you.”
Following the program, students joined their grandparents for chapel and a message by Residence Director Caitlin Fillmore ’09 titled “Of Greater Worth than Gold.” A performance by the Concert Choir and Honors Ensemble, directed by Professor of Music Helen Van Wyck, Ph.D., preceded a wonderful lunch served by Creative Dining Services.
“I enjoyed chasing down fellow grandparents, professors, and other staff so that my grandparents could catch up with all of them,” said Kaitlin Feddema ’14 of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her grandparents Roger and Joan Sikkenga came from Fremont, Michigan, for the event.
Sophomore Brooke Wigboldy of Tinley Park, Illinois, said her grandparents Ralph and Hermina Wigboldy of Orland Park, Illinois, were attending for the first time. “I enjoyed worshipping with them during chapel,” said Wigboldy. “I was also glad to be able to show them my dorm room and a little bit about where I live.”
Richard and Doris Dina of Chicago and Vince Ciametti of Hickory Hills, Illinois, enjoyed the morning with granddaughter Gina Ciametti ’13 also of Hickory Hills. “My grandparents are prime reminders of how I should act, love, and live within my Christian community,” said Ciametti. “I can only hope one day to be just as wonderful as they are. I enjoyed everything about Grandparents’ Day and can’t wait for 2013.”
To view the photogallery of this year’s Grandparents’ Day, click here.
In a classroom in Ghana, Lynn Spellman White, professor of accounting at Trinity, stood in front of 25 business people, a group of some of the most attentive and motivated students she says she has ever taught.
As part of a Vander Laan Business Connections Grant, White spent eight days during Trinity’s Interim teaching financial literacy workshops to people from various businesses, ranging from farming to garment manufacturing. The workshops included basic accounting topics such as Microsoft Excel, financial statement and budget preparation, and accounts receivables and accounts payables.
“The students recognized the importance of record keeping to their businesses and approached the workshop sessions with a level of enthusiasm and focus that I never expected,” said White.
She also had the opportunity to visit local Ghanaian businesses and observe their practices, gaining an increased appreciation for accounting’s role in developing businesses.
White worked through Hopeline Institute, an associate member of Partners Worldwide. The institute is a non-profit Christian organization that assists business owners through training, mentoring, and access to capital.
Such opportunities enable White to integrate her overseas experience into the classroom at Trinity and to provide her students with cross-cultural learning. She hopes to one day accompany business students from Trinity to Ghana to work directly with owners in their respective businesses.
White led a group of Trinity students to Malawi in 2009 with partial funding from the Vander Laan grant.
A group of seven social work students at Trinity recently had a chance to practice political lobbying in Springfield, Illinois, as part of Advocacy Day, sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers.
“Lobbying is one of the many ways that social workers advocate for their clients,” said Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, assistant professor of social work. “We have an ethical responsibility to advocate at the social policy level, as well as a biblical responsibility as Christians who are social workers.”
The students, along with professors Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein
and Dr. Mackenzi Huyser, spent the morning at the Prairie State Capital Convention Center with fellow social work students from across the state. Here, they participated in breakout sessions, panel discussions, and lectures. In these sessions, they discussed poverty, health care, the budget crisis, and lobbying techniques.
Next, Trinity’s group went to the capitol building and practiced some of what they had learned by lobbying for a bill that would prohibit the sale and serving of all food in Illinois schools containing trans-fats.
“Prohibiting trans-fat in schools is just one step closer to addressing the health epidemic of children today,” said Bretzlaff-Holstein. “We wanted students to learn how to talk with their legislators about an issue that matters to them.”
The students spoke with State Representatives LaShawn Ford, who introduced the bill, and Monique Davis, a co-sponsor for the bill. The representatives explained the next steps needed to pass the bill.
Kirsten Harms ’14 of Tinley Park, Illinois, learned the importance of using the democratic system to make a change.
“We should not be afraid to approach our representatives and ask them questions,” said Harms. “Not only should we know our rights, but we should use them to better the world we live in.”
A group of Trinity students prepared for a surprise birthday party they were holding for Annette. They felt it was the least they could do after she had invited all 12 of them over for dinner–multiple times. It was impossible to believe they had only met this woman a few days ago.
Annette was just one of the people who Trinity students helped while on a spring break service project. The team of 32 drove nearly 1,000 miles to Swan Quarter, North Carolina, and spent their spring break helping repair damage after Hurricane Irene, which hit the East Coast in August 2011.The team was the largest group Trinity has ever had for a spring break service trip.
“I went into the trip hoping to peer into the community and set a vision of what Christians should look like outwardly,” said Service Committee President Eric Robbert ’13 of LaGrange, Illinois. “I would say we were incredibly impactful in promoting a servant-like attitude in the Trinity community.”
The students worked with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and spent the time there removing shingles from houses, re-painting a historic church, and tearing down rotted decks, ceilings, and insulation.
Aside from the work, students spent time doing devotions, attending the local church, playing games, and visiting the nearby beach on Ocracoke Island. Through these activities, students said they became very close.
“We were in awe of how close the group grew simply by the middle of the week,” said Megan Regalado ’13 of Glendora, California. “We have been intentionally praying that we continue the relationships while at Trinity.”