Archives: News Stories
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:
Andrew Elliott Rusticus
June 20, 1982 —February 25, 2012
The Trinity Christian College community is mourning the loss of alumnus Andrew Elliott Rusticus, age 29. Rusticus died of an apparent heart attack on Saturday, February 25, leaving behind his wife Michelle and his daughters, three-year-old Baylee Noel and three-month-old Libby Grace. He is also survived by his parents, Roland and Mary; brothers, Jeremy and Lisa (Evan, Ayana), Alex and Emily; parents-in-law, Tom and Carlene Cooke; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Jenn and Brent (Grady, Anna, Tate, Millie) Mingerink, Stephanie and Brad (Addison, Mckayla) Sterk, Heather and Dan DeBoer, Misha and Tanya; numerous grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and many dear friends and relatives.
Rusticus was a 2005 graduate of Trinity who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and psychology. He was honored with the Sociology Department’s Award in 2005 and qualified for the Dean’s List. While at Trinity, Rusticus interned for the Chicago Police Department and after his graduation, he was hired as a police officer in Woodridge, Illinois. Rusticus applied his faith to every aspect of his job—in his style of work, in his attitude, and in his Christian interaction with others. He is remembered fondly by Dr. Brad Breems, professor of sociology, “Andy was one of the finest students I ever had; a humble and caring Christian, studious, compassionate, and careful, with a deep Reformed current always running through his analysis. All who knew Andy, including me, will miss this simply outstanding young man.”
During the three and a half years Rusticus served with the Village of Woodridge Police Department, he was awarded for valor for arresting a suspect who shot at officers; given a lifesaving award for performing CPR on an infant; and received two commendation awards for professional responses to criminal incidents. Rusticus joined the Grand Rapids Police Department in April 2009. He was jogging on Saturday afternoon around 2 p.m. as part of a training regimen for an upcoming canine handler position physical agility test with the department. A neighbor found him collapsed on the edge of the road near his home on Pheasant Run Drive north of Dorr, Michigan. He was pronounced dead at Metro Health Hospital at 7:08 p.m.
Visitation was held on February 29 at Cook Funeral and Cremation Services. The funeral service was held on March 1 at Dorr Christian Reformed Church in Michigan.
The family welcomes memories and messages in their online guestbook at www.cookfamilycares.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family to help with the cost of a Christian education for his daughters, Baylee and Libby.
The Trinity Alumni Board encourages alumni and friends who wish to give a gift to do so online or by check via one of the following options:
By Mail:
Thin Blue Line of Michigan
TBL/FBO Michelle Rusticus
P.O. Box 415
Howell, MI 48844-0415
Online:
http://www.andyslittleangels.com/
In Person:
at Trinity Christian College in the donation box at the front desk of the 2nd floor of the Huizenga Library.
If you have any questions, please contact Travis Bandstra, director of alumni relations, at 708.239.4854 or travis.bandstra@trnty.edu.
Trinity’s marketing students, business professors, and members of 25 different companies came together on February 15 for a Trinity Business Network (TBN) event. The presentation featured guest speaker David Duerr, chairman and CEO of Internet marketing company Straight North.
Duerr spoke on the topic “Internet Marketing—Understanding Search Engines, Online Advertising, and Social Media.” In the message, Duerr explained the new opportunities that the Internet provides for marketers.
“Social media has a huge effect on the way we communicate as humans,” said Kaitlin Feddema ’14 of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who attended the event as part of her online marketing class. “It’s changing the way the business world works as well. Nowadays, it’s all about forming a relationship with future buyers, and what better way to do so than taking advantage of technology that’s already out there?”
Students attended the luncheon where they had the opportunity to ask questions of business leaders and network.
“I enjoyed talking to business people to understand how they run their business,” said Joshua Hernandez ’12 of Chicago, Illinois. “It gave me a sense of their accomplishments while discussing their views of technology and marketing.”
Duerr’s speaking session was followed by a question and answer session led by Dennis Harms ’89, director of business and corporate giving.
Trinity’s Office of Ethnic Diversity recently expanded to include a pre-college department that helps high school students from after-school programs get a glimpse of what life is like as a Trinity student.
Tabitha Matthews, the College’s pre-college coordinator, works with two of Trinity’s partner organizations in Chicago: Circle Urban Ministries and By the Hand Club for Kids. Both organizations are community programs for students in grades 1-12 and include college-readiness programs.
The partnership with both the organizations gives Trinity students the opportunity for service learning, as well as encourages the program’s students to attend college, and more specifically Trinity.
On February 10-11, students from By the Hand Club for Kids experienced firsthand what it was like to be at Trinity. Ten students came to campus for a night of games, open gym, and Trinity basketball games.
The students stayed overnight in the dorms with Trinity students and attended financial aid sessions as well as other college-readiness classes taught by Chris Bohle and Caitlin Fillmore ’09, resident directors at the College. The courses focused on choosing a college and campus life.
“The students all appeared to be very engaged and had some really great questions,” said Fillmore. “I hope I challenged them to think carefully about the choices they make.”