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Professor of Philosophy and Department Chair Aron Reppmann ’92, Ph.D., was first drawn to the field because the expansiveness of the discipline offered space to pursue many interests.  

And Reppmann’s continuing range of interests was on display during his stints as a featured guest on two podcasts in recent months: the Critical Faith podcast, produced by the Institute for Christian Studies; and the Secret History of Western Esotericism podcast. 

During the Critical Faith podcast, Reppmann, discussed “A Lesson in Hilarity,” and shared some advice from St. Augustine. During his conversation with SHWEP,  which explores “the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought,” he offered an overview of early Christian writer Origen of Alexandria (c. 184 – c. 253 CE). 

His connections to the podcasts came through different channels. 

In the case of the Critical Faith podcast, Reppmann’s appearance stems from his long involvement with ICS, including his current roles of chair of the Academic Senate and chancellor of the ICS. “The podcast is intended as a window into the life and community of ICS, and sometimes includes wider members of the community—not just those who study or teach there,” he said. “So, when I was going to be in Toronto for a board meeting last fall, the hosts of the podcast arranged for me to be a featured guest.” The podcast hosts spent the past academic year exploring the theme of “evil, resistance and judgment,” and Reppmann’s topic was guided by that theme. 

With the SHWEP podcast, Reppmann met the producer/host Earl Fontainelle at the International Society for Neoplatonic Studies conference last summer. Based on Reppmann’s presentation and subsequent discussions, Fontainelle invited Reppmann to be a guest.  

“In both cases, I found the experience really refreshing and stimulating: a chance to talk to a wide, non-specialist but interested, audience about thinkers and works that I’ve been studying carefully and that really matter to me,” said Reppmann. 

Trinity’s Board of Trustees and President Dykstra shared this statement to the community today: 

Dear Trinity Community:

On Thursday, June 18, the Trinity Christian College Board of Trustees gathered virtually for a special meeting.  While that meeting was originally intended for the Trustees to keep abreast of the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic and Trinity’s operations and future planning, those vital topics were largely set aside and the Board instead spent its time discussing the issue of racial justice and equity, nationally and at Trinity.  While the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis was the immediate catalyst for the awakening of the national conscience, racial injustice is broader and deeper than one event caught on video.

We issue this statement as neither the first nor last word from the College on these pressing matters.  Rather, we share this statement with the Trinity community following our special meeting so that Trinity’s principles and values are clear and unambiguous.

–To unequivocally state that racism is evil and an affront to true Christian witness and practice and that racism, as well as the injustice that flows from it, remains a real, present, and pernicious problem in our world;
–To recognize that the marks of racism and injustice in our society are disproportionately borne by persons of color, and especially among Black Americans;
–To further affirm Trinity’s commitment to justice, diversity, and the flourishing of all peoples as persons created equally in the image of God, as expressed in the College’s Mission Statement as well as in its Commitments both to Unity and Diversity;
–To humbly confess that the Trinity community like the rest of society is desperately in need of a Savior and that at times individually and collectively we have not lived up to our aspirations pertaining to Diversity and Unity, causing hurt to those whom God calls us to love;
–To clearly reaffirm that the Christian vision for this College inescapably means that Trinity values every member of this community as made in the image of God – and that, when, as now, it is clear that particular groups such as Black students, faculty, and staff are uniquely at risk, that we proclaim without equivocation that their lives, their dignity, and their intrinsic worth matter to God and to us all.  We believe that Black lives matter because we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are aware that many conversations have been occurring throughout the campus community pertaining to matters of race and injustice, barriers and equity, hopes and frustrations.  Trustees have been a part of some of them.

This is an important moment to assess again where Trinity has come from, where it is at, and where it needs to go so that it more fully embodies the distinctly Christian vision that has guided, inspired, and corrected it for more than sixty years.  This examination is not new; it has been occurring for years with real progress happening in awareness, education, personnel, policies, and practices.  But as our conscience is raised nationally and at Trinity in this moment, we must also think and act anew, anchored by the courage to seek the truth and buoyed with the grace to see the deep imprint of God in one another.

To that end, at Thursday’s Special Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees committed to an initial series of actions, including:

–Convening a working group of the Board of Trustees to examine the Board’s practices and policies to ensure that it is embodying these commitments to anti-racism in its own actions and holding itself accountable if it falters;
–Calling for a review of, and a revision to, the College’s statements on Diversity and Unity, as well as a rededication to those statements and the actions that they call forth;
–Developing an actionable plan focused on racial equity at Trinity that incorporates and expands upon the institutional efforts already underway to root out barriers to access and impediments to equity; sets clear and transparent goals that the College community collectively will work toward; and holds ourselves accountable to their implementation over the next year and beyond;
–Committing to more frequent and transparent communication to the Trinity constituency about the College’s ongoing efforts and initiatives to more fully realize its Christian mission, including areas where it falls short of that mission;
–Reaffirming that the demand for racial justice flows from the College’s Christian mission, must be shaped by it, and must be deepened because of it.  

This is a preliminary set of actions and is not meant to be exhaustive.  The Board will expand its conversation with others on campus, especially as the College anticipates returning to in-person operations in the fall.

Trinity’s uniqueness as a small college with a close-knit community provides the opportunity for personal relationships that can be formed in working together to seek God’s will for ourselves, each other, and the College. The community, personal connections, and vulnerability required to have difficult conversations like these in love will be the hallmark of our approach as we move forward in a uniquely Trinity way.

Every time our name – Trinity – is uttered, it is a reminder that the Triune God delights in both unity and in distinctiveness.  Our motto, Unum Deum in Tres Laudamus Te (“One God in Three, We Praise You”) lights our path.  This is a moment for confession and lament when we, personally and corporately, have not lived fully into our own commitments to unity and diversity – but it, too, is a time for resolve and anticipation that we, as individuals, as a community, and as an institution, can become more fully faithful to God’s call upon us.   

Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D.
Chair, on behalf of the Board of Trustees

and

Kurt D. Dykstra, J.D.
President

Trinity Athletics hired Becky Eller as the new head coach for the women’s volleyball program, Director of Athletics Mark Hanna has announced.

“Becky is a strong leader, is intensely competitive, and is gifted and passionate for developing well-rounded athletes,” Hanna said. “She has impressed us at every step along this hiring process and we are thrilled to have her join the Trinity community – we are excited for her to lead and further develop all aspects of this women’s volleyball program.”

Before coming to Trinity, Eller served as an assistant coach for the women’s volleyball team at Trinity International University. She spent three seasons with the team, helping them make two NCCAA national tournament appearances, which the team has not done in eight years. She also coached seven CCAC All-Conference honorees over the course of the last two years. During the 2019 season, the team finished 27-13, which broke Trinity International’s record for most wins in a season.

Before coaching, Eller began her career in the CCAC as a team member of the women’s volleyball program at Olivet Nazarene University. There, she finished her career with 1,534 kills and 420 blocks, which ranks her in eighth in Olivet Nazarene’s record book in both categories. She led her team to two CCAC Tournament Championship appearances, and two trips to the NAIA National tournament. Eller also earned CCAC Co-Player of the Year, CCAC All-Conference, AVCA All-Midwest Region, AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and NAIA All-America honors over the course of her junior and senior seasons.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to be the next head women’s volleyball coach at Trinity,” Eller said. “I look forward to building on the success of the program and challenging each girl spiritually, academically, relationally, and athletically, and watching them grow during their time at Trinity. I’m excited to build new traditions and to watch our team compete at a high level. My family and I are very excited to be joining the Trinity family!”

Eller’s first day on Trinity’s campus is scheduled for July 13.

The format may be different, but our Alumni Board is still excited to announce our annual golf outing to raise scholarships for students of alumni! Grab some friends or former roommates and have a blast on the course at a tee time that works for you.

Join us at Coyote Run Golf Course in Flossmoor, Ill., for 18 holes of golf, cart, food and beverage voucher, along with giveaways. This year you have the flexibility to play whenever your schedule allows, so grab your coworkers or call some old roommates and find a time to reconnect on the course!

Golfers will also compete as a team in a four-person scramble and will have the opportunity to win additional giveaways during the round by participating in various hole-specific challenges.

$100 per golfer or $375 if purchased as a foursome.

The annual Alumni Golf Outing provides an opportunity for alumni to come together and enjoy golf and fellowship while supporting the Alumni Excellence Scholarship fund, which provides renewable scholarship support for children of alumni who are attending Trinity. Each year up to four $1500 scholarships are awarded to eligible students.

Find more information here. Registration will remain open until Saturday, August 15.

Any questions can be directed to alumni@trnty.edu

Trinity’s Nursing Department excels at educating nurses who are prepared academically and clinically to serve with care and compassion. Our department is regularly ranked among the best in Illinois and consistently has a 100% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.

And now, thanks to the faithful generosity of two dedicated families, Trinity’s nursing students will have state-of-the-art facilities this fall, following extensive renovations that are currently underway.

According to Nursing Department Chair Tina Decker ‘06, D.N.P., the entire first floor of the Classroom Building will be reconfigured to include an additional new simulation lab, observation room, and a welcome center/study space for nursing students.

“We’re absolutely excited about the renovations,” said Decker. “We will now have a defined area on campus for studying and learning in a communal approach.”

The observation room will also greatly improve the educational experience for nursing students, said Decker. “The new observation room looks directly into the simulation lab and allows for a more immersive experience for students.”

The first-floor conference room is also being upgraded, she said. “We will have a dedicated space for clinical meetings.”

This project was made possible with generous support from two families committed to our department. “The hope of the Nursing Department is to use this generosity to really give back,” said Decker. “We will be able to provide the best possible education and experience to our students as they work to become excellent nurses.”

The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award makes an impact toward the general public’s recognition of the positive societal contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities. And Assistant Professor of Special Education Christine Scholma ’04 has been named presentation chair for the 2022 award.

The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award recognizes authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that authentically portray individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and Down syndrome.” As presentation chair, Scholma will be part of the selection committee that selects the winner.

For the last two years, Scholma has read and reviewed approximately 50 picture books and novels that include a character with an intellectual or developmental disability.

Congratulations, Prof. Scholma!

Congratulations to Nicole Saint-Victor ‘12, Trinity’s Director of Multicultural Engagement, for being named a commissioner on the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities’ (CCCU) Commission on Diversity and Inclusion.

“We welcome your participation, your wise feedback and we look forward to collaborating with you in the months to come,” said CCCU President Shirley V. Hoogstra, in a letter announcing the appointment. “Thank you again for your willingness to share your time and your talents with us.”

Along with serving as Director of Multicultural Engagement, St. Victor is Director of Trinity’s Gospel Choir and is a member of the Music Performance Faculty.

Trinity is a proud member of CCCU, a higher education association of more than 180 Christian institutions around the world. The Commission on Diversity and Inclusion consists of a group of volunteer leaders in key administrative positions on member campuses that advises the CCCU, assists with planning content and securing speakers for conferences, and works to connect and serve as a resource for colleagues in peer positions at CCCU institutions across the country.

As I Corinthians 12 says, though a body is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body. In the same way, Trinity’s dedicated staff and faculty help form the Trinity community.

As part of our annual spring tradition, faculty and Staff were honored for their service, including milestone anniversaries.

Faculty and staff recognized for years of service include:

35 Years

Bob Boomsma ’77, Professor of Biology & Chair of Sciences

20 Years

Janet Kosmal ’78, Office Coordinator of Physical Plant

15 Years

–Kelly Lenarz ’99, Assistant Professor of Education & Director of Education Assessment, Innovation and Traditional Undergraduate Programs

–Mark Peters, Professor of Music & Department Chair

–Debby Vincent, Executive Assistant to the President

10 Years

–Sharon Boss ’14, Assistant Director of Financial Aid

–Dennis Connelly, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Program Coordinator & Department Chair

–Don Coutts, Print Center Manager

–Erick Matherly ’09, IT Network Administrator

–Troy Schemper, Dean of Student Engagement

–Connie Van Groningen, Administrative Coordinator of Nursing Department

Along with milestones, other recognitions included:

Staff Member of the Year Award

Diana Pell, Administrative Assistant to Faculty

Catherine Yonker Award

Nicole St. Victor ’12, Director of Multicultural Engagement, Director of Gospel Choir & Music Performance Faculty

St. Victor was named the recipient of this year’s Catherine Yonker Award, which is given every year to two students and one faculty or staff member for contributions toward accomplishing Christian race relations, and cross-cultural understanding within the Trinity community.

Blueprints is a proud tradition at Trinity, where we welcome incoming freshmen and their families for orientation and registration weekends. At Blueprints, students get to meet other students, faculty, and staff. During our sessions, incoming freshmen discover more about campus life, register for classes, and begin friendships with other new students that will last a lifetime.

This year, we have adapted Blueprints to a virtual format, which takes place over three days. More than 260 new members of the Trinity community took part in Saturday’s session, “ Blueprints 101: Your New Home.” The first virtual Blueprints installment included a welcome by President Kurt Dykstra. Vice President for Student Life Becky Starkenburg provided an overview of the student experience, and current student Aubrey Weedman ’21 conducted a Q&A session. Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D., discussed academics. Students also got to “visit” their dorms as part of a housing preview segment. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with a professor and future classmates in their major through academic breakout sessions.

“While there’s nothing quite like gathering on campus for Blueprints, it was a great day of bringing campus to our incoming students,” said Jeanine Mozie, Director of Admissions. “Whether it was President Dykstra tuning in from the middle of the Nursing renovations, or VP Starks hanging out in our favorite spot in the Student Life Loft, or a surprise visit from the Troll in the housing preview, students were able to catch glimpses of the life on campus that soon will be theirs. We’re excited to take an even deeper dive at Blueprints 102 on June 20, with another special guest ready to make an appearance and help students feel fully prepared for life at Trinity this fall.”

Upcoming Blueprints sessions include:

BLUEPRINTS 102: YOUR NEW GROOVE

June 20, 2020 | 10am CDT

This virtual Blueprints session will dive deeper into what students will experience as a Trinity student. They will learn more about the first class all Trinity students take – called Thrive – and be able to meet one-on-one with a faculty advisor for class registration. We will also dig into the move-in process, getting a job on campus, athletics, and other important topics to help each student prepare to start this fall.

BLUEPRINTS 103: YOUR NEW PEOPLE

July 25, 2020 | 10am CDT

During our final Blueprints meeting, incoming Trolls will meet with students they will be connected to at Trinity. Now’s the chance to get to know campus!

Want to learn more about life as a Troll, Class of 2024? Click here to learn more and register: trnty.edu/blueprints

You can also check out highlights from Blueprints 101!

Building upon the personal reflection that President Dykstra offered to the Trinity community this past weekend, Trinity Christian College shares the following statement in solidarity with and in support of the entire Trinity community. 

Over the last weeks, we have all seen with our own eyes, yet again, the ugly evil of racial injustice.  We know that the actions that caused the death of George Floyd, while horrific and graphic, are only the latest in a long line of injustice inflicted upon African American citizens, including Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Laquan McDonald, and so many others.  While these acts of violence grieve us all, they hit close to home for many of us, particularly for the African American and other racial minority members of the Trinity family.

As Christians, and especially for us as a part of the distinctly Christian community here at Trinity, we affirm that the reconciling love of God – demonstrated most vividly though the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – ultimately is our rock and our fortress, our shield and our salvation.  We pray for the day when the words from Revelation 21 – “Behold, I am making all things new” – are fully recognized on this earth and in our land.

The Christian community is broad and diverse, spanning thousands of years and across nations and peoples.  We who claim the Christian faith condemn, abhor, and work to eliminate violence and oppression, and particularly the violence and oppression that our black and brown brothers and sisters face in disproportionate ways.

Though this community physically is apart, today Trinity gathered together virtually in multiple ways and at various times to share scripture, prayers, lament, anger, encouragement, and hope.  One day does not heal the wounds or assuage the pain – but it was another visible sign of our commitment, one to another, that we desire to live more fully into the life that God desires for all of his children, free from injustice and discrimination.  We reaffirm our commitments to campus unity and diversity, particularly our “commitment to work toward greater diversity not only in regard to our racial, ethnic, and cultural demographic but also in regard to acceptance, appreciation, honor, and equality within our campus climate.”  This is not a new commitment, but it must be a fresh one for this community and for this institution.

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, the day where God poured out the Holy Spirit upon the church.  During these troubled times, may we echo the words of the old hymn, “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us” – on this campus, in our community, throughout our nation, and around the world.