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Trinity may be new to the world of college mock trial competitions, but the team has already made an impression during its first season. Trinity students notched several wins in tournaments against larger colleges and universities with more established teams.
Not only is the team new to the college, most of the students who participated had never done mock trial before. But with the support of professors, alumni, and others, a determined group of students was able to build the team from the ground up and position it for even greater success next year.
Before beginning his freshman year at Trinity in the fall, Jacob Contreras ’23 was already exploring how to create a team on campus. Contreras had done mock trial at Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights, Ill., and wanted to continue here. “Before school began in the fall, I started asking if people would be interested in participating,” he said. That included conversations with Tony Reppmann ‘23, the son of Trinity’s Professor of Philosophy Aron Reppmann, Ph.D., and roommate of Damon Pater ’23. Dr. Reppmann became an early supporter of the team, and Pater quickly agreed to take part.
Pres. Kurt Dykstra provided encouragement as well, and Contreras and Pater set up a booth at Trinity’s Involvement Fair, which takes place early in the school year and is a way for students to learn about activities and opportunities on campus. They received enough interest to continue exploring the logistics of formally competing.
Peter VanderWall ’23 was one of the team’s first members. “I came to Trinity for Founders’ Scholars Weekend last year, and even then, all Jacob talked about was a mock trial team,” he said with a laugh. “I went to the first meeting and was completely intrigued,” said VanderWall.
In mock trial competitions, two teams play the roles of the lawyers and witnesses in a fictional court case. One team portrays the lawyers and witnesses for the prosecution, while the other team represents the defense side. Practicing attorneys and judges serve on panels that award points and determine the winner.
For Pater, mock trial was similar to the public forum debates he participated in during high school. VanderWall, an entrepreneurial management major, said he was attracted by the innovation and opportunities he saw in mock trial. In fact, Assistant Professor of Business Omar Sweiss is the faculty advisor to the mock trial team, and Assistant Professor of Business John Wightkin has also offered assistance.
Several members of the team have a background in theater, which is particularly helpful for those playing the witness roles, Contreras said.
Despite the early interest, Pater was skeptical that the team would be prepared to compete against more seasoned opponents from colleges such as the University of Chicago, the University of Kentucky, and Wheaton College. “Honestly, there seemed like really insurmountable challenges,” he recalled. But every time the team came across an obstacle, someone was able to find a solution. That included team members who work for Trinity’s Physical Plant and knew the process for obtaining college vans for transportation. “Everyone stepped up, even starting at the first meeting. From the beginning, it has been a group effort for people who took this dream and made it their own.”
“This is a great example of our alumni giving back to Trinity using their unique gifts and experiences,” said Jeremy Klyn, Director of Alumni & Family Engagement. “Through our TrollNation Network, we are excited by the unique opportunities like this where our alumni, parents and friends can make a difference in the lives of current, prospective and future Trolls!”
Ultimately, about 15 students took part in at least one of the team’s competitions. The team traveled to tournaments in Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Pella, Iowa, and Wheaton, Ill., and took part in a scrimmage against Loyola University Chicago. The season’s highlights include winning 2.5 ballots during the recent regional competition at Wheaton College. At the team’s first tournament, Contreras won two top attorney awards, one for prosecution and one for defense–the only attorney in the entire tournament to win both awards.
The team is already looking forward to next season, and Contreras is optimistic that Trinity may be able to support two mock trial teams in competition. “The Lord has something really special shaping up with this mock trial team,” he said.
Trinity’s people are at the heart of our community. As one way to recognize the achievements of our dedicated faculty and staff, we are currently accepting nominations for the Professor of the Year Award and Staff Member of the Year Award.
Nominations for both awards may be submitted by students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Collaboration is encouraged for both awards. Both nominations involve a submission, of no more than 300 words, which summarize the nominees’ accomplishments with specific examples.
Professor of the Year Award Process
–Candidates must be at least half-time faculty members (regular tenure-track/tenured, term, or instructor-practitioner) of any rank in at least his/her fourth year at the College.
–Candidates will have evidence of excellence in teaching or scholarship, with a preference for work that demonstrates a strong connection between teaching and scholarship, in work that advances the mission of the College.
–Professor of the Year nominations are due by Thursday, April 9. Nominations may be submitted to the online form linked here.
–Nominations will be reviewed by two prior award recipients, a representative of the Faculty Development Committee, the Provost or designated academic dean, and a selected leader from each of the following student groups: Student Association and the Multicultural Committee. After reviewing all nominations, this group forwards a recommendation to the Provost for final consideration.
Recent award recipients
2012: Bob Rice (History)
2013: Brad Breems (Sociology)
2014: Lynn White (Business)
2015: Dave Klanderman (Mathematics)
2016: John Sebestyen (Communication Arts)
2017: Michael Vander Weele (English)
2018: Clay Carlson (Biology)
2019: Kara Wolff (Counseling and Psychology)
Staff Member of the Year Award Process
–Candidates must be at least ½ time staff members and have worked at Trinity Christian College for at least one year.
–Candidates must demonstrate excellence in their area of work and have made a positive impact on people or processes in the College community while advancing the mission of the College.
–Staff Member of the Year nominations are due by Friday, April 17. Nominations may be submitted to the HR Department at hr@trnty.edu
–Nominations will be reviewed by two prior award recipients, three representatives of Staff Council, the Director of Human Resources, and a student representative from Student Association. (Please note, this is the second year that the Staff Member of the Year Award has been given.) After reviewing all nominations, this group forwards a recommendation to the President’s Council for final consideration. Current members of Staff Council and President’s Council are excluded from consideration.
Recent award recipient
2019: Laura Chávez-Dávalos (Director of the Office of Learning Services)
At the fourth annual Next Step Workshop last month, the Trinity community spent the day exploring ways to break cycles and discussing race, diversity and inclusion.
“It was great to see the workshop come together,” said Erica Thomas ’21, a member of Trinity’s Multicultural Leadership Team and one of the workshop’s organizers. “Next Step helps to ensure we’re not stuck and stagnant in our own ways. It’s a great way to shine a light and see what our part is and who we can help.”
During the Next Step workshop on Feb. 1, about 80 students, faculty, and staff engaged in conversations and exercises that explored privilege and other areas.
Student organizers worked with Director of Multicultural Engagement Nicole St. Victor and professors in several departments, including the Social Work Department, to plan Next Step 2020. Thomas said that planning began during the fall. “We spent a lot of time in November and December visualizing what the event should look like. After Christmas break, we began focusing on making our vision a reality.”
Professor of Theology Yudha Thianto, Ph.D., prepares for the new online learning environment.
The flourishing of our campus community and its health and safety are of utmost importance to us at Trinity. With that priority in mind, and after consultation with the entire President’s Council and the COVID-19 Impact Preparedness Group, we believe that it is in the best interest of our community and our neighbors near and far to suspend in-person, on-campus classes for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester beginning on Friday, March 13.
After a week of transition, all classes will resume in distance delivery formats beginning on Monday, March 23. We see this decision as the best way to care for our campus and the best way to collaborate with public health officials working to limit the spread of COVID-19.
“To a person, we are doing what needs to be done so that we can serve our students best,” said Pres. Kurt D. Dykstra. “We are a missional place and comprised of missional people. We know that God remains in control and that, Jesus, who not only healed the sick but also conquered death itself, remains our Lord and Savior. ”
Added Dykstra, “We are a Romans 12:12 people. Let us be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”
Currently there are no known cases of COVID-19 amongst Trinity students or employees.
We are constantly updating our COVID-19 resource page. Please check back frequently for updates.
Trinity Tuesday was a success, thanks to our faithful friends from down the street and around the world!
For 24 hours on Tuesday, March 10, our community came together to celebrate all things Trinity. In honor of our 60th anniversary, we set a goal of 660 donors during Trinity Tuesday.
Your support allowed us to meet our initial goal of 660 donors before 9 p.m.
But TrollNation kept going…
In a mere 24 hours, 730 donors participated in #TrinityTuesday, raising a total of $147,880 to impact Trinity students.
To see all of the results, visit trnty.edu/trinitytuesday. You can view the recap video here.
From all of us at Trinity, to every member of the Trinity community scattered across the country and beyond, thank you!
The Madron Gallery in Chicago is currently hosting an exhibit featuring the work of several artists who are part of the Trinity family. “Drawn Together” includes pieces from Professor of Art & Design John Bakker, alumni Pierce Cruz ’18 and Hannah Dykstra ’17, former adjunct professor Cecil McDonald Jr., and Kwabena Foli, who exhibited at Trinity’s Seerveld Gallery earlier this year, as part of the College’s Professional Artists Series.
The Madron Gallery exhibit is sponsored by Art on Sedgwick, which is dedicated to catalyzing connection and opportunity through art in Old Town’s Sedgwick Corridor in Chicago. Its classes, events, and public artworks draw on Chicago’s diverse, world-class artistic community to inspire a shared imagination for a vibrant and inclusive neighborhood.
Members of the Trinity community have close ties to Art on Sedgwick, where Bakker serves on the Governing Board and Dykstra works as Programming and Communications Manager.
Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce that it has named Madison Eggert of Mequon, Wis., and Leslie Osorio of Mundelein, Ill., recipients of the prestigious 2020 Founders’ Scholarship. The Founders’ Scholarship is a renewable, full-tuition award available annually to two incoming freshmen.
Eggert attends Eastbrook Academy in Milwaukee, where she has played volleyball for four years. She plans to major in biology at Trinity.
“I am so excited and thankful to attend Trinity this fall with this generous award!” said Eggert. “I fell in love with the Christ-centered community that I found there. I am deeply grateful that I have the opportunity use this gift to help me on my journey to becoming a physician assistant.”
Osorio attends Mundelein High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society and a student leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is also an executive board member of Puertas, a Latino cultural experience club. Osorio plans to major in nursing at Trinity.
“I am immensely grateful, humbled, and honored to be one of the recipients of the Founders’ Scholarship,” said Osorio. “This award has not only lightened my financial burden, but it will allow me to continue to pursue my educational dreams in healthcare and wellness. With the strong academic programs and a close-knit community centered in faith, I am confident that my time here will form me as a whole person and equip me for my future career and calling to serve others.”
Among other criteria, the Trinity’s Selection Committee for the Founders’ Scholarship considers outstanding spiritual, academic, and social leadership.
Trinity is excited to welcome our Founders’ Scholars for the class of 2024!
Worship leaders, pastors, and other church leaders should be encouraged to recognize the need for worship to be a product of the way we live in our communities and love our neighbors and neighborhoods well, Jonathan Brooks, recruiter and mentor for Trinity’s five-year B.A./M.Div. program with Northern Seminary, told the audience during a seminar at the recent Calvin Symposium on Worship.
During his seminar “Church Forsaken,” which shared a name with his recent book, Brooks, who serves as senior pastor of Canaan Community Church in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, also talked about introducing hip hop as a worship style that the church not only needs to accept, but embrace. “Hip hop is probably the most impactful and globally diverse culture in the world,” he said. “I had Pastor Terence Gadsden, the campus pastor at North Park University, also known as DJ Rock On, who performed with me during the vesper services, join me for the workshop.
“We wanted to show it was about more than music, and that embracing and learning from hip hop is a way that the church can lean into its God-given diversity,” he said.
This is the first time that Brooks has presented at the conference. “But I have been in contact with the Calvin Institute for quite a few years discussing how worship needs to be activated in the community. In other words, real worship can come outside of the four walls of the church and actually be a product of the way we live in the world,” he said. “In my book Church Forsaken, I talk about how my activity in the community and my love for my neighbor has led to a greater and more authentic worship of God.”
Brooks said some attendees were very encouraged by the notion that our worship of God can be enhanced by the way we move closer to our neighbor and are more engaged in our neighborhood. “The premise that our welfare and the welfare of our family is bound up in the welfare of our neighborhood, from Jeremiah 29:7 (‘Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper’), was truly an eye opening reciprocal way of thinking about how we live in the world,” he said.
The annual Calvin Symposium on Worship is a three-day conference sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Center for Excellence in Preaching held on the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary.
The Trinity community gathered last week in the Grand Lobby to celebrate Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D., on the recent release of Social Identity Commentary on the New Testament. Kuecker co-edited the book with Brian Tucker and contributed two chapters.
The book, published by T&T Clark, is a comprehensive Bible resource that highlights the way the New Testament seeks to form the social identity of the members of the earliest Christ-movement. According to the publisher, “By drawing on the interpretive resources of social-scientific theories-especially those related to the formation of identity-interpreters generate new questions that open fruitful identity-related avenues into the text. It provides helpful introductions to each [New Testament] book that focus on various social dimensions of the text as well as a commentary structure that illuminates the text as a work of social influence.”
Along with his editing work, Kuecker wrote the book’s chapters on Luke and Acts.
At Trinity Christian College, our professors are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with students and growing their own gifts and talents inside and outside the classroom. We celebrate with the Trinity faculty who have recently reached career milestones with promotions and the granting of tenure.
Congratulations to our professors on these successes!
Michael Bosscher granted tenure as Associate Professor of Chemistry
Jessica Clevering granted tenure and promotion to Professor of Psychology
Shari Jurgens granted tenure as Associate Professor of Physical Education
Kelly Nyhoff promoted to Associate Professor of Business and Finance
Ben Ribbens granted tenure as Associate Professor of Theology
Ryan Thompson granted tenure as Professor of Art and Design
Erick Sierra promoted to Professor of English
Kara Wolff granted tenure and promotion to Professor of Psychology