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Trinity is pleased to be recognized as a 2019-20 “College of Distinction.” The College was recognized for its exemplary commitment to the four distinctions identified by the Colleges of Distinction organization: engaged students; great teaching; vibrant community; and successful outcomes.

Trinity was also recognized in several other areas, including: a Christian College of Distinction; Education College of Distinction; Business College of Distinction; and a Nursing College of Distinction.

Colleges of Distinction was founded on the premise that there are hundreds of remarkable colleges across the United States, each with a unique strength to offer the next generation of college-bound students.

The Athletics Department at Trinity Christian College has named Allie Paluchniak ’16 as the new head coach of the women’s and men’s golf programs.  Paluchniak comes to Trinity from Wheaton College where she served as the head coach for the women’s golf team for the past two years while also providing coaching support to the men’s golf team and to the women’s basketball team.

“We are elated to name Allie as the new coach for our golf program and also to welcome her back home,” stated Athletics Director Mark Hanna. “From her own experience as a former student-athlete and coach, Allie has a keen understanding of the unique life of an athlete. She has the leadership, character, and vision to grow our golf program and she will join a strong staff of coaches that are cultivating an environment where student-athletes flourish!”

In her two seasons as head women’s golf coach at Wheaton, Paluchniak led the Thunder to a top three conference finish and coached a conference medalist and two additional all-conference golfers.  She handled all operational aspects of the program as well as hosted tournaments and events for the team.

Accepting the coaching position at Trinity, Paluchniak is returning to her alma mater where she received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2016 and was a student-athlete on the women’s basketball team for three seasons.  After graduating, she completed a master’s degree in physical education and athletic administration from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND while also serving as a graduate assistant for their women’s basketball program. In 2017, she was hired by Wheaton College to serve as their head women’s golf coach and assistant women’s basketball coach.

“I am beyond excited to come back to coach at Trinity,” said Paluchniak. “I know first-hand what an incredible part of the college experience Trinity Athletics can play and I can’t wait to get started working with our athletes! The golf teams have great potential and I look forward to partnering with the athletes as they grow in their faith, on the golf course, and in the classroom.”

In addition to her head coaching responsibilities, Paluchniak will join the women’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant. As a basketball assistant coach at Wheaton, she helped the team to a conference championship title, two NCAA III Tournament bids, and a Top 25 ranking. At the University of Mary, a NCAA II member, she was a part of a program that posted a couple of Top 25 victories and advanced to their conference tournament.

Trinity Christian College is looking forward to welcoming our incoming freshmen students and their families to Blueprints this weekend, June 21-22. Blueprints is a wonderful opportunity to meet other students, faculty, and staff. Incoming freshmen will experience campus life, sleep overnight in the residence halls, sign up for classes, and begin friendships with other new students that will last a lifetime.

Blueprints gives our students a taste of all aspects of the college experience, and they can spend time arranging class schedules, meeting with faculty advisors, and enjoying the range of planned activities.

Here’s the schedule of events:

FRIDAY | June 21, 2019

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Arrival and Check-In Jennie Huizenga Memorial Library
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Financial Aid Office Open
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Business Office Open
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Trinity Bookstore Open
3:30 pm – 5:45 pm: Drop in and Take ID Photo

4:00pm – 5:20pm: Break-Out Sessions

• How Do Financial Aid and Financing Work?
• How Do I Study Abroad?
• I’m a Diversity Scholar: What Is My Role?
• My First Class at Trinity: What Is Thrive?
• I’m Living in the Residence Halls: How Can I Live Well With Others?
• I’m a Commuter: What Do I Need to Know?
• What Is Chicago Semester?
• I’m Interested in the Honors Program: What Does that Mean?
• I’m Participating in the Bridge Program: What Does that Mean?
• What is Semester in Spain?

4:45 pm – 5:45 pm: Chicago-Style Dinner
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm:  Opening Welcome
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Parent Session
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm:  We are Trollnation (Students Only)
7:00 pm – 7:30 pm:  Doughnut Truck and Refreshments
7:45 pm – 8:30 pm: Blueprints Praise
8:30 pm – 11:00 pm: Late Night Events (Students Only)

SATURDAY | June 22, 2019

7:30 am – 8:20 am: Breakfast
7:45 am – 8:30 am: Check-in for Saturday Arrivals
8:30 am – 9:00 am:  Academic Kick-Off
9:00 am – 10:00 am: Academic Overview Sessions
9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Financial Aid Office Open
9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Trinity Bookstore Open
10:00 am – 11:00 am:  Drop in and Take ID Photo
10:00 am – 10:50 am: All-Athlete Meeting
11:00 am – 1:00 pm:  One-on-One Advising and Registration
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Play NAIA Eligibility Station
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Registrar’s Office Drop-In
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Study Abroad Drop-In

10:00 am – 12:20 pm: Break-Out Sessions

• Counseling and Academic Support: What Services Are Available to Me?
• How Do Financial Aid and Financing Work?
• I’m Living in the Residence Halls: How Can I Live Well With Others?
• Immunizations, Insurance, and Illinois: What Do I Need?
• My First Class at Trinity: What Is Thrive?
• How Do I Get a Job and Pay My Bills?
• How Do I Stay on the “Right” Path?
• How Do I Study Abroad?
• Student Leadership, Internships, and Involvement: What Do Employers Want?
• What Should I Expect on Move-In Day?
• How Do I Access My Student’s Information?
• How Do I Get the Most Out of My Trinity Experience?
• I’m the First in My Family to Attend College: What Support is Available to Me?

11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Model Suites Open House
11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Taqueria Lunch
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Closing Session and Farewell
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm: ID Pick-Up

Learn more about Blueprints here!

Trinity’s entrepreneurial spirit can be found everywhere on campus, and it stretches far beyond Palos Heights. One example is the Innovation Club, which hosts meetings and events throughout the academic school year.

The Innovation Club wrapped up a busy year, according to co-president Haley Heeg ’20.  That included a field trip to downtown Chicago on April 8. About 20 Trinity students toured 1871, the number-one university affiliated tech incubator in the world, where Trinity is a University Partner. The group also visited two other incubators, The Chicago Connectory and Relish Works.

The group on the field trip represented a variety of majors, which is a hallmark of Innovation Club, Heeg said. “We have people from all different types of programs, from computer science to nursing, along with business majors,” Heeg said.

About 25-30 people typically participate in Innovation Club meetings, which are held twice a month in Fusion 59, Trinity’s on-campus innovation center.

Heeg served as co-president with Josh York ’20, and the two plan to continue leading Innovation Club. They are already planning events for next year, Heeg said.

Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce that Jeremy Klyn ‘02 has been named Director of Alumni and Family Engagement. He has worked at the College for the past 16 years, most recently serving as Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid.

“It is hard to think of someone better suited to this role than Jeremy,” said President Kurt D. Dykstra. “This is a wonderful new challenge for Jeremy, wholeheartedly endorsed by the leadership of our Alumni Board, and great news for our ongoing efforts to better stay in touch with the more than 10,000 Trinity alumni.”

In this role, Klyn will serve as a key connector between our alumni as well as families of current students regarding opportunities at Trinity, including the Troll Nation Network and Legacy Program.

A native of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Klyn graduated from Trinity in 2002 with degrees in theology and church/ministry leadership.

Prof. of History John Fry, Ph.D., recently presented at the Midwestern History Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich.

He participated on a panel titled “‘Everyone Has a Wilder Story:’ Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Midwest, and Historical Research.”

“It was a privilege to join Bill Anderson and John Miller,” Fry noted on his blog, “The Faith of Laura Ingalls Wilder.” “We each told the story of how we came to research and write about Laura Ingalls Wilder.”

Fry is currently writing a book that explores the faith of the famous author of the “Little House” books.

The conference. which was held May 30-31, was sponsored by the Midwestern History Association and hosted by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). It was held at GVSU’s Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids.

Coyote Run Golf Course in Flossmoor, Ill., was the perfect setting for the Annual Alumni Golf Outing on June 1. The event raised $11,500 for the Alumni Excellence Scholarship Fund, which benefits the children of alumni.

“We were blessed with a sunny, breezy day which created a great setting for good fellowship, a lot of fun on the course, and some great golf as well,” said Rick Van Dyken ‘83, Vice President for Advancement. “The Alumni Board was very helpful in raising significant scholarship support for Trinity students of alumni parents. The course was great, the food was delicious and the fellowship was fantastic. I hope we will get more alumni out next year to experience this great event.”

For Jeremy Klyn ‘02, the event marked the first time he attended the golf outing in his new role of Director of Alumni and Family Engagement. “While so many things have changed in our nearly 60 years of existence, the one constant has been the rich relationships that develop on campus and continue beyond graduation,” said Klyn, who recently transitioned from his previous position as the College’s Executive Director of Admissions. “The passion our alumni have for this place helps ensure that the next generation of Trolls can afford Trinity and leave this place ready to impact our world.”

Thanks to the generous support of event and hole sponsors, the funds raised by the outing will go directly to the Alumni Excellence Scholarship Fund.

Event Sponsors

Clarence Davids & Co.

Evenhouse & Co., P.C.

FutureCeuticals

Homewood Disposal Service

Ozinga Bros, Inc.

Proven IT

Van Drunen Farms

Hole Sponsors

Aspen Group

Colonial Chap

Edward Jones

In His Image Prints

Lambert Kamp, CPA

Legacy Insurance Group

Media Resources, Inc.

Midwest Insurance

PDJ Inc. Concrete Contractors

Poly John

R Brand Homes. Inc.

Schepel Auto Group

Silva International

Bev VanDyken

Rick & Sue VanDyken

Lunch Sponsor

Warehouse Direct

Golf Ball Sponsor

Schaaf Window

Raffle Donors

Bettinardi Golf

Crystal Allen

Darwill

Homewood Disposal Service

Wentworth Tire

Laura Chávez-Dávalos, Director of the Office of Learning Services, has received Trinity’s inaugural Staff Member of the Year Award for 2019-20.

The award, which will be given annually, recognizes a distinguished staff member who has demonstrated excellence in their area of work and has made a positive impact on people or processes in the College community while advancing the mission of the College.

Dávalos said she was surprised to receive the award, considering all the other worthy staff members who work at the College. “There are so many people here who go about their day, giving 110-150%, without recognition,” she said. She added, “I certainly can’t do what I do without the support of my colleagues.”

As director of OLS, Dávalos oversees the area of the College that offers our Bridge Program, peer tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic coaching/mentoring, and disability services.

Dávalos’s nominations cited her compassion, faithfulness, and willingness to work with students and others in the community to reach their potential. According to one nomination, “I know no one who is as far deep ‘in the weeds’ with our most emotionally vulnerable, academically fragile students as she is… Laura works with them day-to-day: supporting them, listening to them, caring for them, staying on top of them when they fall behind in their coursework: carrying their pains and burdens. To me, it’s the apex of Christlike selflessness. And she does it joyfully, indefatigably.”

Another noted that “she has an unwavering faith in the abilities of students she serves and faith that the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives. Laura does not hesitate to have difficult conversations in which she calls students to honor the talents with which they’ve been blessed by communicating their needs and working hard toward the goal of graduation.”

A native of El Paso, Texas, Dávalos obtained her Masters in Education from New Mexico State University, where she served as a graduate assistant in Athletic Academics.  She then worked as a high school English teacher in New Mexico and Arizona before her husband’s career brought the family to Chicago. The move represented something of a homecoming for Davalos, who attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.

She started working for Trinity in 2013 as an adjunct faculty member through Trinity’s affiliation with By the Hand Club for Kids, which works with students in high-risk, inner-city neighborhoods in Chicago. Dávalos worked with students in the Austin neighborhood, as well as bringing them to study on Trinity’s campus.

The director position at OLS opened up in 2015. “Dr. Sharon Robbert, who was serving as interim provost, encouraged me to apply. I prayed about it and here I am. It is an honor to serve in this role.  My predecessor, Nancy Kwasteniet says it’s the best position on campus, and I have to agree.”

In her current role, Dávalos appreciates that she can explicitly share the news of the Gospel. “I worked in public schools for many years, where that wasn’t possible. My favorite part of the job is serving our students and giving back”, she said. “I desire for all of our students to understand the fullness of how they were uniquely created—body, mind and spirit and to assist them as they develop their gifts while at Trinity Christian College.”