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The Trinity community gathered on Thursday to honor the retirement of Sandy Aggen ’10 from her position as Adult Programs Manager, after 13 years of faithful service to the College.

As a graduate of the adult business program, she has helped counsel and advise students navigating the ups and downs of finishing their bachelor’s degrees. She has served as both recruiter and advisor, but also as a mentor and teacher throughout the entire student journey at Trinity.

Her kind, energetic spirit and invaluable knowledge of the adult programs were lauded at the gathering in the Vermeer Fireside Room. Kathy Davis, Operations Manager for the adult business program and a long time co-worker of Aggen’s, remarked on her amazing achievement in helping more than 1,800 students begin classes in the adult programs. Education Program Director Sharon Price, Provost Aaron Kuecker, and Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Jeremy Klynn, also spoke about Aggen’s impact across the Trinity community throughout the last 13 years.

She will remain a part of the Trinity community, as she continues teaching as an adjunct faculty member for the Communication Arts department next semester.

We wish her the best with all the wonderful things that will come next for her and her family and thank her for her steadfast service to our adult programs students over the years.

The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Fall All-Academic Teams have been released and the list includes a total of 40 Trinity student-athletes. The academic honor is awarded to athletes on the women’s and men’s cross country, women’s and men’s soccer, and women’s volleyball teams who are at least of sophomore status academically, have been at their school for a minimum of one academic year, and have achieved no less than a 3.25 cumulative grade point average.

Of the total of 335 student-athletes in the CCAC on the list from the 14 member schools, Trinity was one of three schools that had at least 40 recipients.  The breakdown of athletes on the All-Academic Teams for the Trolls includes:

Women’s Cross Country (9) – Megan DeWeerd, Hope Fathman, Brittany Hoekman, Corrie Jacobi, Barb McAndrews, Francesca Strolia, Nicole Syverson, Mikayla VanLaan

Men’s Cross Country (4) – Caleb DeWeerd, Nick Heidinger, Brantley VanOverloop, Noah Wolters

Women’s Soccer (12) – Elly Brummel, Lindsey Dykema, Nicole Faulkner, Marissa Fields, Ava Gomez, Allyson Kranstz, Drew McCarthy, Jessica Owen Shaelyn Postmus, Paige Rogers, Kaleigh VanElst, Lexi Zambrano

Men’s Soccer (9) – Ben Boers, Dylan Busscher, Brevin DeBoer, Zach DeKock, Kris Kirchhoff, Tyler Massa, Tate Rozeveld, Gabriel Soler, Case Van Wingerden

Women’s Volleyball (6) – Alysia Folkersma, Britta Heggeland, Anna Maatman, Courtney Sullivan, Dani Van Laten, Danielle Zander

For a complete lists of the CCAC All-Academic Teams click here.

Recently, Trinity’s Diversity Scholar team visited the Chicago Semester campus, where Dr. Yudha Thianto, Professor of Theology, spoke. “With the theme of ShowUp, we entered into conversation about God’s story within our lives,” said Nicole St. Victor, Director of Multicultural Engagement.

Chicago Semester  is an off-campus program of the College that allows students to live, study, and work in Chicago.

Trinity Assistant Professor of History Kyle Dieleman, Ph.D., is one of the inaugural recipients of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s Teacher-Scholar Grants for 2019-2020, as part of its Vital Worship Grants Program from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Dieleman intends to use the grant to continue to study the relationship between Sabbath observance and spiritual formation, offering historical insights and exploring contemporary adaptations. His previous research will be published in January with his book, “The Battle for the Sabbath in the Dutch Reformation: Devotion or Desecration?”

“The grant will provide for some course releases, a research assistant, travel funds, and a couple of seminars with church leaders and pastors,” said Dieleman.

This new stream of the Vital Worship Grants program recognizes that teacher-scholars in many disciplines have a unique role to play in strengthening and nurturing the life of Christian worshiping communities. These inaugural teacher-scholar grants will engage disciplines traditionally associated with worship such as theology and music, but also from philosophy, history, education, and African American Studies and women’s studies.  Along with Dieleman, recipients include scholars at research universities, seminaries, and regional Christian colleges. They represent eight states, one Canadian province, and the District of Columbia.

Each grant will fund a research project beginning in 2019 that shows promise to serve worshiping communities by strengthening Christian public worship practices.

Trinity’s fall semester 2018 commencement ceremony will take place in Ozinga Chapel Auditorium at 10 am on Saturday, Dec. 15. The College is pleased to announce that Felecia Thompson will deliver the commencement address.

Felecia Thompson is an Adjunct Professor of Formation at Northern Seminary, staff member for Christ Church of Oak Brook (Ill.), and an outgoing member of the Board of Trustees at Trinity.

Thompson is a native of the South Side of Chicago, a mother of two grown daughters, and has been married for 41 years to Steve. She received her bachelor of arts in sociology/psychology from DePaul University, a master of science in human services administration from Spertus College, and is currently pursuing a doctor of ministry degree at Bakke Graduate University in Seattle.  Her teaching gifts have led to instructional roles at Moody Bible Institute, Trinity Christian College, and now Northern Seminary.  She has utilized her administrative and leadership gifts in executive roles with the DeVos Family Foundation’s Urban Leadership Initiative, Trinity Christian College, the Family Care Network, and most recently Resilient, a project begun via the efforts of Christ Church of Oak Brook.

For most of the past years, Thompson has directed community partnership programs for Trinity Christian College, and then for World Vision, where she served as Executive Director of its Chicagoland operations, and Domestic Mission Director for Christ Church of Oak Brook.

During a dinner at the President’s Residence, proper etiquette was on the menu as business students learned how to conduct themselves in a formal dining situation. As part of the meal hosted by President Kurt and Leah Dykstra, not only did the students learn which fork to use, but they were also given advice on how to handle meals during the interview process.

This “Etiquette Dinner” is a highlight of Prof. Deb Windes Professional Communications class, which helps prepare business students for the transition from college to career.

Photo courtesy of NCCAA

The Trolls claimed the title of NCCAA Division I Women’s Soccer National Champions with an exciting shoot-out victory against Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Bartlesville, Oklahoma).  The No. 1 Trolls and the No. 2 Eagles played to a 2-2 double-overtime tie in the championship game at Austin-Tindall Soccer Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. Trinity scored in the first half to take a 1-0. They fell behind 2-1 in the second period, but tied the score to push the game into overtime. Still deadlocked at 2-2 after the two overtime periods, the game moved into penalty kicks. It took a total of 10 rounds in the shoot-out before the Trolls gained the 9-8 advantage and claimed the victory.

Trinity controlled the play in the first half and had a total of seven shots. They allowed Oklahoma Wesleyan only four attempts on counter plays. In the 39th minute the Trolls got the advantage on the scoreboard when Jessica Bianchi dribbled around the defensive and fired a shot to the far post and into the net. The Trolls held that 1-0 lead at the half.

It did not take long for Oklahoma Wesleyan to even the playing field when they scored within two minutes of the second period. The Eagles continued to put on the pressure and to increased their offensive production with 14 shots. In the 69th minute they gained the lead on a goal from a second chance effort off a corner kick.

Trinity played in that one-goal deficit until the final five minutes of the game. At that point a foul by the Eagles led to a penalty kick for the Trolls. Bianchi stepped up for the free shot and made it count to tie the game at 2-2.  Neither team scored in the final minutes and the game went into overtime.

In the two extra ten minute periods each team had opportunities to score, but the defensive prevented the goals and the 2-2 score remained on the scoreboard.

The shoot-out commenced to determine who would claim the title. Trinity started the shoot-out with good attempts by Jessica Owen and Elly Brummel followed each time by goals by Oklahoma Wesleyan. The Trolls’ third attempt was missed wide, but the tally remained tied at 2-2 as Allyson Kranstz saved the Eagles’ third attempt. The shoot-out continued through the next seven players with good attempts by Erika Perez, Jessica Bianchi, Autumn Bergemann, Lexi Zambrano, Brianna Uhl, Shaelyn Postmus, andTaylor Miller. Oklahoma Wesleyan answered each time until Kranstz stopped their 10th attempt to give the Trolls the 9-8 edge.

For the game Trinity ended with 15 shots of which eight were on goal. Oklahoma Wesleyan had 25 shots with seven on goal. Kranstz ended with five saves during the game and two in the shoot-out.

Jessica Bianchi, who had nine goals in the tournament, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team was Elly Brummel and Selah Hopkins.  

The Trolls end their season with a 21-2-2 record.

In their final match of Pool Play in the NAIA National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa, the Trolls faced No. 20 Ottawa University (Kansas). Both of these teams entered the match with a 0-2 record in the pool and were looking for their first tournament win. The Trolls gained that win as they defeated the Braves in four sets at 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, and 25-23.

With their 2-1 record, the team will not advance out of pool play, and they end their season with a 30-11 record.

In the first set the Trolls used a five point run to post an early lead at 8-3. With a score of 13-6 the teams traded points one at a time until a 20-14 score. Ottawa broke the pattern with the next two points to make it 20-16. The Trolls continued to stay ahead and with a 22-20 lead they closed on kills by Sarah Kiwan and Kacie Stoll and an ace serve by Maggie Tolsma.

The second set was another tight battle. Trinity had the early lead at 9-7, but Ottawa scored the next five points to take a 12-9 lead. The Trolls continued to trail throughout the rest of the set and were down by as many as seven at 23-16. The team rallied off the next four points to pull to within three before Ottawa scored the final two points.

The teams were never separated by more than a couple of points through the majority of the third set. Trinity gained the slight advantage at 16-13 and held that scoring edge for the rest of the set. They reached set point at 24-18 and gave up two points before Anna Maatman ended in the set on a kill.

Like the previous set, the final set was another close fight. With a 12-11 lead the Trolls scored the next five points with Amber Ryan on the serving line. Trinity had a 23-19 lead only to have the Braves tighten the set at 23-22. Ana Lambros put the ball down to give the Trolls set point, but Ottawa answered with a kill. On the next play Christa Veenstra got a kill that ended the set and the match.

For the game the Trolls had 44 kills with a .188 attacking percentage. Ottawa had 52 kills behind a .120 percent attacking effort. The Trolls ended with 10 blocks, eight aces, and 68 digs. The Braves had eight blocks, eight aces, and 73 digs. Stoll led the team with 11 kills, 16 digs, and two blocks. Lambros added 10 kills, nine digs, and two aces. Madysen Zula recorded nine kills and six blocks while Veenstra had eight kills and four blocks. Dani Van Laten handed out 35 assists and picked up 14 digs.Brianna Figueroa had 15 digs while Ryan had three aces.