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Trinity Christian College is a community that recognizes a variety of God-given gifts. We celebrate those gifts, as evidenced in the scholarship of our professors. Here is a look at some of the activities our professors have been involved with recently.
Thanks to the generosity of visionary friends of the College and the hard work of Trinity faculty and staff, the Ed Vander Weele Curriculum Center and the Alexander De Jong Center for Special Education now share an expanded footprint on the second floor of Jennie Huizenga Memorial Library.
Work completed over the summer enhanced the center by embedding a flexible learning space within curriculum materials.
“It is always exciting to see the outcome when creative people collaborate on a project for the enhancement of the academic experience for our students,” said Rick Van Dyken VP for Advancement. “This project took two important, but under-utilized, spaces and created a fantastic learning environment for all of our students.”
Updates to the room include:
- New furniture to supports the current trend in education of flexible seating
- State-of-the-art educational technology that students will learn to incorporate meaningfully before they enter their future classrooms such as a new 75-inch Smartboard, five iPads, and AAC communication devices
- Large windows to enhance visibility of the space and the resources within
- A fresh coat of paint
- New flooring
- Repurposed shelving
- A new collection layout
- Other improvements that are on the way include assistive technologies that will help students learn how to increase participation and independence for students with disabilities such as switches, adaptive scissors, and pencil grips.
Adaptive resources were also added to enhance hands-on learning opportunities for teachers in training and provide greater hospitality for students visiting from local partner Elim Christian School. For example, a desk in the new space can be adjusted to comfortably accommodate right-handed or left-handed students.
“The newly remodeled Curriculum Materials Center and Center for Special Education are quickly becoming a favorite place for students to study,” said Cathy Mayer, Library Director. “The ample natural light and vibrant colors of the children’s book collection make the space an invigorating and inviting place to work.”
Several classes are being held in the space, which has shaped the way students perceive instruction. In a recent class discussion, one student noted that combining the Vander Weele Curriculum Materials Center and DeJong Center for Special Education testifies to belief that all students are created in God’s image and should be seen as valuable and worthy of inclusive education.
The De Jong Center for Special Education
The De Jong Center is a partnership between Trinity and Elim Christian Services, a ministry that exists to equip people with disabilities to achieve their God-given potential by offering person-centered services and partnering with their communities.
The mission of the Center for Special Education is to prepare current and future teachers with the highest quality instruction and training to develop fully the God-given potential of individuals with special needs.
It is named in honor of the College’s first president Alexander De Jong, Ph.D., who served from 1966-68.
The Vander Weele Curriculum Center
The mission of the Curriculum Center is to support the Education Department and Adult Studies Education programs by providing educational materials for the use of teachers in training.
The center is named in honor of Ed Vander Weele, who served the College in a variety of roles including dean of students and education professor.
“Movies as Prayers of Anger and Reconciliation” was the topic of the second WorldView lecture of the 2017-18 year, where Josh Larsen ’96 highlighted scenes from Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated 1989 film “Do the Right Thing.”
Discussing the film he called Lee’s masterpiece, Larsen said the movie is often seen as an expression of righteous social anger. “But it offers a prayerful hint of reconciliation,” said Larsen, who is co-host of the radio show and podcast “Filmspotting” and film critic of the faith and culture magazine “Think Christian,” and who recently published a book, “Movies Are Prayers.”
Throughout the highly interactive presentation, Larsen showed several clips from the movie, which takes place during one sweltering day in Brooklyn, where conflicts between groups of different races ultimately explodes into violence. After scenes of death and rioting, the movie ends on a potentially more hopeful note. “I’m not saying it’s a happy ending,” Larsen said. “But it doesn’t end with the riot. It ends with the possibility of reconciliation, not anger.” Larsen referred to it as the Bedford-Stuyvesant version of Ephesians 2:14: “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”
Along with the issues of anger and reconciliation in the film, the discussion spanned the choice of music in the soundtrack, Lee’s camerawork, and the significance of one character’s decision to wear a Dodger’s Jackie Robinson jersey.
Larsen also addressed the Trinity community at Chapel on Sept. 20, where he talked about “Angry Prayers.”
WorldView is Trinity’s annual community and college series for film, word, current events and music, held at the college.
The next series of WorldView sessions will take place on Oct. 16 and Oct. 18 and commemorate the 500th year of the Reformation with the perspectives of Protestant and Catholic theologians.On Oct. 16, Dr. Suzanne McDonald, professor of systematic theology at Western Theological Seminary, will discuss “Does the Reformation Still Matter? (Really?!).” On Oct. 18, Dr. Eduardo J. Echeverria ’73, professor of philosophy and systematic theology at Archdiocesan Seminary of Detroit and Sacred Heart Major Seminary Graduate School of Theology, will talk about “Is the Counter-Reformation Over? An Evangelical Catholic Perspective.” Both lectures will take place in the Grand Lobby of Ozinga Chapel.
Trinity Christian College has been ranked 20th among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report in “Best Colleges” for 2018, continuing a years-long streak of recognition by the prestigious rankings organization.
“At Trinity Christian College, we know that the world needs wise, faithful, well-educated people—and we are enthusiastically preparing women and men ready to lead with character into whatever field God calls them,” said President Kurt D. Dykstra. “We are proud that U.S. News & World Report has once again ranked Trinity among the best colleges in the Midwest.”
The annual report ranked 1,389 colleges and universities across a range of categories, including regional liberal arts colleges and national universities. Across the entire Regional Colleges category, 324 colleges are ranked in this year’s survey.
The U.S. News rankings are based on qualitative and quantitative information in several categories, including peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, admissions selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving. Trinity stands among other institutions in the Regional Colleges category that offer a wide range of degree programs in the liberal arts and in fields such as business, education, and nursing.
Trinity was pleased to welcome Dr. John Inazu, Ph.D., to campus in honor of Constitution Day. Inazu spoke on the topic of his most recent book, “Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference”. Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches criminal law, law and religion, and the First Amendment. The Trinity community had multiple opportunities to hear from Inazu as he spoke in classes, at an afternoon faculty forum, and an evening WorldView lecture open to the public.
In his book, Inazu addresses a most timely topic: “With all of this turmoil in law and society and such seemingly irresolvable differences in our beliefs, values, and identities, we are forced to ask—can we really live in peace together?”
Inazu argues that yes, we can, and that confident pluralism is the answer. “How seldom we name our differences, but in fact our differences matter deeply,” said Inazu during the evening discussion, which took place in the Vermeer Fireside Room. “A shared existence is not only possible, but necessary. We can choose to coexist rather than sink into chaos and find a common existence in spite of our differences.”
Confident pluralism rests on three aspirations: tolerance, humility, and patience. “At its core, confident pluralism depends on confidence in our own views which then allows us to be able to pursue dialogue with those of different views,” explained Inazu. “Through tolerance, humility, and patience, we can listen and learn from other perspectives, engage, and be active participants in our communities, and find common ground even if not fully aligned.”
WorldView is Trinity’s annual community and college series for film, word, current events and music, held at the college.
The next WorldView session will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Josh Larsen ’96, co-host of the radio show and podcast “Filmspotting” and film critic for “Think Christian,” will discuss join us for two events. He will speak at Chapel at 10 am in Ozinga Chapel Auditorium about, “Don’t Use that Tone with Me.” At a 7 pm discussion in the Grand Lobby of Ozinga Chapel, he will discuss “Movies as Prayers of Anger and Reconciliation”. Larsen will highlight select scenes from Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated 1989 film “Do the Right Thing,” which is notorious as an expression of righteous social anger while offering a prayerful hint of reconciliation.
Trinity is proud to announce that our Behavior Intervention Specialist Master’s program has been ranked as one of the 32 Top Masters in Education Programs with an Applied Behavior Analysis Emphasis (ABA) by AppliedBehaviorAnalysisEdu.org! Trinity is one of only two programs selected from the state of Illinois.
“It is an honor, after only a few short years of having this program, to receive the recognition as a top Education program with an ABA emphasis,” says Dr. Sara Baillie, Program Director. “This acknowledgement is a testament of the hard work of our faculty, staff, supervisors, community partners, and our talented students. I look forward to the continued growth and development of this program in the future.”
AppliedBehaviorAnalysisEdu.org, which serves as a dedicated online resource for current and aspiring ABAs, looked at more than 200 schools across the nation that offered the same program and hand-picked the top 32 programs that met these three basic criteria:
- Include a BACB® pre-approved Verified Course Sequence that meets the eligibility requirements for the BCBA® Exam
- Annual graduate school tuition rates in-line with the national average adjusted for location
- Hold institutional accreditation through a regional and/or national agency recognized by the US Department of Education
Trinity’s Behavior Intervention Specialist program continues to stand out, as it is the only master’s program in Illinois that offers both the Behavior Intervention Specialist endorsement and a BACB® verified course sequence and practicum. This fall 2017, the program further expanded by offering multiple options for students to join who are not licensed teachers but still want to enter the ABA field and be eligible to take the BCBA® exam.
The Trinity Troll, one of the most unique mascots in all of college sports, has received a new look for the first time in decades. While the Troll remains easily recognizable, the redesign reflects the College’s commitment to adapting to changing times while staying true to her roots.
Said President Kurt D. Dykstra, “The Troll has been the symbol of Trinity Christian College since our very beginnings, and it continues to represent an integral part of who we are. Though the image may change, we will always be proud to call ourselves Troll Nation.”
The new Troll, designed by Trinity’s Senior Graphic Designer Pete Vega, was unveiled on Aug. 25 during a women’s volleyball match between Trinity’s defending National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national champions and Mt. Mercy University of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
A sold-out crowd witnessed a video that highlighted past versions of the Troll, and introduced the latest iteration. The video was narrated by Wayne Messmer, nationally recognized as the “voice of the national anthem” for the Chicago Cubs and other professional sports teams. The occasion marked the first significant redesign of the Troll since the 1990s.
“The Trinity Athletics Department is exceedingly grateful to all who contributed to putting on such a wonderful event last Friday night,” said Bill Schepel ’85, head women’s volleyball coach and Trinity’s athletics director. “The packed house created an electric atmosphere for the volleyball match and the excellent work that Pete did in updating our Troll mascot and creating new logos was well received by the Trinity community.”
The history of the Troll dates back to the early days of Palos Heights, when a troll guarded the golf course where the College now stands. As the College has grown, so has the Troll’s reputation. In 2009, ESPN named the Troll one of the 10 best college nicknames in college sports.
Check out the Reveal video and the night’s highlights.
The word “convocation” means “assembly” in Latin. And the Trinity community assembled again to mark the traditional start of the new academic year at the 59th Annual Opening Convocation on Aug. 23.
Dr. Michael Vander Weele ’73, professor of English and the College’s Professor of the Year for 2017-18, offered the address. Vander Weele spoke about need, purpose, and comfort in a talk that ranged widely from the current state of political affairs, to Christian educators through the centuries, to Mahalia Jackson’s music, to Trinity’s history, and his own experience as a freshman here.
He pointed to how Trinity’s founders believed that education is not neutral and that sin affects social structures as well as individual hearts. In what he described as the second phase of Trinity’s history, from about 1973 to the early 1990s, the emphasis turned to “practical good.” That included new professional programs such as nursing, and a greatly expanded Education Department. Trinity has now entered its third stage. “I think our third period has the possibility of learning from each of the first two—and needs to, if it is to address our nation’s most pressing needs,” Vander Weele said.
He encouraged the Trinity community to be fearless. “Don’t engage in escapism or its debilitating cousin, cynicism,” he urged. “Let discernment and hospitality be our friends, nudging structures, systems, institutions, the communities we live and work in, ourselves, towards greater faithfulness.”
The convocation began with the faculty and staff procession, and Trinity President Kurt D. Dykstra, provided the welcome. Ryan Hesslau ’18, campus ministry prayer leader, offered the pray of invocation, and Craig Mattson, Ph.D., professor of communication arts, and Mallory Boyce ’19, women’s ministry leader, led the litany.
Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D., Dean of Students Mark Hanna, and Student Association President Casey Huisenga ’18, gave the prayers of thanksgiving and procession.
Rev. Bill Van Groningen, Ph.D., Trinity’s chaplain, offered the closing remarks and benediction as the Trinity community embarked together on the new academic year.
A beautiful late summer day, a manicured golf course, and 130 golfers combined to make the 31st annual Trinity Athletics Club Golf Classic a success. The event, one of the largest in recent history, raised nearly $50,000 in scholarships for Trinity student-athletes.
At the outing on August 14 at Calumet Country Club in Homewood, Illinois, friends and alumni of the College were greeted on the course by student-athletes, President Kurt and Leah Dykstra, and members of the Athletics and Advancement offices. The golfers had many opportunities to win prizes throughout the day, including hole-in-one chances for a car, courtesy of Oak Lawn Toyota, and for $10,000, courtesy of Legacy Insurance Group, as well as to participate in a chipping contest, sponsored by Service Sanitation.
“This event has been blessed over the years with tremendous support of the greater Trinity community, and this year was no different,” said Dennis Harms ’89, Associate Vice President for Advancement. “With a great turnout and increased corporate sponsorship, we were able to raise more money for scholarships.”
The low foursome for the day consisted of John Sikkenga ‘06, Matt Postema ‘07, Jeff Ozinga ‘02, and Ryan Cialdella.
The Athletics Department would like to thank Ozinga Bros. and Providence Bank and Trust for their generous sponsorship of the event and to Assurance Agency as a food sponsor.
Trinity is ensuring that veterans who are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill can attend the College tuition-free, while also receiving housing and book stipends from the Veteran’s Administration.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill’s maximum annual payment amount is typically less than the annual cost of full-time tuition and fees at private four-year colleges, so veterans often have to self-fund some of their college costs. As a way to support students who have served our country, Trinity has committed to the Yellow Ribbon Program, which fully funds a veteran’s tuition and fees.
“At Trinity Christian College, we honor the commitment and sacrifice of the men and women who have selflessly enlisted in the military,” said Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid. “We are pleased to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and we look forward to working with veterans who are considering pursuing or completing their degrees here.”
Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, Trinity waives half of the unmet cost of tuition and fees after a veteran’s annual maximum payment has been used. The VA funds the other half of the remaining tuition and fees. This partnership allows a veteran who is 100% eligible under the Post 9/11 GI Bill to attend Trinity tuition-free. More information is available at trnty.edu/veterans.
Trinity has annually been recognized as a military-friendly school by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business that assesses colleges’ ability to serve veterans.