Archives: News Stories

More than 80 people gathered in the DeVos Center on January 31 to learn about the use of technology in special education classrooms. The seminar, hosted by the alumni department and the Alexander DeJong Center for Special Education, welcomed students, faculty, and alumni; administrators and teachers from Elim Christian Services; and parents and families of children with disabilities.

Jennifer Leese, an educational consultant with the Bureau of Education and Research, presented “Making Best Use of the iPad, Mobile Devices, and Other Cutting Edge Technology Tools to Strengthen Learning of Students with Special Needs.”

Rebecca Harkema, director of the DeJong Center and assistant professor of special education, said that the seminar included a lot of hands-on practice. She said the event proved to be a confidence booster for those who may have access to new technology but do not know how to use it. 

“Leese encouraged us to set a goal at the beginning of the seminar: to walk away with one thing that we could try in a classroom,” Harkema said.

Current licensed teachers gained four professional development units (PDUs). All teachers need a specific amount of PDUs in order to renew their licenses. All attendees received an access code to a LiveBinder, which Harkema described as a “one-stop shop” for special education teachers and administrators that allows access to thousands of apps grouped by categories.

“I learned so much from the education seminar,” said Erica Barragan ’15 of Oak Lawn, Illinois. “I was exposed to many of the great and helpful ways technology can be used to help students and teachers alike, and I look forward to being able to use these apps and strategies in my future as an educator.”

Learn more about Trinity’s special education program.

When choosing how to spend their winter breaks, some students decided to serve. While some traveled overseas, others served closer to home.

Serving at Restoration Ministries in Harvey

Dr. Mary Lynn Colosimo, professor of psychology, who leads many opportunities to serve at Restoration Ministries in Harvey, Illinois, said, the winter course allowed Trinity students to serve and live with the residents of the Harvey and Tabitha Houses. She said that each student returns to campus “changed in remarkable ways.”

Students helped in many ministries including an after school program, a PADS homeless shelter, a food pantry, a thrift store, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, youth group and devotions, and worship services.

Partnership for Health Promotion in Ecuador

Professors of Nursing Maureen Sweeney and Lorinda Lindemulder ’86 accompanied nursing students to Ecuador where they provided people with hygiene supplies and basic medical care.

Senior nursing student Jennifer Monaco of Hickory Hills, said, “I grew as a nurse as well as a person on this trip. We helped over 500 people to the best of our abilities with the nursing skills we have learned.”

Lindemulder emphasized the lasting spiritual effects for her students, saying, “At one of our health stations students provided spiritual care and wrote down prayer requests. We have a list of people to pray for and will continue to do so.”

Sports Ministry Outreach in Costa Rica

Josh Lenarz ’98, head women’s soccer coach, and Kelly Lenarz ’99, assistant professor of adult studies education, led the women’s soccer team on a service trip to Costa Rica.

The group participated in evangelism, worship, and competitive soccer matches. Students volunteered time in churches, orphanages, and schools within Costa Rican communities.

Faculty members at Trinity excel in their disciplines because they remain constant students of those disciplines. Sabbaticals, collaborative projects with students, and summer research are a few of the ways professors engage in scholarship that deepens their knowledge and enhances their teaching.

Recently, professors who completed research over the summer shared their work with the Trinity community.

Summer 2014 Research

Dr. Robert Boomsma, professor of biology, researched gap junction formation. He also published two papers.

Dr. Michael Bosscher, assistant professor of chemistry, discussed his summer work on protein binding with lanthanides and his continued research on aquaponics.

Dr. David Brodnax, associate professor of history, Dr. Mark Jones, professor of English, and Dr. Mark Peters, professor of music, completed collaborative research and writing on “Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man in Interdisciplinary Perspective.”

Ellen Browning, associate professor of art and design, and Dr. Jeff Nyhoff, associate professor of computer science, researched and collaborated in developing a proposal for a new Digital Design Major offering at Trinity.

Dr. Clayton Carlson, assistant professor of biology, published a paper on his work in the field of epigenetics. He also completed a book review published in Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith.

Dr. Karen Dieleman, associate professor of English, currently on sabbatical, sent an audio file to inform her peers about her research on Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Dr. Mark Jones, professor of English, continued his research on his work, titled, Chronicle and Mythopoeia in Fairyland.

Dr. Bethany Keeley-Jonker, assistant professor of communication arts, and Dr. Craig Mattson, professor of communication arts, studied Christian endeavors in public speaking, which they found pertinent to their own curriculum. Their work has been accepted for publication.

Professors of Math Dr. Dave Klanderman and Dr. Mandi Maxwell, Interim Provost Dr. Sharon Robbert, and Instructor Practitioner Christine Henle worked with Trinity adjuncts, textbook authors, and 13 other educators on the project “A New Paradigm for Teaching and Learning Statistics.”

Dr. Mark Peters, professor of music, is writing a book centered on the biblical Mary’s Song.

Dr. Aron Reppmann, professor of philosophy, continued research on his thesis. Reppmann’s work focuses on Plato and reformed philosophers. He is currently compiling a book.

Dr. John Sebestyen, associate professor of communication arts, continued his thesis study on holocaust representation in drama, and found “community counter patterns of oppression.” He extended that experience through a visit to the Holocaust Museum with Honors students.

Dr. Erick Sierra, professor of English, received acceptance for publication of a paper on his research concerning Postmodern America and spirituality.

Ryan Thompson, associate professor of art and design, co-authored Bad Luck Hot Rocks, a book capturing images and notes from the conscience pile at the Petrified Forest National Park. The book has received positive reviews from The New Yorker and the Los Angeles Times.

Assistant Professors of Psychology Dr. Kara Wolf and Dr. Jessica Clevering researched student identity goals and titled their work “Where do I fit.” They have submitted their work for publication.

The Elementary Education Studies major provides a valuable alternative to the Elementary Education major for those seeking a career in education but not necessarily as a licensed teacher.

Both traditional and Adult Studies students at Trinity take advantage of this program and have experienced incredible benefits from the service-learning aspect of the curriculum. Although students do not receive state licensure, they do acquire abundant teaching experience through the coursework, which requires 80 hours of service-learning in educational environments.

The service-learning experience that students gain can help them recognize their calling to teach or may lead them in another direction within the field of education. In a recent course evaluation, students shared overwhelmingly positive feelings about the program and a new perspective on service by the end of the service-learning course.

Some of the students have been able to engage educational work in unique and personal ways. Jacqueline Isom-Walk partnered with her church in Ford Heights, Illinois to begin an after-school program that grew to serve 12 students. Inspired to grow the services she established, Walk applied for and was awarded a grant to continue the work even beyond the course requirement.

Others Trinity students have worked in Kindergarten classrooms, after school programs, and with organizations such as the Head Start Program.

“This class was one of the most beneficial courses I took at Trinity,” said Elena Rodriguez. “Taking the service learning course allowed me to not only collaborate with a teacher, but to actually impact the children and to overcome obstacles that occur in the classroom.”

For the fifth semester in a row, students enrolled in the spring service learning course will be challenged, will experience growth, and will recognize the multitude of opportunities available in the field of education outside a traditional classroom setting.

Trinity will have a delayed start on Monday, February 2, 2015. Campus offices will open at 10:30 a.m. and classes after 10:30 a.m. will occur as scheduled. Essential personnel are required to be on campus as needed.  All students, faculty, non-essential personnel driving to campus should use their own judgment about driving conditions from their own locations to stay safe. Any further updates to campus status will be posted on the college website.

Kathy Nimmer ’91, Indiana’s 2015 Teacher of the Year, has been named as one of four finalists for the 2015 National Teacher of the Year Award.

Nimmer and the other three finalists were selected by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Nimmer will travel to Washington, D.C. in March to be interviewed for the award; the winner will be announced in April. If chosen, she will spend the next year traveling the country advocating on behalf of education and teachers everywhere.

Nimmer, who is blind, teaches English and creative writing at William Henry Harrison High School in Lafayette, Indiana. Overcoming the challenges of her blindness and realizing her dream of teaching, Nimmer has helped many of her students realize their own dreams as well.

“When I am being an ‘outstanding teacher,’ I am completely unaware of it,” Nimmer said, in her philosophy of teaching. “At those times, my consuming focus is in the exultant adventure that is anchored in a good lesson, presented with passion, knowledge, and love for students and the subject matter.”

The National Teacher of the Year program identifies exceptional teachers in the country, recognizes their effective work in the classroom, amplifies their voices, and empowers them to participate in policy discussions at the state and national levels.

Watch the video of Nimmer’s classroom interactions with students.

Trinity freshmen Ryan Hesslau of Mokena, Illinois, and Tom Iwema of Oak Lawn, Illinois, have been selected to participate in the Future Founders Fellowship as part of Trinity’s new Founding Partner status with Future Founders Foundation (FFF).

The fellowship is one of three key components of the FFF program, and 12 college students were selected to participate. The FFF describes the fellowship as “a selective year-long program designed to accelerate the development of rock star student entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-minded leaders.”

Accepted students passed through a rigorous application process and represent a wide range of industries from tech and consumer products to healthcare and non-profits. Hesslau and Iwema join fellows from University of Chicago, DePaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Columbia College Chicago, Emory University, and Lincoln Park High School.

Students will have the opportunity for mentoring, job shadowing, scholarship resources, unique entrepreneurial experiences, and volunteer opportunities.

Hesslau and Iwema recently participated in the FFF’s first annual U.Pitch competition.

The Trinity Athletics Department is pleased to announce that it will add women’s golf and men’s volleyball as intercollegiate varsity sports for the 2015-16 school year. Along with all of Trinity’s athletics programs, these teams will compete as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA).

“Trinity athletics is very excited to expand our department with the addition of two new sports,” said Athletics Director Bill Schepel ’85. 

“I believe our excellent facilities will accommodate a men’s volleyball program very well and its presence on campus will partner well with our women’s program,” said Schepel. “The women’s golf program will benefit from the groundwork laid by Coach Dennis Harms ’89, who helped start the men’s golf program four years ago.”

Find out more about being part of the Trinity men’s volleyball team. Fill out the online interest form.

Find out more about being part of the Trinity women’s golf team. Fill out the online interest form.

The women’s golf team will open its inaugural season in 2015-16 with a complete fall and spring schedule. They will join the current six schools that support women’s golf in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). 

The men’s volleyball program returns to Trinity as a varsity sport following an 11-year absence.  Previously, the Trolls sponsored a varsity team for five seasons from 2000-2004. For the 2015-16 season, the men’s volleyball team will play an independent schedule with future plans to join in conference play with the five other CCAC schools that have men’s volleyball. 

Trinity is actively searching for head coaches to lead each program. View the job descriptions.

With the addition of women’s golf and men’s volleyball, Trinity’s Athletics Department includes 14 varsity programs.

Rachel Slager ’16 of Westchester, Illinois, always knew that she wanted to study abroad. By her junior year, things fell into place and Slager made a decision that affected her entire college career. She left for Seville, Spain for the fall semester.

“I am so thankful I even have the chance to study abroad,” Slager wrote in her blog. “I know I will come back a changed person, and I’m really excited to see what that means for me.”

Now back from Spain and on Trinity’s campus for the spring semester, Slager has had time to reflect on Trinity’s Semester in Spain program and the people she met.

Slager recounted three things from her time in Spain that provided structure and depth to her stay: Encuentro, her Flamenco dance class, and her Intercambio.

Encuentro, which Slager described as a mix between Outcry–Trinity’s student-led worship–and chapel, added stability to her weeks in Spain. She found comfort in the English songs and messages, though she noted that singing in Spanish was more fun.

Slager also loved her Flamenco dance class, learning a special style only taught in Seville. As it was one of her favorite activities, Slager looked forward to the weekly lesson.

Perhaps Slager’s favorite part of studying in Spain was her Intercambio. She defined an Intercambio as a Spanish speaker who is going through the process of learning English. Slager felt a special connection to her Intercambio, Lola, who even attended Slager’s final Flamenco dance performance.

“It was comforting to have someone who was going through the same thing but on the opposite side,” Slager said. “If I had questions, I could ask her.”

Spiritually, Slager’s time abroad has helped her to see life in a new way.

“A lot of it was learning to let go of control, and going into a new country, everything was different and I really didn’t know where I was or what was going on,” Slager said.

Slager said that she came back changed. She said her glimpse into the complex richness of other cultures has given her a broader perspective of the world.

“Study abroad is something I would recommend to anyone and everyone,” she said.

Slager, who claimed partiality to Spain, said that no matter where a student might choose to adventure, it would be well worth it.

“There’s so much growth that happens when you’re exposed to a new country and a new culture that can’t be taught in a classroom. It can only be taught by living it,” Slager said.

In an effort to better accommodate campus visitors, two departments that specifically serve prospective, as well as current, students will be changing locations as of the Spring 2015 semester.

Key admissions and financial aid staff will move to the Welcome Center, formerly the “pro shop” that housed the Student Development office. Campus Visit Coordinator Emily Mitchell and Executive Director of College Enrollment Adam Asher are two admissions staff members who will move from the Administrative Building to the newly appointed welcome area.

“This makes it easier for guests to connect to the admissions office, because it’s the first building on campus once you park in Lot A,” said Jeremy Klyn ’02, director of admissions. “It’s a starting point for their day when they visit and will allow us to also navigate other guests on campus to the proper location.”

Student Development is experiencing two changes, including a name change to “Student Life” and a relocation to the Administration Building. This involves a move for staff members, including Vice President of Student Life Becky Starkenburg, Dean of Students Mark Hanna, and Coordinator of Student Services Celeste DeBoer.

“I’m grateful to be part of a college that is deeply committed to cultivating the kind of community where students flourish– even when that means making what seems like a small, mid-year office change,” said Starkenburg.

Klyn said the change will allow Student Life personnel to be in a higher student traffic area and closer to co-workers and departments that also serve current students.