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Adjunct instructor Justin Antos was named Blue Island Man of the Year for 2015 by the Blue Island Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Antos, who has served as an adjunct instructor at Trinity for approximately one year, teaches the K-12 Music Methods course in the Adult Studies program.
It was his work as the band director at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island that garnered Antos the recognition by the chamber. He has turned the band program into a champion during his tenure at the school.
“Being named Man of the Year for such a wonderful community is a huge honor, and I am beyond humbled for all of the support I have received throughout the past six years in Blue Island,” Antos said.
During his time at Trinity, Antos has developed positive mentoring relationships with his students. “I hope my students realize they should do what makes them happy and not settle on something that does not excite them.”
Adult Studies Professor Bob Wennberg said, “He’s extremely dedicated and committed to his students. It’s been very evident that he wants to help them succeed.”
Antos is a doctoral candidate at Auburn University in the music education department
The College mourns the passing of Dr. George Vander Velde ’63, former vice president for campus development, on April 1, 2015. He was 71.
Vander Velde served faithfully as he provided oversight of two of the largest expansion projects in the College’s history—the DeVos Athletics and Recreation Center and the George and June Schaaf Athletics Complex (Rt. 83 athletics fields). His joyful personality prevailed as he battled cancer even during his service to the College.
Vander Velde instituted the College’s Maurice Vander Velde Junior Scholar Award in honor of his father, a former trustee and curator of Trinity. The Vander Velde program has supported scores of original scholarly research projects in the exact sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts.
Vander Velde is survived by his wife, Harriet (Wiersma); his children, Anya (Jeffrey) Herlien, Erica Vander Velde and Jonathan (Jennifer) Vander Velde; as well as his grandchildren, Tyler and Justin Herlien.
For those who would like to leave a lasting tribute to George’s life, memorials may be directed to Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Dr., Palos Heights, IL 60463.
Donation Link: https://connect.trnty.edu/give
Each semester, Don Woo, dean for ethnic diversity and multicultural programs, accompanies his Introduction to Education students on service learning trips to Circle Urban Ministries in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. There Trinity students help with the Circle 4 Success Afterschool Program.
Woo said that service learning is an important part of the education program and allows students to put into practice some of their educational tools.
“Our students need to know what it means to serve others while providing excellent instruction,” Woo said.
Woo also appreciates the open line of communication the education department has with its service learning partners and said that adding a service learning component to the class was natural because the department’s motto of Serving with Excellence.
Students, such as sophomore Angie Klunder ’17 of Alto, Michigan, enjoy time spent at the afterschool program.
“Circle Urban was incredibly fun,” Klunder said. “It was a great experience.”
The program focuses on four components of child development: social and emotional development, strength and skill development, academic enrichment, and spiritual growth. Trinity students take part in games and activities that address these developmental areas.
After the first trip of the semester, Trinity students left impressed with the Circle Urban students’ advanced views on education.
“Their spark for education inspired me, and I hope to one day teach a classroom full of students as ambitious as these young boys and girls,” said sophomore Greg Billo of Orland Park, Illinoi
As an integral part of its commitment to diversity, Trinity recently awarded a total of $84,400 in scholarships to 18 2015-16 Diversity Scholar recipients.
“The purpose of the Diversity Scholars Program is to recognize scholars from under-represented populations who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and Christian commitment,” said Josh Sinnema ‘12, senior admissions counselor.
The recipients were chosen after a two-day event that began with a formal dinner and concluded the following day with rigorous panel interviews.
The dinner included devotions from Karyn Jones ’17 of St. Louis, MO, and addresses from Marlin Exton ’07 and current Diversity Scholar Tre Davis ’18 of Olympia Fields, IL. Dinner guests enjoyed a lively atmosphere with music from Brandon Taylor ’15 of Chicago, IL. Jeremy Klyn ’02, director of admissions, introduced the members of the Ethnic Diversity Committee.
Interviews began early the following morning. The interview panel was composed of Mark Hanna, dean of students; Dr. Jaki Moses, coordinator of adult studies; Dr. Mary Lynn Colosimo, professor of psychology; Denise Coleman, director of customer relations; and Roberto Rosario ’18 of Woodridge, IL.
“As part of our mission statement, we lived out our diversity with faculty, staff, and student on this committee,” Colosimo said. “The day was blessed by the stories and testimonies of these well-qualified scholars, and I look forward to welcoming them to Trinity in the fall.”
All of the diversity scholar candidates participated in a fun and informative day on campus that included chapel, meetings with professors, sessions with current diversity scholars, tours of campus, and a trip to downtown Chicago.
Dr. Craig Mattson, professor of communication arts, brought his lecture “The Rhetoric of TOMS” home to Trinity as a part of his Association of Reformed Colleges and University (ARCU) lecture tour. TOMS is a company known for its line of footwear, but also for its philosophy of giving. With every product a customer purchases, TOMS helps a person in need through its One for One® program.
Mattson, selected as the ARCU 2014-2015 lecturer, was excited to give his lecture to many of his colleagues and students.
“They’re my best audience and, in a way, my toughest, because they have my deep respect,” Mattson said. “The things I study as a rhetorician arise from conversations with my colleagues and students.
Approaching the halfway mark in his tour, Mattson reflected not only on his time speaking at Trinity but also on his first stops at Redeemer University College in Hamilton, Ontario and Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
“I’m enjoying it immensely,” Mattson said of his ARCU tour. “It’s a little like a pilgrimage and a little like a homegoing. I keep finding things in common between these places and Trinity.”
The tour has allowed Mattson to reflect on the importance of a liberal arts education.
“The more I talk to students and professors in places like Trinity, the more I see that these faith-based colleges are caring for things all too easy to forget: inquiry and curiosity, text and context, pathos and perspective, meaning and wisdom, grace and truth,” Mattson said.
Mattson will continue his ARCU tour lecturing on the following titles: “Rhetoric and the Ethics of Attention, Attention, Shoppers!”; “Social Enterprise and Christian Faithfulness”, and “What Is Eloquence Good for?”.
When Trinity’s softball team took their annual spring break trip to Florida to kick off their season, they did not take a vacation, instead they served.
On their first day in Florida before the games started, the Trolls ventured into Orlando where they met the residents of Living Hope, a new-beginnings, transitional home for women.
“It was a great opportunity to be able to help the women get their feet on the ground for a fresh start,” said junior Natalie Cannizzo.
After a quick introduction and history of the organization, the team got to work, spending their time raking, weeding, mulching, and planting on the Living Hope property.
“Living Hope was an eye opening experience,” said junior April Lynn. “It felt great to serve because they were in need and only live off donations from the outside world.”
After completing their service project on Saturday, the softball team had Sunday off before beginning their games on Monday. The team finished their Florida tournament 4-6.
To keep up with Trinity’s softball team’s season visit: http://athletics.trnty.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=539
The business department welcomed Lee Brandsma, CEO of Groot Industries, Inc., to campus on March 4.
In addition to reflecting on more than 40 years in the industrial, commercial, and residential waste management industry, Brandsma shared honest and valuable advice on career preparation, faith at work, and networking.
As students think to the future, Brandsma advised them to consider who they are, how they will accomplish their goals, and what vehicle will get them there.
“In your own time, in your own way, assess who you are and how you’re wired,” he said. “Read the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fortune to keep developing yourself as a business major.”
For all the preparation, students, especially seniors, still wonder about the job market. Brandsma spoke words of encouragement seasoned by his vast professional background. He said that although the macro-economic landscape might not be “rosy” right now, Brandsma assured students they would all get through the first step of landing that first job.
To help make that happen, he urged them to present themselves well on their personal social media platforms, where he said many employers “get to know you” before the interview. Brandsma also encouraged students to network, be patient, and above all, to trust God.
“Having someone like Lee come and share his experiences is a valuable resource for our students,” said Dennis Harms ’89, director of business and corporate giving. “This fits well with the business program’s goal to bring business professionals to campus.”
On March 3, students attended a special event hosted by the Future Founders Foundation and Startup Institute in Chicago.
The event, Introduction to Chicago’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, helped students gain a better understanding of the entrepreneurial community and resources available to them.
Attendees learned more about:
- the history of Chicago’s startup ecosystem
- getting involved in the community, whether building a startup or working for on
- using Startup Institute and Future Founders as a resource
- networking with students and community professionals from across the city
Students also had the opportunity to tour 1871, Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub for digital startups.
Read more about Trinity’s partnership with the Future Founders Foundation.
Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Founders’ Scholarship.
Congratulations to Mallory Boyce of Alto, Michigan, and Emma Darcy of Morton, Illinois.
The Founders’ Scholarship
The Founders’ Scholarship is a renewable, full-tuition award available annually to two incoming freshmen. Applicants must:
- rank in the top five percent of their graduating class or achieve a 3.8 grade-point average
- score a minimum of 30 on the ACT or 1320 on the SAT
- exhibit leadership in their church, school, or community
- display evidence of personal faith in Jesus Christ
About Mallory Boyce
Parents: Scott and Stephanie Boyce
Home church: Rush Creek Bible Church
High school: Byron Center Senior High
On her first visit to campus, Mallory Boyce found that the welcoming attitudes of students and an atmosphere of worship set Trinity apart from other colleges. After attending a public high school, seeing a group of students worship together was a new experience for her.
“When I attended chapel and Outcry, the students there had an authentic desire to worship – it was encouraging to see a true community coming together to glorify God,” she wrote.
Throughout high school, Boyce participated in band and student government, was a member of the National Honor Society, and participated as a youth leader in several ministry environments. By studying social work at Trinity, Boyce hopes to continue outreach to youth and to share the love of God with those encountering difficult situations.
“Trinity truly desires to involve every part of someone’s life in their education and to do it all with the purpose to glorify Christ.”
About Emma Darcy
Parents: Dave and Mindy Darcy
Home church: Grace Evangelical Church
High school: Morton High
Finding a small, Christian college with the right values was important to Emma Darcy’s college search. She looks forward to her Trinity experience for both the spiritual and educational growth it promises to provide.
“I believe that attending Trinity will be a great way to grow in my faith, because it is a place filled with good, Christian role models that will encourage and guide me in my walk with Christ,” she wrote.
Throughout high school, Darcy was involved in cross country, cheerleading, theatre, peer and mission tutoring, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also volunteered in several children’s programs through her church. At Trinity, she hopes to study nursing, with a minor in Spanish.
“God has taught me so much through my walk with him. He has placed people and circumstances in my life that have shown me the depth of his mercy, the power of prayer, and the importance of trusting him. He has taught me to draw my strength from him, shown me the beauty of worship, and developed me into someone who can be a light for him in the world.”
Trinity alumnus Andy Arnold ’00 visited campus to talk about his recently-published novel, “Scandal 52,” on February 25. The story follows Peter, a child with Asperger’s Syndrome, who overhears a conversation that makes him a valuable witness to a crime and puts him in danger.
Arnold shared some of his personal story, as well as his motivation for writing the work of fiction. After college, he spent several years as a paraprofessional in an Elim Christian School classroom, and later as a special education teacher. His own disability, resembling Asperger’s Syndrome, inspired scenes throughout the book.
Dr. Pete Post ’74, associate professor of special education, led the discussion with Arnold. Arnold read two excerpts from the book and also shared a few tips for interacting with autistic students in the classroom.
Jessica Disselkoen ’16 of Walker, Michigan, said, “Both my experience in the special education program and my time spent teacher-aiding at Elim helped me understand better what Andy talked about.”
The event was sponsored by Trinity’s chapter of the Council of Exceptional Children.