Trinity Mathematics Triathlon Finds New Home at Illiana Christian
The annual Mathematics Triathlon at Trinity Christian College has become a storied tradition. In the spring of 2025, the campus community celebrated 30 years of hosting the triathlon. Now, the competition which features three different kinds of math events will carry on at Illiana Christian High School in Dyer, Indiana. This spring’s triathlon will take place on April 9, 2026 from 9:30 to 1:30 with teams of seventh and eighth graders.
There is strong continuity between the triathlon’s past at Trinity and future at Illiana Christian. Three math teachers at Illiana Christian who are now organizing the triathlon, Kelly Aardsma, Dave Bosman, and Jill Rozendal, are Trinity alumni. They are joined by Dr. Dave Klanderman, one of the founders of the triathlon who is now a professor at Calvin University. He notes, “By continuing the tradition of the Trinity Mathematics Triathlon, local Christian schools will be able to continue the promotion of mathematics at the middle school.” The service that the triathlon offers to area middle schools will endure: a fun day that teaches teamwork and gives students a tangible experience with the joy of mathematics.
Over the decades, this leadership team’s ties to the triathlon have multiplied. Aardsma adds, “My daughter, who is currently a freshmen, participated in the math triathlon at Trinity. She enjoyed it so much that I wanted to make sure the tradition continued for current middle school students for years to come.” The triathlon has brought people together including the Trinity students who have helped lead the competitions, the faculty members who organize it, the students who participated, and their families.
While the closing of Trinity at the end of this academic year necessitated the move to a new home for the triathlon, it will endure. The story of the triathlon’s preservation at Illiana Christian in the hands of Trinity alumni highlights that the college’s community expands beyond the confines of campus. Through events such as the Mathematics Triathlon, that community will continue much of the good work started at Trinity.
