Archives: Press Releases
Contact: Angie Fratto | Director of Marketing and Communications | 708-239-4878
Each year, Trinity accepts extraordinary students dedicated to making a difference in their neighborhoods and communities. The College welcomes two transfer students whose outstanding academic, spiritual, and social leadership set them apart from their peers. Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce the most recent Transfer Academic Scholars for the 2024-2025 year are Vinicios Sartorello of São Paulo, Brazil, and Paige Leatherwood of Stickney, IL, who have both been awarded full-tuition scholarships to the College.
Sartorello, who is transferring from Carl Sandburg College, plans to pursue his degree in business and looks forward to getting involved with student clubs and the faith community on campus. He is involved locally with his church, serving on the worship team and being the vice president of the international club at his school.
“I chose Trinity because of their strong business courses and internships. Trinity Christian College has the same faith values as mine, and since my first time there, everyone has treated me so well. The environment, multicultural support, and sports caught my attention,” said Sartorello.
Leatherwood, who is transferring from the College of DuPage, plans to pursue her major in criminal justice with a minor in biology. She looks forward to joining the theatre program, being active with student clubs, and being a part of the honors program. In her free time, she is actively involved in her community as a Daisy Girl Scout leader and a custom ice cream cake decorator.
“I value the close-knit community of Trinity; it felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus. The importance placed on faith and Christian values helped me to see how a community can truly work together as a family in Christ. I am so excited to be a part of Trinity and know it will help me grow and learn as a leader,” said Leatherwood.
“We can’t wait to welcome Vinicios and Paige to the campus this fall and have them join the Trinity community,” stated Cynthia Coffey, Director of Transfer, Adult, and Graduate Recruitment. “Each year, we have a talented pool of students, and this year, these incredible scholars rose to the top. We can’t wait to see how each of their gifts and talents will be shaped here at Trinity and beyond!”
Click here to learn more about the Transfer Program at Trinity Christian College.
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About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs through bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture and is continually ranked in the top tier among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Contact: Angie Fratto | Director of Marketing and Communications | 708-239-4878
Palos Heights, IL – Trinity Christian College recently announced its partnership with Metz Culinary Management (Metz) to provide dining services for students, faculty, staff, and guests, effective May 6, 2024.
Metz will implement signature food concept stations and catering services at the Palos Heights, IL, campus, which are expected to improve the quality and variety of fresh, healthy, and sustainable dining options.
“Metz Culinary Management is looking forward to working with Trinity Christian College to implement culinary options that fit the individualized needs of all the audiences we serve,” said Bill Harvey, District Manager at Metz Culinary Management. “We are dedicated to providing our reputable services at Trinity, just as we have for our other partners.”
Trinity joins over 60 college and university accounts in the Metz portfolio, from Illinois to Florida.
Original Metz signature food concept stations in Trinity residential dining will include:
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- Bravo: an open concept where chefs prepare a rotating selection of dishes in front of guests.
- Main Plate: offers a selection of classic favorites, trendy gourmet selections, and specialty sandwiches.
- Clark’s Grille: features house-grilled specialty burgers and hot sandwiches, wings, fries, and more.
- Villa Toscana: made-to-order Italian specialties, including hand-prepared stromboli and pizza, and fresh pasta.
- Green Scene: Metz’s salad bar concept with a wide selection of fresh and local items
The Trinity campus will continue to feature residential dining services and retail operations. Retail installments available at Bootsma Bookstore will feature Metz’s Simply Smoothies smoothie bar and InterMetzo concept, which provides fresh coffee, espresso, and cappuccino using roasted coffee beans from Veterans Roaster Coffee. Metz will also introduce a contactless convenience store, The Grove Express.
The College selected Metz because of the family-led culture and commitment to meeting the individual needs of its guests. It was also noted that Metz’s commitment to fresh ingredients, culinary excellence, and restaurant-inspired hospitality impressed the selection committee.
Metz was established in 1994 and is a custom dining management service company with a “guest first” philosophy that serves a variety of market segments, including healthcare, corporate dining, higher education, independent and public-school dining, and environmental services. Metz is rated one of the country’s top 20 food service management companies and is also recognized for embracing high standards for ethical responsibility, environmental stewardship, and healthy lifestyles by creating meals that support wellness, reduce food waste, conserve natural resources, and feature locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
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About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs through bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture and is continually ranked in the top tier among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Contact:
Angie Fratto | Asst. Director, Marketing and Communications | 708-239-4878
For Immediate Release
Palos Heights, Ill. – Every year, Trinity accepts extraordinary students who are dedicated to making a difference in the world. The College welcomes two Founders’ Scholars among each freshman class, whose extraordinary spiritual, academic, and social leadership sets them apart. Trinity is pleased to announce our most recent Founders’ Scholars for the incoming class of 2028, Anya Carbajal from Hanford, CA, and Danielle VanderSchaaf from Jenison, MI. As Founders’ Scholars, Carbajal and VanderSchaaf have both been awarded full-tuition scholarships to the College.
Carbajal plans to major in Pre-Physical Therapy and looks forward to getting involved with campus ministries and intramural sports. She is currently involved with her church in teens ministry and works as a physical therapist aide and in seasonal agriculture sales.
“When I visited Trinity last year, I was blown away by how personally each faculty member acted towards me and my friends and how faith-filled the community seemed. After talking with the students, I learned that many of them have grown in their faith because of the community they have built with their peers. That is a community I want to be a part of,” said Carbajal.
VanderSchaaf plans to major in Special Education and looks forward to joining student leadership and the honors program. She is currently involved with the student council at her local high school, is on the varsity soccer team, and volunteers weekly at local organizations.
“From the moment I visited Trinity, I knew I belonged here. Everybody I met was so kind and welcoming, and the Christian community was something I quickly fell in love with. I also love the teaching program and can’t wait to be a part of it,” said VanderSchaaf.
“We are excited and honored to welcome Anya and Danielle to the Trinity community this fall,” said Andy Marks, Vice President of Athletics, Enrollment, and Financial Aid. “These two young women exhibited exceptional spiritual, academic, and social leadership. Anya and Danielle emerged from a group of exceptionally talented student leaders who all showed how they could make the Trinity community flourish and thrive. I cannot wait to see how both gifted students will shape, lead, and impact Trinity during their tenure.”
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs through bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture and is continually ranked in the top tier among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Contact:
Angie Fratto | Asst. Director, Marketing & Communications | 708.239.4878
At the beginning of November 2023, Trinity Christian College was awarded a $200,000 ESHI (End Student Housing Insecurity) grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Kara Van Marion, Dean of the Cooper Center, and Linda Acosta, Student Life Coordinator, and their team of colleagues submitted the grant proposal with the goal of using the money to fund programming connected to one of Trinity’s institutional missions — to enhance the success and flourishing of historically underserved populations and students vulnerable to housing and food insecurity in a holistic manner. The Illinois Board of Higher Education established the ESHI grant to “support institutions in addressing the root or systemic causes of homelessness and basic-needs insecurity among students” and to “supplement the work already taking place at the institutions… to address the basic needs of the youth in care, at-risk, or currently experiencing homelessness” (IBHE, 2023).
In the grant proposal, Acosta, Van Marion, and the grant committee highlighted four initiatives to be enacted thanks to this grant funding:
- A Basic Needs Pantry: to address food insecurity on campus by providing food items in coordination with the Chicago Food Depository.
- A Summer 2024 High School to College “Bridge” Transition Program: with a specific emphasis on culturally responsive coursework, mentorship, professional development, networking, and enrichment activities.
- Culturally Responsive Vocational Preparation and Debt Reduction: an initiative focused on providing financial support and paid learning experiences for homeless, in-care, FGLI, and/or BIPOC students in coordination with Trinity’s “Earn, Network, and Learn” program.
- Emergency Funding for Student Support: to provide for students navigating housing and food insecurity challenges, access to transportation and technology, and support while residence halls are closed over breaks.
Van Marion said she is particularly excited to get local organizations and businesses involved in the grant initiatives: “We’re hoping to partner with local organizations that are doing great work but may not yet have the operating budget or resources to pay students for their work. We know from research that First-Generation, Hispanic, and multiracial students are less likely to participate in internships than their counterparts and are also underrepresented in paid internships. Through this grant, we can guarantee that our students will receive payment for their work, and they, in turn, will be able to contribute to the good of the businesses and communities they serve.”
The team is excited to announce that part of the grant initiatives has already been enacted. The basic needs pantry (an on-campus food pantry) opened on November 2nd and already needed re-stocking the following week. The pantry is open to all students and is located in the Student Life Office. “We would love more input from our students on what they would like to see on the shelves, days and times that would work best, and any further suggestions,” says Acosta. “This resource is for students, and we want to make available what they need the most.”
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs through bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses of study. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture. Trinity was recently ranked in the top tier at #15 for Regional Colleges – Midwest by U.S. News and World Report and a Top Value in the Midwest.
To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Contact:
Angie Fratto | Asst. Director, Marketing & Communications | 708.239.4878
For Immediate Release
PALOS HEIGHTS, IL, October 9, 2023 – Trinity Christian College announced today that the Board of Trustees has confirmed Dr. Aaron Kuecker as the College’s ninth president. Kuecker has served as interim president since April 2022.
“Over the past year, Kuecker has shown clear direction and vision for the mission and future of Trinity Christian College. We are excited for this new phase in his leadership and the momentum he has created to carry forward,” stated Cal Tameling, Chair of the Board.
Previously, Kuecker served as the College’s Provost since July 2016. Kuecker previously served as Associate Professor of Theology and Director of General Education at Trinity from 2008-2013 before joining LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, where held several roles, including Dean of the School of Theology & Vocation, Professor of Theology, and Director of the Honors College. Kuecker returned to Trinity as Provost in July 2016.
Kuecker’s academic work has primarily focused on identity formation in the early Christian church, with an emphasis on New Testament studies and biblical theology. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, his M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary, and his B.A. in political science from Central College. Before earning his Ph.D., Kuecker served as associate pastor and youth pastor at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, MI.
Kuecker’s confirmation as President of Trinity comes during an exciting time for the College. In the past year, Trinity launched a set of strategies aimed at radically reducing student loan debt while creating innovative approaches to student wellbeing and vocational formation. The Wellbeing Wednesdays, Earn, Network, and Learn, and Tuition Transparency and Access initiatives have launched a revised economic model that opens the door of access to those who desire Christian higher education.
“Each of the initiatives we set in motion this past year is rooted in the Christian vision of how God made the world to be filled with abundance and gifting that should inspire deep generosity and connection,” said Kuecker. “We are committed to continually asking ourselves, ‘What if a college structured itself with the belief that we were made for cooperation and not competition? What if we dare to believe that there is enough time for students to be well and partnerships to thrive?’ Those Christian convictions were the soil in which each of these initiatives took root. I am excited and honored to lead this community forward toward this vision.”
“It has taken the work of the entire campus to move Trinity in these exciting, mission-driven directions,” Kuecker continued. “The transformation and progress we have seen over the past year is a testament to the expert and dedicated faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, and community we have supporting the mission.”
Tameling concluded, “Trinity is blessed with extraordinary leaders like Kuecker and other executive team members who are well equipped with strong leadership skills, passion, and faithful commitment to lead. We look forward to Kuecker’s leadership in the areas of our current core priorities and the ongoing implementation of Board-endorsed resolutions for diversity and belonging at Trinity.”
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About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs through bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses of study. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture. Trinity was recently ranked in the top tier at #15 for Regional Colleges – Midwest by U.S. News and World Report and a Top Value in the Midwest.
To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Contact:
Angie Fratto | Marketing and Media Manager | 708.239.4878
For Immediate Release
Palos Heights, Ill. – Yesterday at Trinity Christian College, two college presidents officially forged a long-standing partnership. Interim President Dr. Aaron J. Kuecker of Trinity Christian College and President Sylvia Jenkins of Moraine Valley Community College signed the Guaranteed Admission Partnership (GAP), establishing a smoother transition for Moraine’s students as they enter Trinity. The GAP is primarily designed “to promote the utilization of…resources to offer students a range of educational opportunities [within] a collaborative partnership designed to facilitate successful transfer.”
A significant component of the GAP agreement is a renewable $1,000 scholarship which will be stackable on the students’ merit scholarships and other financial aid. This partnership was established on the heels of Trinity’s expansive reimaging of the collegiate pricing and scheduling structures – all to make private Christian education affordable and accessible. The GAP agreement also maintains that “guaranteed admission pertains to students who have met the stipulated admission requirements [for Trinity]: a cumulative grade point average of 2.5/4.0 from all previous colleges attended, and a successful completion rate of 67% of all college courses attempted.” Moreover, “Trinity prefers that Moraine Valley students transfer in with an associate degree with at least 60 transferable hours. Such students will have junior status conferred upon them at the start of their first semester at Trinity.” While these two institutions had once established a partnership a decade ago, known as the “T-MAC,” the GAP “is more comprehensive in scope and also expresses policies and initiatives that are more congruent with the future relationship between Moraine Valley and Trinity.” The GAP effectively replaces the T-MAC and forms the foundation for further agreements to develop and implement. Some of these include major-specific transfer partnerships, dual enrollment partnerships, as well as joint information sessions, pedagogical exchanges among faculty, and more robust recruiting opportunities for transfer admission counselors.
These are just small examples of how the GAP will effectively bridge the “gap” for transfer students seeking degree completion at Trinity, an institution that has been providing quality, Christian-based education since 1959. For President Jenkins, the signing ceremony served as her last official duty as Moraine’s President – while President Kuecker experienced his very first ceremony, with many more to come. In many ways, it was a passing of the torch for many significant partnerships to come between these two schools.
For more information on this and other partnerships at Trinity, click here.
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs through bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture. It is continually ranked in the top tier among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Contact:
Angie Fratto | Marketing and Media Manager | 708.239.4878
For Immediate Release
Palos Heights, Ill. – Every year, Trinity accepts extraordinary students dedicated to making a difference in the world. The College welcomes two Founders’ Scholars among each freshman class, whose extraordinary spiritual, academic, and social leadership sets them apart. Trinity is pleased to announce our most recent Founders’ Scholars for the incoming class of 2027, Nana Oye Adansi-Ofori from Joliet, Illinois, and Jessica Byrdak from Alsip, Illinois. As Founders’ Scholars, Adansi-Ofori and Byrdak have both been awarded full-tuition scholarships to the College.
Adansi-Ofori, who attends Plainfield South High School, plans to major in Nursing and looks forward to getting involved in multiple campus organizations, including Nursing Student Organization and Multicultural Leadership Team. She is currently involved in her local church’s praise and worship team and leads a Christian club at her high school. Adansi-Ofori is actively involved in multiple clubs in high school, such as the National Honor Society, Robotics Team, and Black Student Association, to name a few.
“On my first visit to Trinity Christian College, I was overwhelmed with the amazing welcome and vibrant love it radiated. It emitted great love for God and for others,” Adansi-Oforsi stated.
Byrdak, who attends Alan B. Shepard High School, plans to major in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. She looks forward to getting involved on the campus of Trinity, including the Future Teachers Associate and Women Empowered, to name a few. She is currently involved at her local church as a greeter and usher. At her high school, she is President of the NHS, Leo Club, and Educators Rising and plays Varsity Badminton.
“Trinity has been my top college for as long as I can remember. I have grown up in the area and have always loved Trinity’s campus,” stated Byrdak.
“We are so excited to have Jessica and Nana Oye become a part of the Trinity community this fall,” said Tina Tate, Visit and Event Coordinator for Trinity. “This year’s Founders candidates were dynamic and strong. Jessica and Nana Oye demonstrated strong gifts, and we look forward to seeing how they will each impact our community and flourish.”
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs through bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture and is continually ranked in the top tier among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Media Contact:
Paul Boice, Vice President for Operations, Marketing and Communications
Phone: 708.239.4837
Email: paul.boice@trnty.edu
For Immediate Release
Palos Heights, Ill.– Trinity Christian College’s Board of Trustees announced today that President Kurt D. Dykstra has accepted a position to become president and chief executive officer of the Independent Colleges of Indiana, an Indianapolis-based organization representing Indiana’s 29 private, non-profit colleges and universities. Dykstra will assume his new position in July and depart Trinity at the conclusion of the current spring semester.
“Since 2015, President Dykstra has led Trinity during a period of challenge and change,” said Trinity Board of Trustees Chair Cal Tameling ’72. “Despite significant challenges facing private institutions up to and throughout the COVID pandemic, he led Trinity to launch new undergraduate and graduate programs, transformed its core curriculum, increased new student enrollment, and improved campus facilities while advancing Trinity’s mission to provide an outstanding Christ-centered education.
“We are grateful for Kurt and his wife Leah’s service over the past seven years. We wish them success as they leave Trinity and move into new roles of leadership and service.”
Said Dykstra, “It has been an incredible honor to serve Trinity. Trinity’s successes over these years are shared among our outstanding faculty, staff, students, and community. Leah and I leave with terrific memories and deep love for Trinity and its people. We remain Trinity parents and supporters of this outstanding College.”
Trinity’s Board of Trustees also announced that Trinity Provost Dr. Aaron Kuecker will serve as interim president of the College, effective immediately. Kuecker served as a member of Trinity’s Theology faculty from 2008 to 2013, returning to Trinity in 2016 as its Provost. Kuecker has been instrumental in many of the significant achievements in the life of the College during his tenure as provost, including, sustaining and supporting vibrant and flourishing academic programs, leading Trinity through an innovative transformation of its Foundations General Education Curriculum, and providing vision for Trinity’s transformed approach to its Chicagoland presence through innovation in scheduling, internships, and pricing.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to step into the role of interim president at Trinity,” Kuecker said. “We are on the cusp of an exciting season of transformation energized by our Christ-centered vision of education that will re-shape education at Trinity, realize more fully the power of our partnerships, and extend Christian higher education accessibility to all students.”
“Trinity is blessed with extraordinary leaders like Dr. Kuecker and other members of the executive team who are well equipped with the requisite leadership skills, passion and faithful commitment to lead through this transition and provide forward momentum during this time of transformational work,” said Tameling. “The Board looks forward to Aaron’s leadership in the areas of our current core priorities: the launch of a transformed academic schedule, and network of internships and partnerships for the benefit of our students, a revised economic model that puts Trinity within reach of all students, and the ongoing work of the Board task force on diversity and belonging at Trinity.”
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited Christian liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs by way of bachelor’s, master’s, and adult degree completion courses of study. Founded in 1959, the College is a community of Christian scholarship committed to shaping lives and transforming culture and is continually ranked in the top tier among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more, visit trnty.edu.
Media contact:
Amy Stickel, Communications Manager
708.293.4918
amy.stickel@trnty.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Palos Heights, Ill.–
An education from Trinity Christian College doesn’t just change lives—our graduates go on to change the world. And the life-changing value of a Trinity education has once again been recognized by U.S. News and World Report, which named Trinity to several of its “best” lists for 2022, including among the Top 20 Regional Colleges Midwest and #15 for social mobility. And in U.S. News’ inaugural ranking, Trinity’s nursing program has been ranked among the top 300 of all undergraduate nursing programs in the United States.
U.S. News uses multiple criteria for its highly regarded rankings. To be named among the “Best Colleges,” Trinity was rated for its graduation and retention rates; social mobility; academic reputation; student selectivity; financial resources; alumni giving; and graduate debt, among other factors.
“I am confident that, under the tutelage of a talented and dedicated faculty, Trinity students work hard and learn well as they prepare for a lifetime of opportunity and service,” said President Kurt D. Dykstra. “While no one set of data can measure that kind of transformative experience in full, it is gratifying to, once again, be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top college in the Midwest.”
Trinity’s performance on social mobility deserved its own category, according to U.S. News, which looked at Trinity’s ability to enroll and graduate students from less-advantaged backgrounds. U.S. News also recognized Trinity’s undergraduate nursing program. (see “U.S. News Recognizes BSN Program among Best in Country”)
“We are honored and excited to be recognized as an institution that excels at making a college education possible for students from all backgrounds,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D. “This recognition is the result of the significant dedication of an excellent faculty and staff – but, most truly, it is a recognition of the hard work, dedication, and amazing gifts of Trinity’s students. It is such a privilege to serve the students who come to Trinity to learn, to be challenged, to be transformed, and to discover the joy of their vocation.”
Along with the U.S. News rankings, Trinity is frequently recognized by many organizations for preparing students for a world that needs them. The College’s honors include being named a “College of Distinction;” routinely ranked the best BSN programs in the state of Illinois; part of the “National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program;” and a “best value” among special education programs.
Media contact:
Amy Stickel, Communications Manager
708.293.4918
amy.stickel@trnty.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Palos Heights, Ill.–Students who receive their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees from Trinity aren’t just graduating from the best nursing program in the state of Illinois. In its inaugural rankings, U.S. News & World Report has recognized Trinity’s program as among the best in the country, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the largest universities in the United States.
U.S. News also named the College to several other prestigious lists, including among the Top 20 Regional Colleges Midwest and #15 for social mobility. (see “U.S. News Names Trinity a Top 20 School”)
In the latest U.S. News rankings, Trinity was named among the top 300 of all undergraduate nursing programs in the United States, taking its place among far larger colleges and universities.
“Trinity’s Department of Nursing is dedicated to preparing nurses who are both academically excellent, and also ready to face the demands of providing hands on patient care. Our commitment to training nurses to excel in both theory and clinical practice, makes our graduates stand out when they enter the workforce all over the world,” said Associate Professor of Nursing and Department Chair Dr. Tina Decker ’06. “We prepare great BSN nurses who are ready to provide Christ-like care to those in need. This recognition from U.S. News affirms that. It is an honor to have the hard work of the students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the broader Trinity community recognized in this way.”
The College’s program has set the bar for nursing programs in many ways. In 2020, Trinity nursing graduates achieved a perfect first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam for the fifth time in six years. This success for Trinity’s top-ranked program represents the highest six-year NCLEX average of any BSN or ADN program in Illinois.
Trinity’s Nursing program is also regularly ranked among the best BSN programs in Illinois, including by RegisteredNursing.org and RN to BSN.
For Amy Nagelkirk ’92, president of the Trinity Alumni Nursing Association (TANA), it is exciting to see Trinity’s nursing department recognized once again for its excellence. “It’s a tradition that I’ve always felt proud of while working in both Chicago and West Michigan.”
One of the great strengths of Trinity’s nursing program is the generosity of its dedicated nursing alumni, including TANA members who support the Department of Nursing through student-related activities and fundraising, and foster personal and professional relationships among alumni, she said. “At the height of the pandemic surge last November, we saw an increased number of nursing alumni volunteer to be part of our TANA mentoring program. Even as many were in the thick of it, struggling to get through their shifts and extra mandate shifts, they were still wanting to support students.”
TANA also provides endowed scholarships for nursing students. “This, year, TANA was able to award two $1,000 scholarships from that fund,” she said. “A program with that kind of support behind it is going to continue to thrive.”