Archives: Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Dean’s List is Trinity Christian College’s highest academic honor. Congratulations to all our traditional undergraduate students and adult programs students who met this distinction for the Fall 2019 semester.
Click here for a full list of students who have earned their place on the Dean’s List.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trinity is pleased to announce the launch of the Center for Teaching and the Good Life. For 60 years, Trinity has been shaping the imaginations and gifts of students so that they might extend flourishing as they engage their neighborhoods, churches, communities, cities, and wider global contexts. This center marks Trinity’s ongoing commitment to education that is for God, for good, and for the world.
The mission of the Center for Teaching and the Good Life is to deepen Trinity’s capacity to help all students discover and articulate the joy of their vocation in ways that include and extend beyond career and work. Fundamentally, the Center resources faculty and staff in pursuit of the questions “What does it mean to be human?” and “How can we help each student live fully into being the particular human God has called them to be?”
To accomplish this purpose, the Center will house a resource repository surrounding questions of teaching and the good life, convene faculty and staff seminars, workshops, and colloquia, and engage external experts and constituencies. Alongside this work, the Center will coordinate Trinity’s Thinking & Writing courses, a suite of courses that give all Trinity students the opportunity to think, discover, and write in response to questions about the good life.
Leadership of the Center will be provided by its Director, Dr. Mark Peters, Department Chair and Professor of Music, and Associate Director, Mallory Boyce ’19, Executive Assistant to the Provost.
According to Peters, “The Center’s name signals that every interaction faculty and staff have with students presents us with an opportunity for teaching and learning. And it reminds us that every such encounter can be understood in the context of what it means to live now as humans in God’s world.” To that end, Boyce noted that the Center will accelerate work Trinity’s staff and faculty are already undertaking, “Trinity’s faculty and staff are already cultivating an expansive understanding of vocation with students – the Center is naming that work and providing greater institutional support to deepen the opportunities faculty and staff have to engage these themes and to guide students in doing the same.”
Support for the center comes in part from a Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) “Vocation across the Academy” grant administered by the Council of Independent Colleges with support from Lilly Endowment Inc. These grants are designed to support institution-wide initiatives that deepen and expand the conversation on vocation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In 2019, Trinity nursing graduates continue their perfect first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam. This success represents the fourth time in the past five years that the College is celebrating a 100% pass rate, which represents the highest five-year NCLEX average of any BSN or ADN program in Illinois.
“The mission of the Department of Nursing is to: prepare academically and clinically excellent professional nurses for a lifetime of Christ-like serve to others.” A key element of that mission is being able to pass the NCLEX for licensure, which allows Trinity’s BSN graduates to work as registered nurses.
According to Nursing Department Chair Tina Decker, D.N.P., NCLEX preparation is not an afterthought in Trinity’s nursing program. “It is woven throughout the entire curriculum, starting in the very first nursing courses students take,” she said
“We are so proud that all of the hard work of the students and faculty for the class of 2019 has once again resulted in the best possible outcome of 100% of the graduates passing the NCLEX on their first attempt,” said Decker. “And we are excited for the impact that the Class of 2019 can have by using their skills and knowledge in service to others.”
The NCLEX-RN exams are administered by NCSBN, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, through which boards of nursing act and counsel together to provide regulatory excellence for public health, safety, and welfare. The exam is taken after the student graduates from a bachelor’s degree-granting nursing program.
Trinity’s nursing program, which is ranked as one of the best BSN programs in Illinois by RegisteredNursing.org, is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Click here to learn more about Trinity’s nursing program.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Palos Heights, Ill.: Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce its ranking among the “Best Colleges” of Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2020. Trinity was ranked 20th among Midwestern regional colleges in this year’s survey. The College was also ranked among the top 25 “Best Values” among Midwest colleges. U.S. News & World Report also recognized Trinity for its significant number of international students.
“As we celebrate our 60th anniversary in 2019, Trinity continues to provide a rigorous education in a supportive environment where students are taught wisdom and knowledge – and are prepared professionally so that they can pursue lives of significance wherever they are called to live and work,” said President Kurt D. Dykstra. “We are pleased that U.S. News & World Report has recognized, once again, that Trinity prepares our students very well for a world that sorely needs them.”
The U.S. News rankings are based on qualitative and quantitative information in several categories, including peer assessments, graduation rates, social mobility, and faculty information. The “Best Value” ranking considers the ratio of quality to price; percentage of undergraduates receiving scholarships or grants; and average discount.
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, based in Palos Heights, Ill. and with a dedicated location at 1871 in downtown Chicago, 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
Festivities Take Place at Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort
Palos Heights, Ill.: Trinity is pleased to host its Diamond 60th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, Sept. 27 from 7 pm to midnight at the beautiful Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center, 3500 Midwest Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
Join the Trinity family for a night of gourmet food stations; craft beer, cocktails, and wine; interactive displays; dancing; and connecting with friends old and new! This fun and celebratory event is one that will only happen once and is something you won’t want to miss. Plus, the nigh supports a great cause: student scholarships!
Tickets are $100.00 per person and can be purchased at www.trnty.edu/60 or by calling Debby at 708.239.4793.
All are welcome to the celebration! We hope to see you on Sept. 27!
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity, located in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs of study, master’s degree programs in counseling psychology and special education, and an Adult Studies accelerated program. 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: Amy Stickel, Communications Manager, 708.293.4918
Whether pursuing an undergraduate degree in a psychology-related program or earning a Master of Arts in counseling psychology, students at Trinity learn to blend a liberal arts based approach to psychological science with the art of understanding the self and relating to the contemporary world in all its complexity.
And now, students who are working towards their B.A. in Art Therapy, Psychology, or Speech-Language Pathology at Trinity can begin taking graduate-level courses in their junior or senior year. Students may take up to three courses at the graduate level during their undergraduate experience, allowing for up to nine credits of graduate coursework that can be counted towards both an undergraduate and graduate degree.
That means students can earn a psychology-related B.A. and an M.A. from Trinity in five and a half years, instead of six.
“Undergraduate students who take graduate coursework at Trinity can seamlessly transfer those courses into the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program upon finishing their Bachelor of Arts degree,” said Dr. Kara E. Wolff, Ph.D., Director of the Graduate Program in Counseling Psychology and Associate Professor of Psychology.
Said Wolff, “This new opportunity is also ideal for undergraduate students who are interested in graduate school and would like to experience graduate coursework prior to beginning a full graduate program.”
Trinity is also welcoming our alumni back to their campus home for graduate school. Alumni who enter the Counseling Psychology graduate program for the fall of 2019 will receive a $250 tuition discount. The College is also offering a $500 scholarship, in the form of a tuition discount, for Trinity alumni who graduated with a 3.5 GPA or higher.
There are several requirements for undergraduate students looking to start graduate level coursework:
- 3.0 cumulative GPA, junior or senior standing, previously completed four psychology courses with grades of B or higher: PSYC 121, 122, and two other psychology courses.
- Successful completion of an interview with the graduate program director.
Students interested in enrolling in the M.A. program after completing their Trinity bachelor’s degree will have their application fee waived. They will need to complete the following elements of the graduate application process:
- Submit an application ($50 application fee is waived)
- Submit two letters of recommendation through the online application portal
- Complete an interview with program faculty
- If accepted into the program, pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit of $250 and attend orientation
Palos Heights, Ill.—Trinity Christian College has purchased the Back to God Ministries International (BTGMI) headquarters at 6555 W. College Dr. in Palos Heights, Ill., following the decision by BTGMI to move its headquarters to the offices of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) in Grand Rapids, Mich.
After gaining approval from the newly established CRCNA Council of Delegates in October, the sale of the Palos Heights building was formalized in December 2017.
“The purchase of the building, which sits at the northern edge of Trinity’s campus, represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand our footprint and create an ideal entrance on College Drive,” said Trinity’s President Kurt D. Dykstra. “We are blessed to work with the CRCNA to finalize this agreement, and we thank everyone who offered their time, wisdom, and resources to make this purchase possible.”
BTGMI was eager to see its facilities continue to be used for ministry, and Trinity was the clear choice. “We celebrate this agreement as we transfer the property from one ministry to another,” said Kurt Selles, director of BTGMI. According to Selles, relocating to CRCNA headquarters will help BTGMI achieve its stated goal of integrating its outreach with the efforts of its sister ministries. “In addition to continuing to use media to reach out in North America and around the world, we need to focus more intentionally on providing ministry content and resources for Christian Reformed congregations,” said Selles.
The final transition to Trinity is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2018.
About Back to God Ministries International
Back to God Ministries International was launched in 1939 by a group of Chicago area leaders who saw the potential for gospel outreach through media ministry. BTGMI uses radio, television, cell phone, internet, CDs, and DVDs; social networking sites; and print media in 10 languages to allow individuals around the world to have access to the Gospel message.
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, located in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs of study, master’s degree programs in counseling psychology and special education, and an Adult Studies accelerated program. 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, Trinity Christian College:
Amy I. Stickel
Communications Manager
amy.stickel@trnty.edu
708.293.4918
CHICAGO (November 29, 2017) — 1871 announced Wednesday that Trinity Christian College will kick off an associate membership at 1871, which includes access to shared co-working space, conference rooms, and certain events, as well as the opportunity for students to participate in Campus 1871, a weekend-long event that brings together approximately 300 students from 1871’s university partners. Campus 1871 — which includes design and business workshops and one-on-one mentoring with entrepreneurs drawn from the 1871 member community — challenges participating student teams to ideate and model a business concept before pitching to a panel of experts for prizes.
“The vision and motivation shared by a group of entrepreneurs in the 1950s was the spark and spirit for Trinity’s founding,” said Trinity President Kurt D. Dykstra. “Today, that same entrepreneurial spirit of our faculty and students dovetails perfectly with 1871’s focus on innovation. By joining with 1871, the next generation of Trinity’s entrepreneurs will be even better positioned to develop their skills, knowledge, organizations, and businesses in the country’s most dynamic startup environment.”
Trinity Christian College is the eighth institution of higher learning to form a partnership with 1871. Other partners include University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Loyola University, University of Illinois, DeVry University, and Illinois Institute of Technology, and most recently, Depaul University, which joined in 2016.
“1871 has a long history of developing roots in the student community throughout the Midwest,” said 1871 VP of Operations Laura Clark, who oversees 1871’s relationships with university partners. “These students are the next generation of entrepreneurs, and by continually expanding and deepening our relationships with local universities, we foster an environment where talented students graduate and are excited to start building their own businesses right here in Chicago.”
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, located in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs of study, master’s degree programs in counseling psychology and special education, and accelerated Adult programs. 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
About 1871
1871 is the home of nearly 500 early-stage, high-growth digital startups and more than 1,500 members supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. Visit www.1871.com for more information. Located in a 150,000 square-foot space over four floors in The Merchandise Mart, 1871 has more than 600 current mentors available to its members, as well as more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and other organizations that make its extensive matrix of resources possible. For more on our partners, visit www.1871.com/about/partners, or become a partner by reaching out to contact@1871.com.
Ryan Hesslau Joins 17 other Semifinalists in Nov. 16 Competition
Palos Heights, Ill.–Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce that senior Ryan Hesslau has been named one of 18 semifinalists in Future Founders 4th Annual U.Pitch National College Elevator Pitch Competition & Showcase. Hesslau will pitch his company, Crossroad Solutions, before a distinguished panel of judges on Nov. 16.
Crossroad Solutions is designed to change the way that students experiencing emotional distress can connect with available in-school support through communication technology, according to Hesslau. He conceived of the project during a “Lean Startup” course run by Assistant Professor of Business Omar Sweiss. “The course allowed me to understand the various building blocks in starting a company from scratch,” said Hesslau. “It provided me with the framework and blueprint in bringing these ideas to life. This course also helped me in properly communicating the company to prospective investors, customers, and partners.”
U.Pitch brings together collegiate entrepreneurs from universities across the country in an “elevator pitch” competition. Finalists will compete for a portion of a $10,000 prize pool by pitching their company idea to a group of judges that include successful entrepreneurs and investors. The competition will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm at 1871 in Chicago.
“Ryan’s advancement in U.Pitch, to compete against the likes of students from Yale, Babson, University of Chicago, Northwestern, and other elite schools, is a testament to his skills as an entrepreneur, and equally a testament to the rigorous business programming Trinity offers our students,” said Sweiss. “Ryan has consistently demonstrated he has the heart, passion, and work ethic required to take Crossroad Solutions to the next level, and this competition is another stepping stone in that process.”
Hesslau is preparing for the competition by pitching before multiple volunteer panels of business professionals. “The purpose behind these practice panels is so that when I compete on Nov. 16, I have been asked every possible question a judge may throw at me and am able to provide well-crafted responses during the Q&A portion of the competition.”
A 2014 graduate of Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Ill., Hesslau is majoring in entrepreneurial management. While attending Trinity full time and developing Crossroad Solutions, he also serves as the founder & CEO of the non-profit youth empowerment organization, foreverU.
About Future Founders
Future Founders immerses youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to create their own opportunity. To date, its programs have served over 33,000 youth and empowered the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.futurefounders.com.
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, located in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs of study, master’s degree programs in counseling psychology and special education, and accelerated Adult programs. 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.
Media Contact:
Amy I. Stickel, Communications Manager
708.293.4918, amy.stickel@trnty.edu
Palos Heights, Ill.–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.
About Trinity Christian College
Trinity Christian College, located in Palos Heights, Ill., is an accredited liberal arts college offering more than 70 programs of study, master’s degree programs in counseling psychology and special education, and an Adult Studies accelerated program. 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