Archives: Alumni Success Stories

–By Christy Wolff ’10

From the time Holli Moote ‘13 was young, she had her heart set on becoming a teacher. During her high school years, her love for music grew, which helped in her decision to teach music. In the years to follow, Moote learned from her own music teachers about what it took to become one herself. Four years at Trinity and two countries later, Moote is living out her passion by teaching music to children halfway around the globe.

Small class sizes and large performance groups at Trinity – specifically choir and band – gave Moote valuable class time and hands-on experiences throughout the time she was working on her degree. Moote especially appreciated the freedom she had in her music classes. On one occasion, she chose to study Icelandic music for a project. She located an Icelandic woman living in Chicago to help with the project — a benefit of Trinity’s campus being just 30 minutes from the diverse city of Chicago.

Moote always wanted to study overseas. However, with the significant courseload of the music education program, she simply didn’t have the capacity to fit a traditional semester abroad into her schedule. Dr. Joy Meyer, Trinity’s Dean of Education, helped Moote find an international student teaching placement through a Trinity alumnus in Indonesia. “This is when I fell in love with Indonesia,” Moote recalled. “The food, the people, the landscape, the weather – I loved everything about the country.”

Moote’s student teaching experience was focused on music and English, both of which aided in Moote’s growth as a teacher. A number of Trinity professors also visited Indonesia while Moote lived there. “They made a point to contact me and visit, which meant a lot,” Moote shared.

At the end of her placement, the school offered Moote a position, which she accepted. For five years following graduation, Moote taught middle and high school music classes. Knowing her heart was in elementary music, she felt pulled in a different direction with new opportunities in 2018: South Korea.

Currently living in Seoul, the bustling capital of South Korea, Moote found her dream job of teaching music to 350 students between second and fifth grade. “With teaching elementary students, there is still exploration and play associated with music. I enjoy helping kids grow and discover joyfully,” Moote said. The school she teaches at is made up of students from 60 different countries, with differing levels of English-speaking skills.

Moote also enjoys exploring a new region of the world, particularly the culture, food, and learning a new language. “I was able to travel around Korea this summer and got to see the countryside, beaches, and mountains around the country. Getting to see so many beautiful places helps me love it even more,” Moote shared.

Reflecting on her teaching journey that began at Trinity, Moote described how prepared she felt to teach abroad, thanks to Trinity’s professors and classroom experience. Moote recalls a project called “Building Bridges, Serving Communities” where Trinity students worked with local Muslims to begin cleaning up what is now known as the Cal-Sag Trail near campus, with the purpose of strengthening the community. “Connecting with people and loving people – that’s what Trinity does best,” Moote shared.

Moote is also thankful for the theology and philosophy classes she took at Trinity, which challenged her and prepared her to talk to people with different backgrounds and beliefs. “Living in a different country opens your eyes to the world and how many perspectives there are,” Moote said.

For Moote, Trinity wasn’t just a four-year college experience; she still connects with several professors as she is able to. “I felt seen and known at Trinity, and that continues even today,” Moote said. Through an incredible program, a global classroom perspective that capitalized on its location, and a community of people that took the time to understand her hopes and dreams, Moote is impacting lives all around the world through music. She embodies the Trinity spirit that seeks to live out their calling for good, for God, and for the world.

–By Christy Wolff ’10

Danielle Oeverman ‘18 is part of the second graduating class from Trinity’s speech-language pathology (SLP) program. Desiring to earn her degree and play volleyball at a small NAIA school, Trinity fit the bill for Oeverman. “My parents taught me that I need to work for what I want and not be afraid to go and get it,” Oeverman said. So, after graduating from South Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Mich., she moved to Illinois, embarking on a new adventure at Trinity.

Having gone through years of speech therapy herself, Oeverman’s interest in making this a career started from a young age. “I knew how big of an impact an SLP can have in one’s life.” More recently her nephew underwent speech therapy, which led Oeverman to shadow in the field–solidifying her dream to make this a career.

Trinity’s SLP program is “small but mighty,” according to Oeverman. Alongside a class of seven, Oeverman felt comfortable bouncing ideas off her classmates and studying with them. “To still be in contact with your classmates says something about the Trinity atmosphere,” Oeverman shared.

Since grad school is a requirement in order to be a licensed SLP, Oeverman valued how Trinity equipped her for that next step. “Being such a small program, we were able to truly connect with our professors and ask questions to prepare us for grad school.” Oeverman gained perspective on grad school during visits from Trinity’s SLP graduates who would share about their grad school experience, what they learned, and what they wished they knew.

Trinity’s SLP class topics include child development, communication disorders, anatomy, and motor speech disorders, to name a few. “Trinity’s program covers all the courses you need for grad school,” she said. “It’s one thing learning the knowledge behind the topics; it’s another to learn how to provide therapy. Trinity did both,” she said.

Several Trinity experiences aided in her grad school application–and eventual acceptance– including internships at a school and nursing home, and hands-on assessments in class. She attended Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Ill., and virtually graduated in May 2020, due to COVID-19.

“Trinity taught me when it’s important to step up and stand up for what I believe in, especially when it comes to advocating for myself and my patients,” she said.

Trinity also provided Oeverman with the gift of forming lasting friendships. “Four years is such a short time to develop lifelong friendships, but Trinity gave me that sense of family.” Having such impactful friends helped her grow in her faith. “I really learned what I believe and why I believe that.”

She also made a huge impact on the volleyball court during her years at Trinity. She was a member of Trolls teams that claimed NCCAA National Championship titles in 2014 and 2016 and advanced to the NAIA National Championship in 2015 and 2017. Amongst her many accolades, she was a four-time All-Conference selection and was the CCAC Freshman of the Year in her rookie season. She earned AVCA/NAIA All-Region honors twice and NCCAA North Central All-Regional honors three times. The NCCAA  also named her the 2017 Susan R. Hellings Award Recipient for Division I Women’s Volleyball, given annually to a player who exemplifies Christian leadership on the court..

Her advice to prospective students considering SLP? “Don’t be afraid of the small class size or that Trinity doesn’t have a grad program,” she said. “None of those things have stopped me from graduating and applying for jobs currently.”

Oeverman looks forward to embarking on her next adventure and using the tools Trinity gave her to be a positive influence in her career.

–By Christy Wolff ‘10

If Eric VanderSchaaf ‘07 was told during his high school years that he would receive a college degree and eventually start a family-owned food company with his wife – while also raising three children – he might not have believed it could happen. With God’s guidance, the help of several impactful mentors, and his experiences at Trinity, VanderSchaaf is now a proud husband, father, and business owner.

VanderSchaaf learned about Trinity through Restoration Ministries, a Christian-based organization that provides life-changing programs to recovering addicts, among others. Following a drug overdose shortly after his high school graduation, VanderSchaaf entered this rehab program, which was co-founded by his grandfather, and his life turned around.

During treatment, VanderSchaaf was introduced to Trinity’s baseball team, whose members often volunteer in the Restoration Ministries children’s program. VanderSchaaf was no stranger to baseball, since he grew up playing on different teams. So, he quickly formed relationships with some of Trinity’s players. Near the end of the treatment program, VanderSchaaf connected with Trinity’s baseball coach at the time, who encouraged him to try out for the team.

By the fall of 2004, VanderSchaaf was enrolled at Trinity with a baseball scholarship. “I was happy to be spending time with kids my age again and having some normalcy in my life,” VanderSchaaf shared.

Not only did VanderSchaaf excel at baseball, but he also excelled in the classroom. “I was a great student in high school but never applied myself. When I got to Trinity, I had a new focus,” VanderSchaaf recalled. He declared a Spanish major with a business minor. He had developed a relationship with Professor of Psychology Emerita Mary Lynn Colosimo, who is heavily involved with Restoration Ministries, so he also took several psychology classes.

During Colosimo’s introduction to psychology course, she encouraged students to pick a statement that guides their lives. VanderSchaaf chose “To know Christ and make Him known.” This impacted his faith that started to grow during rehab – and he still makes this phrase a focal point of his walk with God. Mark Hanna, his resident director at the time who is currently Trinity’s Associate Vice President for Student Life & Athletics and Athletics Director, also helped shepherd his faith. “He showed me how to be a man and how to lead a family,” VanderSchaaf said.

When asked about VanderSchaaf’s years at Trinity, Hanna said, “Eric’s is an incredible story and ultimately one that bears real witness to our steadfast and faithful God and to the vital importance of formative Christian communities like Trinity.”

After graduating in 2007, VanderSchaaf entered the commercial insurance industry and found a job in downtown Chicago. A few years later, he moved to Texas to take a job with an e-commerce company. During this time, he realized he had his own ideas for launching a business. “I wanted to bring something new into the world,” VanderSchaaf shared.

By 2012, VanderSchaaf and his wife Mary Claire established Treehive: a better-for-you breakfast company that sources syrup and pancake mix. This grew into Austin Food Group, a privately held, family-owned and operated, food-holding company that oversees three different businesses. Products include breakfast items like syrup (inspired by eating Saturday morning breakfast with family) and pancake and waffle mix, and are sold nationwide at Walmart and Whole Foods and at local Texas grocery stores. “My dream of owning my own business has come true. I have the flexibility to be with my family and love growing these businesses alongside my wife.”

Looking back on his experience at Trinity and reflecting on how it helped him become the man he is today, VanderSchaaf recalled the incredible mentors he had. “Everyone seemed to have a focus on the redeeming power of God and helped shepherd me to that healthy place,” he said. His years at Trinity were a crucial time as they helped frame how he runs a business with excellence. He learned how to push himself and show Christ’s love in all he does.

“So how will I take that into the world? Trinity helped me ask those big questions.” VanderSchaaf said.

–By Christy Wolff ‘10 

During Shanna Grigoletti’s ‘05 time at Trinity, God laid on her heart the idea of opening her own gym and using it as an outreach to the community. Through a handful of job changes, moves, and other life experiences, Grigoletti saw how God prepared her for the career she is in today. 

Grigoletti was raised in west Michigan and grew up attending Calvary Christian Reformed Church (Wyoming, MI) with her family. Through Sunday school, youth group, and attending church twice on Sundays, Grigoletti was fully immersed in the CRC but desired to experience something new. 

Along with that desire came an adventure in a new city. Grigoletti enrolled at Trinity–where her sister attended–with a track scholarship. Sports have always been a big part of Grigoletti’s life, so it was natural for her to major in exercise science. God began moving Grigoletti in the direction of opening her own gym and community center, beginning with an internship working at a corporate gym on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. “Trinity was really helpful in connecting me to this internship,” Grigoletti says. 

After graduation, Grigoletti got married and the couple moved to St. Louis, where her husband found work at an inner-city church planting ministry. “We jumped into family life really quickly and had kids early on,” Grigoletti shares. 

When Grigoletti was pregnant with her fourth child, her family decided to move back to Michigan to be closer to family. Grigoletti soon found herself reengaging in the Calvary CRC community, this time with a fresh perspective.  

Looking for a part-time job, Grigoletti agreed to fill the custodian role at Calvary. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Grigoletti recalls. She enjoyed interacting with others during the week and seeing what Calvary was like outside of Sunday worship. 

During one of her shifts at the church, Grigoletti had a meaningful conversation with the pastor and shared that she longed to do more with her life. The pastor told Grigoletti that he wanted to open a community center but couldn’t find anyone to lead it. That’s when Grigoletti stepped up and became the Executive Director of Lighthouse Community Ministries, located on Calvary CRC’s campus. 

Lighthouse serves its community through physical wellness, nutritional wellness, mental wellness, addiction recovery, and poverty mitigation by offering classes, activities, and other programs. 

Thinking back to her time at Trinity, Grigoletti reflects on an interim experience where she worked with women who were transitioning out of rehab. The program connected men and women to different volunteer opportunities, including helping at an after-school program and serving at a thrift store. “It was eye opening to have that kind of ministry right in your own neighborhood,” Grigoletti shares. “I was able to take what I learned during my interim course at Trinity and apply it to the community center I started.” 

 More than 15 years have passed since Grigoletti was a student at Trinity, and she’s grateful for the ways God grew her faith during her college years. “Trinity showed me that you need to step out of your bubble, love those around you, and open your eyes to the immense amount of opportunity that’s outside your front door.” 

 

–By Christy Wolff ‘10

Sarah Irvine ‘13 grew up on the soccer field. She joined her first team when she was five years old; by the time she was seven, she was part of a travel team. God began forming Sarah through her passion for soccer from a young age and continues to this day.

Unsure of what career God was calling her to, Sarah attended community college for two years and took a variety of classes. Her soccer coach at the time encouraged Sarah to research Trinity for her next steps – which is exactly what she did.

“Transferring was difficult because I had to start over. But the soccer team at Trinity provided community when I needed it most,” Sarah shares.

Through the guidance of her sister, Sarah knew she wanted to help others in her work. So, she declared a social work major. During her classes, Sarah worked with then-Professor Rose Malinowski to create a January interim course focused on homelessness. She researched and connected with different services and support groups to create a curriculum. Prof. Malinowski also advocated for Sarah to do an internship in Ecuador during her senior year. “It was the best experience of my life,” Sarah recalls. Working at an English-speaking international school, Sarah led social skills groups, did research for the social work department, and helped with individual cases.

Sarah also took a sign language course at Trinity, which turned out to be her favorite class. One of the class assignments was to translate a children’s book into sign language. Instead of taking an already-published book, Sarah took on the brave task of writing her own. This evolved into illustrating and adding sign language to her children’s book.

Following graduation, Sarah went on to receive her MSW (Master of Social Work). Today, Sarah works in private practice in Austin, Texas. Her specialties include working with children and their families, as well as young adults. She meets with individuals who struggle with ADHD, life transitions, behavioral issues, and relationship conflicts – to name a few.

Sarah regularly uses the book she authored, Zoe the Zebra: Be Kind, as a tool to teach kindness and have constructive conversations with her clients. In 2019, her book that she wrote at Trinity was published and is currently being sold on many different platforms, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Becoming an impactful social worker and talented children’s book author are just two ways that Sarah grew during her time at Trinity. More importantly, her relationship with God deepened through worship opportunities on campus and her soccer team.

“Trinity provided me a perfect place to grow in my faith,” Sarah says.

To learn more about Sarah’s book, visit her website at sarahirvinelcsw.com

Belinda Adame MA ’15 pursued a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Trinity because she wanted to help individuals navigate transitions, achieve growth, and assist during their transformation process. “At times, brokenness is seen as something negative, but I think it is an opportunity to rebuild, restore, and develop a different outlook,” she said. “I enjoy guiding individuals to overcome obstacles, discover strengths, and identify what makes them feel empowered. It is a humbling experience to witness.”

Adame, who recently transitioned from being a clinical support services manager at a community mental health agency to director of counseling and wellness at Judson University, in Elgin, Ill., was interested in attending Trinity for multiple reasons. “I wanted to attend a school that focused on Christian values and integrated my beliefs with a calling I felt passionate about,” said Adame, who also works as a resource staff member at a local psychiatric hospital. She was also attracted to Trinity’s smaller class sizes, which were similar to what she experienced at Aurora University, where she earned her undergraduate degree. “Additionally, the accelerated program allowed me to learn skills in class while putting these into practice at a social services agency,” she said.

During her time at Trinity, Adame said her best experiences involved practicing her counseling skills with her peers. “Obtaining feedback was helpful and necessary to learn more about my counseling style,” she said. “I have also been blessed with the support from professors, such as Dr. Kara Wolff, post-graduation. She helped me obtain my provisional license and motivated me to pursue my clinical license. I am appreciative of the encouragement she offered during these career milestones.”

Whether considering graduate school or other life change, Adame calls upon verses from Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

“This Bible verse has helped me in every season of my life,” she said. “I encourage everyone to find a promise that speaks to them and sustains them during change and transitions.”

Before Ashley Fazekas MA ’18 began attending Trinity to earn her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, she had worked for years in a completely different profession: as a medical dosimetrist in the field of radiation oncology.

Her decision to change careers and attend Trinity was several years in the making. But it has brought her to a fulfilling new path, as a Licensed Professional Counselor and now as an adjunct professor at Trinity, teaching a course on Theories of Personality for Trinity’s Adult Program in Spring 2020.

“My different careers have both involved helping people, and my own background allows me to help people,” Fazekas said. “My Trinity professors have been my role models. They have inspired me. I looked up to them.”

Since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 1999, Fazekas carved a professional path in the healthcare sector where she devised treatment plans for patients with cancer.  But the healthcare industry has changed dramatically in recent years, and opportunities were becoming more limited for Fazekas as the number of cancer care centers expanded. “I value what I do, and I wanted to move up or move out. It was time to move out,” she said. “In going to grad school, my goal was to diversify my career. I wanted to be in private practice and teach. I loved the idea of being a therapist and a professor.”

She first began exploring graduate programs several years before she ultimately came to Trinity. She met Dr. Michael DeVries ‘74, who was then head of the graduate program. “He told me going to grad school was absolutely doable. I wanted to get my ducks in a row, including saving money. When I applied three years later, Dr. DeVries asked what took me so long,” she said.

Trinity was the only college she considered for grad school. “I live a God-centered life, and I wanted a school that was similar.” And every time she questioned her choice to make such a dramatic life move, God showed her a sign. “It might have been an ad for Trinity on a bus, or a Trinity bumper sticker on a car. But it was so easy once I got here.”

During her time at Trinity, she loved her courses on research and multiculturalism. She also was accepted to every internship she applied for and had two job offers when she graduated.

Fazekas currently sees about 20-25 patients a week in her clinical practice at The Therapy Center in Orland Park, Ill. With her background in oncology, her patients include those with cancer, as well as their families. “I also have a passion for helping those struggling with addiction,” she said.

Along with serving as an adjunct professor at Trinity, Fazekas recently began teaching at Moraine Valley Community College. While she was always interested in teaching, she appreciates the time she had to focus on developing a practice as a clinical psychologist after graduating in 2018. “It’s been a lot of changes, but I’m just rolling with it,” she said.

For those looking at grad school, she suggests carefully researching options. “And remember that life is never going to be perfect or ideal, so plan for how you can set yourself up for success–if you have the luxury to plan,” she said. “And remember that short-term sacrifices are worth the long-term goals.”

–By Christy Wolff ‘10

As the owner/operator of a Chick-fil-A franchise, Tyler DeKoekkoek ‘14 begins each day by reminding his team, “It doesn’t matter what you believe in. What’s important is how you add value to peoples’ lives around you.” And that’s exactly what Tyler does: He uses his leadership role to positively influence the people he works with and adds value to the restaurant — all tools he acquired during his time at Trinity.

Born in Michigan, Tyler grew up loving the game of basketball. When he was offered a basketball scholarship from Trinity, he enrolled. Entering his freshman year, Tyler decided to take an assortment of classes to determine what interested him the most. Challenged and intrigued by psychology, he quickly declared his major, with a minor in theology as a way to grow in his faith.

Both Dr. Michael DeVries and Dr. Derrick Hassert from the Psychology Department positively influenced him. “Both professors had experience in the field, so they had practical stories students could relate to, as opposed to just reading textbooks,” Tyler shares.

After graduation, Tyler coached the men’s basketball team for a semester before stepping back and allowing God to guide him in his career. This led Tyler to a job in the Virgin Islands, where he worked with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks — a student-led ministry that sends roughly 200 ministry team members into 75 locations in 25 national parks around the country.

Tyler distinctly remembers God telling him, “I can use you, Tyler. Be open to anything I have in store for you.”

After returning home and getting married, Tyler’s in-laws introduced him to a friend who was the owner/operator of a Chick-fil-A franchise. “I met with him hoping to receive career advice and walked away with a job overseeing the catering operations,” Tyler says.

During the years that followed, Tyler stepped into an operations role before being selected as the owner/operator at the location he still runs today, located near the Illinois/Iowa border.

“Oftentimes in the world of business, leaders get caught up in the data, analytics, and sales,” he says. “But I think what’s lost is connecting with the people you’re working with.” And that’s where Tyler’s psychology degree comes into play.

Managing 25 employees with 25 different personalities isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Tyler strives to build relationships and figure out how best to lead each employee. “I use my degree every day to figure out how to build a team from varying backgrounds,” Tyler shares.

Looking back on how God led him to where he is today, Tyler shares, “I’m so thankful that God helped me be open to what He had in store for me.”

Rachel DeVries ’97 decided to pursue a graduate degree in special education at Trinity so she could better her understanding of the special education field. “I am working in this department at Illiana Christian High School in Dyer, Ind.,” she said. “In order to be able to relate to my students with a greater sense of who they are and what they face on a daily basis, pursuing this degree was the route that I felt best to take.”

DeVries also earned her bachelor’s degree from Trinity, in Elementary Education. “As an undergrad, I had an excellent experience with my Education professors and that program. Going anywhere else was actually, not an option, in my opinion,” she said. “I enjoyed my Education Psychology class as an undergrad with Dr. Colosimo. I also enjoyed equally my Intro to Special Education class with Dr. Rudenga,” she said. “These are Godly, Godly women who teach God throughout their classes, model what it means to be a Christian teacher whether in a private or public school setting, and just women who I look up to still to this day. I cannot say enough about these two role models in my life.”

Balancing school and work can be challenging, DeVries said. “I desire to do the very best in both my place of employment and what my professors expect of me. I actually am probably my own worst critic,” she said with a smile. “I feel that the greatest challenge is also finding time for myself to do what I enjoy doing, along with spending quality time with my husband and our two children.”

She encourages everyone who is considering a graduate degree to go for it, regardless of age. “When you are young, you have time and youth on your side,” she said. “When you are older like me, you have experience on your side. Anytime is a great time to do this!”