Archives: Alumni Success Stories

Gary Bekker '73

Gary Bekker’s Career of Many Facets

Dr. Gary Bekker, who is retiring after serving for many years in several roles for the Christian Reformed Church, believes his interest in and acceptance of people from different cultures and economic status began in grade school.

His father worked as a chemist at an isolated research facility in the mountains of Pennsylvania at the time. That meant Bekker went to the local school and found himself surrounded by sons and daughters of coal miners, woodcutters, and subsistence farmers as well as the children of scientists who held Ph.D.s.

“I have often wondered if my curiosity and concern for people who didn’t look or live like me started there,” said Bekker, who served as director of Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM, now part of Resonate Global Mission) from 2001 to 2017.

Delegates and visitors to Synod 2019 took time to attend a retirement lunch in June to honor Bekker for his varied career that includes work as an educator, a missionary, a pastor, and an agency director who helped unite CRWM with Christian Reformed Home Missions into the new agency Resonate Global Mission in 2017.

Among those who made comments was Colin Watson, Sr., director of ministries and administration for the CRC and longtime friend.

Watson recalled that when they first met, he was on a prayer mission trip to Sierra Leone where Bekker was a part of the country evaluation that was underway there on behalf of CRWM.

Watson, who served on the board of CRWM, said, “Gary played a significant role in introducing me to denominational work at the CRCNA. I appreciate and applaud his work as director of CRWM, and as one of the catalysts in the creation of Resonate Global Mission and in so many other leadership roles.”

Many Mind-Shaping Influences

In a recent interview, Bekker spoke about a number of things in his life that helped to shape him as a church leader who has worked to point ministry in the CRC to meet the demands of the future — a future known to our Lord but uncertain from our perspective — but that he considers full of promise.

After his family left the mountains of Pennsylvania, they moved to Wyckoff, N.J., where Gary attended Christian elementary and high schools.

In high school, the fight for civil rights and different views on the war in Southeast Asia presented hard issues in the U.S. and Bekker was involved in a few events calling for change. From what he recalls, adults were not always pleased by his actions and beliefs or those of others. “But I was blessed by enough people who didn’t stifle our questions,” said Bekker.

At Trinity Christian College in Palos, Heights, Ill., Bekker’s instructors continued his education and encouraged his questions, helping to expand his mind and worldview, he said, particularly on how the Reformed faith addresses tough issues and circumstances in the world. “We had faculty who encouraged asking hard questions out of biblical conviction,” he said.

Then, after college, said Bekker, his years at Calvin Theological Seminary deepened his faith, broadened his understanding of theology, and led him to consider working as a missionary — as a way to live out the convictions that had been forming in him.

Serving on the Mission Field

Bekker added that his years on the mission field from 1977 to 1984 in the Philippines gave eye-opening and challenging experiences. For one thing, he said, he split much of his time between teaching and church planting on Negros Island — and that proved to be a tough task. “Both of these are all-encompassing enterprises,” he said.

Immersing himself in the life of the people was enjoyable. At the same time, being there in  the late 1970s and early 1980s he was aware of guerilla warfare in the mountains not far from where he and his wife, Norma, lived.  In their early years in the Philippines the country was under martial law.

Welcoming the Stranger

Following his time as a missionary, Bekker attended graduate school at Michigan State University, where he earned a doctorate in education. He wrote his dissertation on the ways in which some 40 or so people, whom he had been able to interview for his research, had “welcomed the stranger” by helping to resettle Southeast Asian refugees in the years after the conflicts in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

He learned that refugee sponsors covered the gamut from taking on the role of social workers to essentially becoming surrogate parents to the newcomers.

“I interviewed a disabled World War I vet who welcomed these strangers as if they were his own kids,” said Bekker. “He spoke of helping them buy a car, get a job, buy a house. He bailed them out of jail.”

At Work in the World of Theology

After earning his Ph.D., Bekker taught missiology for nine years at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary near Boston, Mass. During his years there, he taught missions and some church education.  He taught and worked with people from all over the world. And in coming across different approaches and viewpoints that way, he said, he was both stretched by what he learned and reassured that the Reformed faith is strong and resilient.

“My CRC roots helped to ground me there,” he said. “I was reminded that in being Reformed there is no question you are scared to ask.”

From Gordon-Conwell, where for two years he also pastored a local CRC congregation, Bekker moved in 1995 to take up the role of academic dean at Calvin Seminary. This too was a valuable experience, he said, but he also longed for something else. He knew his mind and heart needed more than the academic life could offer at the time.

Then one day in 2000 the former CRC executive director Peter Borgdorf visited him in his seminary office and asked Bekker if he would be interested in becoming director of World Missions.

Assuming Leadership at a Time of Turbulence

Bekker eventually stepped into the job as director of CRWM on Sept. 1, 2001, the same week serious violence erupted in Jos, Nigeria.  Just 10 days later, terrorists flew passenger planes into the World Trade Center in New York City.

So he had to hit the ground running. “It was a dramatic beginning,” he said — and that pace didn’t relent much over the next 16 years.

“We needed to create a new statement of mission,” Bekker said. Christian Reformed World Missions moved from seeing itself as faithful only if they were bringing salvation to the ends of the earth, to joining with others to share the light of the gospel and to live out our faith in Christ together.

For instance, they partnered to strengthen theological education among Pentecostal churches in Uganda; and joined with others in nurturing neighborhood-based communities in cities in Latin America and Africa. “We realized that we needed to create a specific mission strategy responding to Christ’s call in today’s global context,” he said.

As director of World Missions, Bekker took many trips to visit missionaries on the field, helped to reorganize the structure of how the agency functioned within the denomination, and often relied on his former roles and experiences to help guide the agency through and around numerous challenges.

A highlight, he said, involved moving World Missions board meetings once a year from Grand Rapids, Mich., or Burlington, Ont., to locations across North America so that board members could experience just a little of the breadth of Christian Reformed life and challenges in ministry.  On one occasion they saw World Missions work directly in Juarez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas.  On another, they visited ministry in Tijuana, Mexico.

“It was important for us to see the breadth of all God’s children, using these visits to show unity in many racial and cultural contexts,” he said.

Unifying the Mission Fields

Deeply aware of the changing world and how global demands were changing the role of doing missions, Bekker played a key role in the unification of World Missions with Christian Reformed Home Missions — an accomplishment for which he feels grateful. He sees being part of that process as an acknowledgment of the need for the church to gather its resources to meet the needs of the day. In some ways, it took him back to elementary school in the mountains of Pennsylvania and how kids from so many cultural and economic worlds came together as a community to learn and grow.

Beyond World Missions

Then when Resonate sprang to life, Bekker took on the role of directing a group of three leadership-training ministries — the Timothy Leadership Training Institute, Global Coffee Break, and Educational Care — and, as he leaves, this group has become Raise Up Global Ministries.

At the synod lunch, Bekker offered a few words in looking back: “I am alone accountable for decisions made over many years that didn’t turn out so hot or with which someone may want to disagree. I assure you that anything positive the Lord got done through me was done in concert with others — never by way of just me alone.”

Looking ahead, he sees the church facing many challenges — and he suggests moving on as our Lord leads, without spending time longing for past times, to address them.

And in doing this, he said, live and work with others.

“For those of you called to serve now and in the future, as leaders, ask the Lord . . . for cooperation from church governance and support from coworkers,” he said. “If the Lord places you as a coworker, cooperate. If he places you in governance, support.”

–Chris Meehan, CRC Communications
“Gary Bekker’s Career of Many Facets, July 17, 2019” Copyright © 2019 Christian Reformed Church in NA. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.crcna.org  

–By Christy Wolff ’10

Joe Velderman ‘04 has always thrived in the world of technology. From the time he was 10 years old, he involved himself in his church by helping with computer-related needs during the worship service. When it came time to choose a college, he wanted to branch outside of his hometown of Holland, Mich. and decided to visit Trinity. “I felt at home within 10 minutes of being on campus,” Joe recalls.

Right away during his freshman year, Joe signed up for courses focused on computer science and information services. After breezing through a few classes, he knew this was the right fit.

Four years later, he graduated from Trinity with a major in business administration, with a heavy concentration in information systems. Joe found work in the computer services department on campus when he was a student. In addition to helping answer day-to-day technology-related questions, Joe assisted in taking student portfolios and digitizing them into a webpage as a tool for prospective employers after graduation.

Since graduation, Joe has dedicated himself to furthering businesses’ missions through tech support. For the past two years, he has been trying to solve a problem related to the 72 million Baby Boomers in the United States: the lack of caregivers. Considering Gen X is comprised of about 40 million people, there’s a growing concern over who will care for the older generation. Joe has a vision to make the last 10-15 years of an adult’s life the best it can be. So, he is developing technology solutions that will help efficiently monitor older adults as they age in their homes. Using smart home technology–such as smart speakers, smart light switches, smart showers, and smart thermostats–he’s working toward creating a smart home package to help in the aging process, with the goal to bring something to market by October 2019.

“The good Lord has gifted me as a strategic thinker, looking into the future and figuring out what challenges exist and how to solve those,” he says. Joe attributes these skills to the training he received at Trinity. A lot of his strategic skills weren’t necessarily learned in the classroom. Rather, his entire college experience played into the businessman he is today.

Currently living in Indiana with his wife and 3-year-old son, Joe advocates for Trinity as much as he can. “I’ve often told people who ask about Trinity that it’s a very special place where great community and authentic Kingdom-building work happens.” And that’s just what Joe is doing: helping build the Kingdom of God here on earth.

–By Christy Wolff ’10

Alex ‘09 and Emily ‘10 Rusticus — both talented athletes who desired to play college sports — have their own stories about how God called them to Trinity. Today, it’s clear that Trinity played an impactful role in merging their stories and forming them both into the people they are today.

Alex has always been very familiar with Trinity. His father worked near Trinity’s campus, and his two older brothers both attended the College. He was affirmed in his decision to enroll because of the many opportunities he had to play sports.

The majority of Emily’s high school classmates went on to attend Calvin College – just down the road from her high school. Wanting to step into her own adventure, she visited Trinity’s campus and felt like it was the right choice. She was recruited for track and also joined the basketball team.

The two met during Emily’s freshman year and got married shortly after graduation.

Early on in his freshman year, Alex declared his major as accounting. He enjoyed being part of a small, tight-knit group of accounting students who walked through the program together. Professor of Accounting Lynn Spellman White played a big role in Alex’s education. “I brought a lot of what I learned from her into my job to create and foster a team environment.” Today, Alex is the director of finance at Meritage Hospitality Group, overseeing 318 restaurants around the country.

A nursing major, Emily recalls the hands-on experience she received. “I loved Trinity for the amazing clinical experiences that I had.” Being close to Chicago provided many opportunities to in outstanding hospitals. “Throughout the whole program, I was really encouraged and given the proper instruction I needed to gain the confidence to do the tasks at hand, especially in the world of nursing.” Emily currently works as a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Both Alex and Emily agree that Trinity provided them a well-rounded education. Emily shares, “At Trinity, you’re given the opportunity to look at so many different worldviews and cultures and be able to integrate that into what you’re learning.” Alex goes on to say, “So many lessons were taught about hard work, dedication, and how to manage your time, which are all very applicable to the world you step into after graduation. Trinity helped us prepare for that.”

Ten years later, Alex and Emily are passionate about staying connected to the Trinity community. “The cool thing about Trinity is the family that you create when you go there,” Alex says. They look forward to seeing how God continues to use their Trinity family throughout the rest of their story.

–By Christy Wolff ’10

From the time she was a young girl, Lissette Lopez ‘12 had dreams of making a difference. By the time she reached high school, she had identified a career path that would help her become a difference maker: social work.

Growing up in Chicago and later moving to Alsip, Ill., Lissette studied in the Chicago Public Schools before enrolling at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Ill. After receiving her associate’s degree, she transferred to Trinity to obtain her bachelor’s degree. “Going from public schools to a private school was a change. The class size was vastly different – it was much more intimate,” Lissette shares. “When I first got a tour of Trinity, the people I met with were so warm and welcoming, not pushy.”

As a commuter student, Lissette felt like she was as fully immersed into the Trinity community as any other student. She appreciated how the professors helped commuters stay closely connected to on-campus activities. Salsa classes, fireside chats, pizza parties, and school dances are just a few activities Lissette looks back on with fond memories.

Once Lissette was accepted into the social work program at Trinity, she found plenty of hands-on opportunities: tutoring immigrants who were trying to become U.S. citizens, volunteering at a retirement home near campus, and working with a domestic violence agency that helped school-aged kids.

Dr. Rose Malinowski, field education program coordinator at Trinity who helped social work students like Lissette find opportunities to practice what they have learned, was a hands-on, experienced social worker. “She led by example with her compassion, spirit, and connection to God.” Even today, Lissette makes an effort to stay in touch with her professors. “You can tell the professors really care.”

For the past five years, Lissette has been able to use her social work degree at the Cook County Sheriff’s Department. She directs women’s programming projects at the Cook County Jail, specifically focused on substance abuse and trauma, and also oversees a human trafficking initiative. Lissette spends much of her time helping women who are pregnant while incarcerated. Additionally, she manages up to seven interns over the course of a year.

“My favorite part is watching women transform before my eyes. They come in to our programs very broken – physically and spiritually – and I am able to see the light come back to their eyes.”

Today, in the midst of pursuing her doctorate degree, Lissette is continuing her Trinity story by serving on the alumni board and an advisory board for the social work department. With God as her guide, she is able to take what she has learned and make a difference through her career.

Thousands of miles from where he grew up, Lloyd Wicker (‘97), his wife Heidi (Boeck ‘98), and their three children make their home in Sicily, Italy where Lloyd is stationed as a Navy Chaplain. His upbringing in the Church, impactful experiences at Trinity, and further education all led him to where he is today.

As a Navy Chaplain, Lloyd ministers to active service members in the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and NATO forces. He spends his time like any other pastor would: preaching on Sundays, visiting with service members and their families, and attending meetings. But the heart of his job is centered around pastoral counseling. “No other job in the Department of Defense has the same level of confidentiality,” Lloyd shares.

Growing up in Chino, Calif., Lloyd was introduced to Trinity by a board member at the time. “I saw such great value to going away for college.” So he did just that — he made the decision to move across the country and begin his journey at Trinity.

Desiring to serve others as a nurse, Lloyd was drawn to Trinity because of the 4-year nursing program, not to mention the smaller campus and being tucked close to the big city of Chicago. He was called away from nursing when Dr. Dave Larson, former professor in the church education program, asked Lloyd and a few others to take an introductory program he was starting. It was during this time that Lloyd realized his passion for church education and decided to change his focus to double majoring in church education and psychology.

During his time on campus, Lloyd gravitated to campus activities involving music. “I was part of a group of people that liked to get together for worship in West Hall basement,” Lloyd recalls. This eventually grew into Trinity’s weekly praise and worship gathering: Outcry. “It was meeting a need none of us foresaw when we started; it was pretty exciting to see.”

He also remembers the way professors knew the students by name and something about you beyond how you were performing in class. “I really appreciated being in a place that I could know and be known.”

His time at Trinity led Lloyd to further education. He received his master’s degree from Calvin Theological Seminary and his doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before moving to Italy, Lloyd pastored churches in Sunnyside, Wash., and Ripon, Calif.

“One of the things I appreciate most about the liberal arts education is how much God’s fingerprint is integrated into every subject of study,” he says. During his doctoral studies, Lloyd’s focus on missional leadership continued to reinforce the idea that God is at work everywhere and in all things. “That’s been an important thing for my work here, too. Recognizing this truth changes how you wake up in the morning and face your day.”

–By Christy Wolff ’10

Leah Branderhorst ‘11, originally from Holland, Mich., found herself following in her sister’s footsteps and applying to Trinity — ultimately leading her to find the career God had planned for her all along.

Navigating through her first year at Trinity with an undeclared major, Leah attended classes in several different programs, including education. During her sophomore year, she made the decision to declare her major: secondary education with an emphasis on English education. Being a part of a smaller group of English education majors gave Leah the opportunity to bond with the students and professors. “Through getting to work with a smaller class size, we got more hands-on practice.”

By her second year of the program, Leah found herself gaining practical experience. “One of the things that Trinity does differently than other schools is puts you in a classroom during your sophomore year already. This led me to graduate and feel confident because I had more experience,” Leah recalls.

Midway through the program, Leah was assigned student teaching roles in the Chicago suburbs and southern California. “During student teaching, Trinity helped me think through where I wanted to live and all of the details that surround that.” After graduation, Leah taught in Colorado for two years before stumbling upon the KIPP national charter network. Not knowing much about charter schools, Leah did her research and soon realized her desire to be a part of it. She moved to Austin, Texas and taught for four years at KIPP Austin Academy of Arts & Letters before participating in a leadership fellow training program that led her to become the assistant principal in the fall of 2018.

In addition to her education courses at Trinity, Leah took several psychology classes. “The psychology classes I took helped me ground myself in the work I’m doing with students.” Many of the students her district serves come from backgrounds of trauma, and Leah felt more prepared to navigate through those relationships and conversations.

Reflecting on those who influenced her along the way, she specifically recalls the impact Dr. Bill Boerman-Cornell had on her. “The feedback he would give me on my lesson plans was always really purposeful and meaningful — feedback I could take and apply to the next lesson plan I wrote. He cared about us as humans, students, and future educators. I felt incredibly valued in his classes and always felt respected as an educator.”

In addition to focusing on her schoolwork, Leah was heavily involved with the theatre department at Trinity. She received a scholarship to create the costumes for performances. Leah also worked in the Writing Center, helping students improve their papers, as well as the Admissions Office, leading tours for prospective students, connecting with applicants, and arranging places for visiting students to stay overnight.

Each of these experiences guided Leah to her current placement. “On the most challenging days, I remember these kids are gifts from God, and that opens your eyes and reminds you that you’re not just here to teach these kids, but to make a lasting impact on them. This is my job, my calling.”

–By Christy Wolff ’10

In the capital city of Washington, D.C., you will find DeBorah Posey ‘87 diligently fulfilling her duties as director of operations for U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings (Florida). Her path to this point in her life was clearly paved by God as He prepared her heart and mind to lead in her political career.

Born and raised in Chicago Heights, Ill., DeBorah grew up in a spiritual home and was raised by her great aunt. “I’ve been in church since the age of 3…as far back as I can remember.” This foundation was laid by her great aunt’s spiritual, protective, and nurturing being — all qualities DeBorah acquired herself, giving credit to her great aunt.

When DeBorah was a young girl, she quickly found her love of music and directed the church choir. From there, she became the music ministry leader at her church, and then went on to join community choirs, which ultimately led to working with various recording artists. DeBorah was also one of the organizers who started the Gospel Choir at Trinity during her junior year — a musical group still thriving today.

After two years at community college pursuing her nursing degree, DeBorah was searching for a school where she could receive her bachelor’s degree. “I happened to be driving through Palos Heights and passed Trinity and decided to drive on campus. When I came past the bridge and saw the school, the greenery, and the trees, there was this peace that came across me; it was serenity.” DeBorah went home and applied immediately.

One year later, and with just one year remaining before she earned her nursing degree from Trinity, DeBorah decided to change her focus to psychology. “I wanted to touch as many lives as possible, and psychology gave me that opportunity.”

Working as a student recruiter in the admissions office gave DeBorah exposure to working closely with others. She filled the role of admissions counselor and director of minority student retention at Trinity after graduation, which eventually led her to become the assistant director of admissions at Eastern Illinois University, and then on to work as a case worker at a foster care agency.

Looking back on her early working years, DeBorah always found herself volunteering her free time doing policy. In 1995, Jesse Jackson, Jr. (former congressman in Illinois) extended a job offer to DeBorah, which grew into a 17.5-year position.

Today, DeBorah finds herself in a different capacity on Capitol Hill as she works alongside Congressman Hastings, overseeing a $1.3 billion budget, supervising the day-to-day operations of his offices, and training staff and interns. “Working in the political arena that I do, people wonder how I manage my job as a Christian. If you have a solid foundation and you build that, then it helps you no matter what career path you take.”

Engaged to be married, DeBorah believes in spreading love, laughter, and joy to the people in her life. She credits Trinity for helping her grow into a well-rounded individual, spreading God’s love wherever she goes.

–By Christy Wolff ’10

Chris Langkamp ‘95 currently holds the title of CEO (Christ Enabling Others) at the non-profit organization he started 23 years ago. This creative title carries into his workplace, his home, or wherever he has the opportunity to show God’s love.

Growing up in Lombard, Ill., school didn’t always come easy for Chris, but he thrived in accounting. He heard Trinity had a strong accounting program, so he enrolled. “Trinity helped me find scholarships through a network of donors who wanted to help me attend,” Chris recalls. Four years later, Chris graduated with his accounting degree.

Immediately following graduation, Chris landed a job as a controller at a petroleum company. While he enjoyed his accounting job, he longed for more. After work, he’d often go to the west side of Chicago and do what God called him to do: tell others about Jesus Christ. This was no easy task – Chris saw and experienced rough circumstances. Knowing he’d most likely have to defend himself as his ministered, Chris worked on a garbage truck to build his strength. In December of 2000, his ministry grew into an official non-profit organization: Lampstand Ministries.

Lampstand Ministries provides a bridge between the suburbs and the city, specifically related to race, socio-economic groups, denominations, ministries, churches, and – most importantly – the relationship between Christ and others. The ministry provides a soup kitchen that feeds 250 people every Saturday, after-school ministries for over 300 kids who don’t have supportive home lives, service projects in the Chicagoland area, and resources to 25 urban ministries to ensure they complete the goals God gives them.

During the early years of Lampstand Ministries, Chris met his wife, Naomi, who quickly jumped in and helped Chris further his ministry, specifically with women. “From the beginning, Naomi was very relaxed downtown. She wasn’t intimidated by the crime that we encountered.” Today, Naomi homeschools their two youngest children (out of six), is the worship leader at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Berwyn, Ill., and provides support to Chris and his ministry.

“Trinity taught me how to manage a business and ministry; I use my accounting skills every single day. I also learned how to be accountable and be a good steward with the organization the Lord has made me a steward of.” Chris credits accounting professor Lynn Spellman White as an influential leader in his life. Her patience, helpfulness, and focus on connecting accounting with your faith is what Chris appreciated the most. Chris is also grateful to Dr. Michael Vander Weele (English) and Professor John Kooyenga (business) for the influence they had on his life.

Trinity also taught Chris how to be responsible when no one else is looking, how to manage his time, and how to bathe everything in prayer. “Trinity was instrumental in teaching me everything is God’s: the stock market, the nursing field, ministries — every single thing belongs to God.”

–By Christy Wolff ’10

Megan Anderson’s ‘14 heart for leading others to the Lord developed during high school, when she led a group of her peers in weekly prayer and worship at the public school she attended. Years later, God is still developing her heart through a career that allows her to minister to others – not just in her own community, but around the globe.

Growing up outside of Chicago, Megan was familiar with Trinity, but her desire to attend grew as she felt God’s prompting in her life. “God refined my dream and started putting missions on my heart,” Megan shares. And that’s ultimately what led her to Trinity.

Shortly into her freshman year, Megan declared a double major of church and ministry leadership and theology. Her time at Trinity started forming the vision of what her ministry might look like. Megan credits Dr. Yudha Thianto, Professor of Theology, as an impactful leader during these formative years. “He didn’t just get through the curriculum; he wanted to develop us into mature believers that could articulate our faith in a way that would further the Gospel and impact others – as well as ourselves.”

Challenged through theological discussions as led by numerous professors, Megan loved to debate topics related to the Church and wrestle with big concepts that theologians have been wrestling with for centuries.

Today, she is seeing her foundation being put into practice through her position at Adventures in Missions, a non-denominational, Christian organization in Georgia that exists to mobilize a generation of Christ-followers to spread the Kingdom of God. With a presence in more than 70 countries around the world, Adventures in Missions works with indigenous believers to support them in their ministry work. The organization sends teams of missionaries to these places to partner with existing ministry contacts, all with the hope of spreading the Gospel message.

Megan oversees a gap-year program for 18-20 year olds desiring to go out and tell others about Jesus. Roughly one-third of Megan’s time is spent traveling around the world visiting these young adults as they navigate through a 9-month program. She has been gifted the opportunity to use what she learned at Trinity to share the foundations of Scripture and faith.

“When you graduate from Trinity, you know how to bring Christ into the business realm, how to live within a community of believers, how to invest in others, and how to make worship a regular part of your life,” she says.

Drawing from her involvement in Outcry (Trinity’s weekly praise and worship gathering) and other campus ministries – along with an internship at Willow Creek in South Barrington, Ill., Megan felt the transition from college into the working world was seamless due to the way Trinity prepared her through both experience and knowledge. “I was given an incredible foundation in the word, spiritual disciplines, and vocational ministry – all thanks to Trinity.”

Congratulations to Nate Smith ’16, on his graduation from the Chicago Police Department Training Academy and his assignment as a probationary officer to the 007 District.

Smith asked Dennis Connelly, Ed.D., assistant professor of criminal justice; criminal justice program coordinator; and department chair, to pin his Chicago Police Star during the Aug. 31 ceremony.

“Dr. Connelly was such a friend to me, and one the main reasons I applied for CPD was the positive influence he had on me,” said Smith, who served as president of Trinity’s Criminal Justice Club.