Initiative Category: Computer Science

OPUS,  Trinity’s annual festival of student scholarship, is taking place on Wednesday, April 20.  The word “opus” is Latin for work. Whether it’s the arts & humanities, natural & applied sciences, or social sciences, students from all disciplines can present their work or attend this annual celebratory conference.

We invite you to attend OPUS 2022 and imagine the possibilities of your own OPUS!

OPUS SCHEDULE

12:30-12:45             OPUS Parade

12:45-1:15               Opening Ceremony

1:30-4:15                 Student Presentations

4:30-5:15                 Presentation Showdown

All students are given the opportunity to enter into a competition for all solo and group presentations. Top scorers advance to the Presentation Showdown where they give a 5-minute summary of their presentation in front of their peers and additional judges.

4:30-6:30                 Trinity Trolldown Dinner in the Dining Hall

5:00-6:00                 Dunk Tank Fundraiser for Ukraine

6:00-7:30                 Raffle & Closing Ceremony

7:30-8:30                 Senior Student/OPUS Art Reception

6:30-8:30                 GRUMPUS Graduate OPUS

9:00-10:00               Outcry

Special Thank you!

The Trinity Christian College community is grateful to alumni Yvette Madany (’85) and Peter Madany (’82), who generously provided financial support to underwrite expenses for OPUS 2022.

The OPUS 2022 committee is also grateful for the support of Trinity administration, faculty, and staff, including the departments of admissions, student life, physical plant, audio-visual services, information technology services, marketing and communications, and Creative Dining.

OPUS Committee Members

Brian Cerney

Inglebert Christiansen (Student Graphic Designer)

Sarah Hoeksema (co-chair)

Jeff Nyhoff

Mary LoGalbo

Deb Majewski (co-chair)

Katie Oomkes

Julianna Padilla (Student Government Representative)

Aron Reppmann

Omar Sweiss

Kevin Schenke

Maura Sukamto (Student Graphic Designer)

A Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity Christian College prepares students to flourish in their careers and vocations. And our graduates are well-prepared. According to data from Trinity’s Cooper Center for Vocation and Career Development, 97.7 percent of the graduates in the Class of 2021 are employed or in graduate school. That far surpasses the nationwide average of 82.4 percent. 

Each year, Trinity seeks career outcome data from new alumni. For 2020-’21 degree conferrals, 82.1% of graduates are employed, 15.1% are enrolled in graduate school, and one is serving the United States in the military.  

“We are excited to see our students successfully launch into their life after Trinity and continue to make meaningful contributions in the world,” said Director of Vocation and Career Development Jeff Timmer. “This metric is just one way that Trinity demonstrates how it prepares students for positive engagement in their communities and for contributions to the Kingdom.” 

Companies that employ recent Trinity graduates include Amazon, BDO USA, Chicago Public Schools, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Topel Forman. 

The class of 2021 has a range of job titles, reflecting the diversity and depth of Trinity’s liberal arts education: medical surgical/oncological nurse; special education teacher; art therapist; communications coordinator; graphic designer; tax associate; internal events coordinator; pastor; business analyst; baseball coach; police officer; and occupational therapy technician, among others. 

Trinity graduates are also pursing further education at the graduate level at institutions such as Duke Divinity School, John Marshall Law School, Northwestern University, Rush University, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  

Avery Johnson ’21, is currently attending Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C., and she cited the support she received from Trinity in helping her on her journey.  “I couldn’t have gotten this far without the help of the Trinity’s staff and professors,” said Johnson, who double majored in Biblical Studies and Communication Arts at Trinity and plans to become an ordained minister. 

For more information about Trinity’s 98% placement rate, visit Trinity’s Cooper Center for Vocation & Career Development. 

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. New 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. 

Peter ’82 and Yvette ’85 Madany grew up on opposite sides of the world from each other – Peter in South Holland, Ill. and Yvette in Shanghai, China. They met at Trinity, fell in love, and recently celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary. Currently living in Massachusetts, Trinity remains in their hearts as they give back and stay connected by supporting students pursuing their own education.

Growing up, Peter was always familiar with Trinity’s campus since his dad worked as the first foreign language broadcast minister at Back to God Ministries International, formerly located near the entrance of Trinity’s campus. “I remember my dad bringing me to work with him and visiting the campus,” Peter shared.

Yvette grew up during the height of the cultural revolution in China. “One of my first memories was seeing the Chinese Red Guards (a student-led paramilitary social movement) hitting my grandmother in an attempt to reveal where she hid her valuables,” Yvette recalled. Her parents wanted to send Yvette to the United States, so when she reached high school-age, Yvette was sponsored by relatives in Illinois and attended Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights, Ill. Being the only foreign student in the entire school had its challenges, but Yvette was determined to succeed.

The couple who sponsored Yvette was instrumental in helping her grow in a relationship with God. “We attended Orland Park CRC where I learned a lot about being a Christian,” Yvette said.

Fast forward to their college years. Peter earned a degree in math/computer science and chemistry. During the second semester of his freshman year, Peter got a job at a research institute in Chicago through an adjunct professor who taught at Trinity and ran a department at the research institute. Peter held onto this job throughout his schooling and continued well after he graduated.

Pursuing an English degree, Yvette lived in the dorms year-round, including summer vacations where she worked in the library and cleaned the dorms after students went home for the summer. “I had to learn the hard way once I arrived in America, and this experience gave me more empathy – more of a humble spirit,” Yvette shared.

Since graduating, both Peter and Yvette have gone on to higher studies: Peter earned his Ph.D. in computer science and Yvette received her master’s degree in East Asian studies.

A job opportunity for Peter brought their family, (including their three children, to Shanghai, Yvette’s hometown. Their children attended an international school with over 50 countries represented. “This was a time for our kids to grow in friendship with people from all over the world; to experience Chinese culture on a deeper level,” Yvette said.

During this time, Yvette desired to do something meaningful. So she started a walking tour program that gave foreigners a glimpse into the non-tourist attractions in Shanghai, emphasizing the city’s role in the country’s historic and cultural developments. The income she earned went straight to the Shanghai Charity Foundation’s Loving Heart Lunch Program that helped feed children in need. But she didn’t stop there: Yvette wrote and published a book titled Shanghai Story Walks that highlighted her walking adventures. The proceeds from her book were used to start an after-school art class for migrant students in her parents’ name. Today, the program is still thriving.

Earning a degree from Trinity meant Yvette had the proper English tools to write a book, a tool she didn’t know would be so advantageous at the time. Yvette also appreciated being a part of a small school and having access to the professors.

Peter shares the same sentiments. “To have a job lined up in my field by age 18 through connections at Trinity was a great way to start in my career,” Peter said. Balancing his coursework and working at the research institute taught Peter in more ways than one. “I was used to learning and doing at the same time.”

Recently retired as a vice president from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Peter reflected on his computer networking career and the success he experienced. For example, he led a team that built the first software platform for third party apps to run on a mobile phone in 1999.

As a way to give back to Trinity, Peter and Yvette have established three scholarships: one for foreign students in honor of Peter’s father, who, himself, was a foreign student when he went to seminary; one that encourages students to get involved with community service, due to Yvette’s interest in philanthropy and community service; and one focused on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math to highlight Peter’s interest and career in science and technology. Since the inception of these scholarships, Peter and Yvette have helped more than 35 students pursue their college education at Trinity.

They have also sponsored OPUS, Trinity’s annual celebration of Christian scholarship, for several years. “The idea [of sponsoring OPUS] immediately appealed to us,” Yvette said. “A day of interdisciplinary exchanges seemed like a great way for students and faculty to share and learn from one another.”

Both Peter and Yvette remember their financial needs during their college years. Now they are able to help students who are in similar positions through their resources. “While we support many other worthy causes, Trinity is dear on a personal level,” Yvette shared.

Peter added, “Trinity is special to us because we met there, it gave us a good liberal arts education, and it anchored us with a Christian worldview. We are grateful for our own education and have seen God bless us, so we enjoy giving back.”

Trinity provided unique experiences and takeaways for both Peter and Yvette, and it’s evident that both are still impacted by their time at Trinity all these years later.

Continuing a years – long tradition of excellence and recognition, Trinity Christian College has been named among the “Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report for 2021.  Trinity was ranked 21st among  Midwestern regional colleges in this year’s survey. Trinity was also named a “Best Value” college and a “Top Performer on Social Mobility.”

“At Trinity Christian College, our community is focused on providing a rigorous, life-changing education, and our graduates go on to find success in their careers and vocations,” said Trinity’s President Kurt D. Dykstra. “We are pleased that U.S. News & World Report has once again recognized how Trinity prepares our students to change the world.”

Said Provost Aaron J. Kuecker, Ph.D., “We are proud of the excellent academic programs that are supported by Trinity’s world class faculty. Rankings like these are a recognition of the top quality, whole-person vision of education that we pursue at Trinity.”

Trinity is frequently recognized for its high academic standards. The College’s honors include being named a “College of Distinction,” a “Best BSN Program in Illinois,” and a “National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program,” among others. Trinity, which is a university partner with 1871, the world’s top university-affiliated startup incubator located in downtown Chicago, also has a world-class business department that recently led the State of Illinois with both the highest pass rates and average scores on the most recent certified public accounting (CPA) exam. The Trinity Athletics Department was also recently listed among the Champions of Character Five-Star institutions by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

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 is determined by a school’s academic quality and the net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. The “Social Mobility” ranking is based on how successful a college is at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.

In a fun but intense competition with other local college students, Anne James and Alec Visser, also known as the Trollgamers, ranked among the Top 5 teams for the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA) Computer Programming Competition.

Not only did Anna and James come in the top 5, but their 2 person team went up against teams consisting of 4 members each.  Congratulations to our novice team!

The Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA) is a consortium of 15 private liberal arts colleges that was formed in 1966. ACCA’s primary objective is to promote collegiate education in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, psychology, sociology/anthropology, and business/economics by stimulating and regularizing cooperative arrangements between the member colleges and universities and other educational and research institutions in the use of staff and facilities.

As part of ACCA,  Trinity and the member colleges and universities come together each spring to sponsor a computer programming competition.

Along with Trinity, other ACCA members include:

— Aurora University

— Benedictine University

— Concordia University Chicago

— Dominican University

— Elmhurst College

— Judson University

— Lewis University

— North Central College

— North Park University

— Olivet Nazarene University

— Saint Xavier University

— Trinity International University

— University of St. Francis

— Wheaton College

Prof. of Computer Science Jeffrey Nyhoff, Ph.D., recently co-authored “Processing: An Introduction to Programming 1st Edition.”