Initiative Category: Physical Education, Recreation, & Kinesiology

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)

Students taking Prof. Joshua Edwards ‘15 PERK (Physical Education, Recreation, and Kinesiology) 231 class are introduced to concepts and central issues around recreation and leisure. They also study how recreation and leisure services are organized and administered.

And on a recent field trip, they had the opportunity to learn more about one of Chicago’s most iconic sports and recreation facilities: Soldier Field, current home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears and Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire and the venue for upcoming concerts by Coldplay, Kenny Chesney, Elton John, and others. “What an amazing experience for these students,” said Associate Professor and Department Chair Shari L Jurgens, Ph.D.

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. 

–By Christy Wolff ‘10  

Basketball has always been front and center for Peter Zigterman ‘08. While he enjoyed playing for Trinity and eventually coaching for nine years after graduation, his passion for demonstrating Christ’s love to refugees and immigrants began to take a more prominent focus. “I noticed in myself outside of work that I was spending less time watching basketball and more time reading an article on immigration policy, for example,”  Zigterman shared.

That’s where World Relief enters his story.

World Relief seeks to help refugees and immigrants navigate the transition to starting a new life in the United States. As director of immigrant family services, Zigterman helps others find a job, access medical services, locate affordable housing, and other services that are hard to navigate if English isn’t your first language. His team also makes sure kids are enrolled in school, provides tutoring services, and ensures someone is present at parent-teacher conferences to help with any language barriers.

Zigterman works primarily with refugees and immigrants from Venezuela, Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Syria, and Mexico — among others. “I really enjoy meeting people from all over the world and hearing about their experiences, stories, and what their culture and homeland was like,” Zigterman said.

Developing relationships with others stemmed from his time at Trinity, specifically during his time playing on the basketball team. “In this totally new employment sector, I’ve been surprised by how much I learned in coaching and playing basketball and how many of those skills were transferable to what I’m doing now, specifically developing relationships with a refugee so they trust you,” said Zigterman, who majored in physical education teaching and coaching at Trinity, and then went on earn a master’s degree in sports science from United States Sports Academy.

Tim Walker, former basketball coach at Trinity, modeled these skills on and off the court, mentoring Zigterman along the way. “Coach Walker played a huge role in demonstrating to me how that’s done.”

Through his relationships with the refugees and immigrants he assists, Zigterman has heard story after story of individuals and families fleeing their country because they are facing imprisonment or even the safety of their own lives. Beyond these difficult situations, the COVID-19 pandemic has created unimaginable hardships for families who are trying to establish new lives in the U.S. “We’ve filled out hundreds of unemployment applications and spent a lot of time finding the money to keep people from losing their homes,” Zigterman said.

In the midst of these troubles, Zigterman is witnessing a lot of hope. “Many people are taking advantage of their unemployment, since it makes them eligible to receive a voucher to pay for a vocational training course,” Zigterman explained. “We’re all moving forward together.”

Moving forward also includes exploring ways to connect Trinity students to mentoring and volunteer opportunities at World Relief. “A lot of young adults who have immigrated from other countries want to go to college, but they need guidance on what applying looks like. They can’t rely on their parents because their parents didn’t have that experience,” Zigterman said. And with just one person overseeing this sector at World Relief, receiving help from Trinity students will allow assistance for more people.

Nearly four years since beginning his time at World Relief, it’s clear that Zigterman is demonstrating Christ’s love through his career, based on the foundations that grew during his time at Trinity. “What motivates me is wanting to be a part of the church that is doing the vocation that the Lord gave us,” Zigterman said. “It’s important that we, as Christians, demonstrate the Kingdom of God to the rest of the world.”

To learn more about World Relief, or to make a donation that supports refugees, please visit worldrelief.org

The Healthy Troll Challenge is back, and everyone in the Troll community can take part!

Students who are majoring in Exercise Science and Physical Education K-12 are leading this year’s challenge, which is running through April 23. Since this year’s event is taking place virtually through Facebook and Instagram, anyone can work out alongside Trinity students, earn points for prizes, and get healthier.

Each week features a different theme, such as body weight, abs/core, cardio, flexibility, yoga, and Pilates.

According to Physical Education, Recreation and Kinesiology Department Chair and Associate Professor of Physical Education Shari Jurgens ‘92, an exercise science major and a PE K-12 major team up each week to create three 10-minute workout videos. “They are doing a great job of making these workout videos fun, engaging, and doable for all fitness levels,” said Jurgens.

One recent week of videos featured Matt Kamp ’21 and Manaase Mbuyi ’22, “Keep going, keep doing your thing, just keep pushing yourself,” Mbuyi urged viewers. “Just be better every day, be respectful to one another, and just make a difference in your life and the lives of others.”

Along with getting healthier, participants have the chance to earn points and compete for prizes. Points can be earned by sending in selfies to the Healthy Troll e-mail address. Selfies can include images of participants working out on their own, a screen shot of 10,000 steps for the day, a screen shot of a food log for the day, or a screen shot of participating following along with a Healthy Troll challenge workout on social media.

It’s never too late to start!

—By Christy Wolff ‘10 

Although college was never high on his list of priorities, Joshua Edwards ‘15 was the first in his family of six to attend college. “There were high expectations set in place for me,” Edwards said. “I can see how that pushed me to be the person I am today.” 

Edwards was invited to attend a college fair by a friend on his basketball team at South Side Baptist School in Oak Lawn, Ill., which is where he learned about Trinity. After experiencing campus life during a visitation weekend, he knew this was the right next step for him. 

The transition to college life was challenging for Edwards. “I didn’t focus much on academics leading up to college, I just wanted to play sports,” he said. Trinity recognized his potential, however, and offered the opportunity for Edwards to enroll with some ongoing academic support throughout the first semester as a member of Trinity’s Bridge Program. “I learned the expectations of professors, how to study properly, and how to take a test – and I also made friends through the program.” 

This led to Edwards being hired as a mentor for the Bridge Program during his sophomore year, where he partnered with the Office of Learning Services to provide input and leadership to incoming freshman. “This was a great opportunity to grow as a leader and learn how to lead college freshmen,” Edwards said. 

Edwards was also hired as a student assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Trinity after an injury pulled him off the court. Former coach Reginald Chapel, who was also one of Edwards’ professors, saw the potential in his leadership abilities and provided Edwards the opportunity to coach. “It was the first step for me in understanding how to be a professional while in college,” Edwards said. He and Chapel continued their mentoring relationship and still keep in touch today. 

Originally desiring to become a physical therapist, Edwards soon realized his passions were elsewhere. After receiving guidance from Dr. Shari Jurgens, department chair and associate professor of physical education, Edwards declared a major in sports and exercise science. “I really enjoyed the program and having access to the professors. They really cared about me; I wasn’t just another student,” Edwards shared. 

Jurgens also played a pivotal role in connecting Edwards to an internship with the Blue Island [Ill.] Park District (BIPD), which led to him being hired as the recreation coordinator the day after graduating from Trinity. Jurgens shared, “Every student completes an internship or practical field experience, and we work hard with the students to find the perfect match for something they want to do after they graduate. In Josh’s case…he made a connection at the Blue Island Park District and proceeded to impress them so much with his work ethic, knowledge of recreation, and kind demeanor, that he was hired soon after the internship. In fact, he has helped me get more students into the BIPD as interns since then. I still use his story as an example to my current students.” 

Edwards has since moved up to fill the role of recreation director. With 15 full-time staff and up to 100 summer employees that he oversees, Edwards has a full plate. “When I started, there wasn’t really a recreation department; I became a trailblazer for our department.” He also spends his workday focusing on building the brand of the park district through its social media presence, planning community events, educating staff, and finding sponsors. Just recently, Edwards connected with Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox to request their help in supplying uniforms and hats, and to help pay off capital projects for baseball fields in Blue Island. 

“I realized throughout my time at Trinity that one of my callings is to help people; now I have a job where I’m able to help,” Edwards said. 

Edwards’ hard work paid off in a big way recently: He was named one of National Recreation & Park Association’s 30 under 30, which recognizes “the 30 best and brightest young park and recreation professionals in the field.” 

One of Edwards’ passions is having minority representation in parks and recreation. “In order to really serve the community–from planning, to programming, to staffing–I think we have to have a diverse staff. As I’m moving forward in my career, I’m realizing that there are very few black people my age that work in parks and recreation.” Edwards is using his platform to help others understand why it is so important that community leaders are a reflection of the people living in the community. 

Edwards also fills the role of basketball coach for young boys in Blue Island. He finds fulfillment in coaching these kids and being a positive role model in their lives. 

One example of this can be seen in his relationship with a 73-year-old woman who is guardian to her two young grandsons. “She asked me to connect with these kids since they didn’t have a male figure in their life,” Edwards recalled. “I’m able to speak to them at their level and connect with them in a way others might not be able to. I’ll likely be in their lives forever.” This story could be replicated for many other kids Edwards has coached. 

After receiving his MBA in sports administration from Concordia University Chicago this past December, Edwards is motivated to continue growing in his career. “There was a point when I was a freshman when I didn’t think I’d ever get my master’s degree or be a director in parks and recreation, but my faith has continued to lead me into positions to lead and help others,” Edwards said. “Once I achieve a goal God has for me, He will give me another one to work toward. I know He has a path for me; I want to stay on that path and ensure I’m connected with Him.” 

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.