Initiative Category: Social Work

Since 1989, the Catherine Yonker Award has been given to those who make significant contributions toward Christian racial reconciliation and cross-cultural understanding at the College. Trinity’s Campus Diversity and Unity Committee (CDUC) is pleased to announce that this year’s recipient is Kendra Henry ’23.

Dean of Student Life Kara Van Marion said Henry is always willing to lean into important, hard moments that others might shy away from. “She takes time to consider the ‘status quo’ and assess if/how to respond with justice, humility, and love.”

According to another nomination, “Kendra champions diversity through support, encouragement, and a willingness to educate and be educated. Her passions to support cultural clubs on campus is significant. She has risen as a leader and in the process of developing the Queers And Allies club which support and discuss LGBTQ students and topics. She brings excitement, passion, and leadership through her involvement.”

For Henry, who is majoring in social work, the award exemplifies her passion for helping people and advocating for others. “It really affirms the work that I’ve been trying to do,” she said. Henry, a member of the Navajo community who grew up in Gallup, N.M., also works to bring attention to Native American issues. “There are not a lot of Native Americans on campus, so I am trying to advocate for that group and break down stereotypes.”

Along with her participation in different clubs on campus, including Trinity’s social work student organization, Henry serves as a resident assistant and works as a student photographer. She is also a Diversity Scholar.

Those who know Henry point to her tireless work on behalf of others as the essence of the Yonker Award. “I am so proud of Kendra’s accomplishments and the influence she has made at Trinity,” said Emanuel Jones ’24. “I have always known her to stand up for what is right and always speak out against what is wrong.”

The Catherine Yonker Award and scholarship is given annually to a member of the Trinity community–faculty, staff, or an entering senior student—in recognition of their positive influence and action toward this goal. In Trinity’s earliest years, Catherine Yonker served as an executive secretary and founding member of the Trinity Women’s Guild. With her husband Jim, they also funded uniforms and equipment for Trinity’s first hockey team.

A small town. A sudden disaster. An immediate need for knowledgeable people across a range of professions to come together, formulate a rapid response, and work quickly and calmly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all the townspeople.

In today’s world, these types of situations are unfortunately common. Being prepared to respond is another story. Recently, more than 60 Trinity undergraduate and graduate students across a range of majors, including nursing, social work, education, and psychology, got to have such an experience when a simulated disaster struck the fictional town of Trollsboro.

The students weren’t told ahead of time what the scenario would look like, so they had to immediately start working together to respond to the crisis and then develop a follow up plan to deal with the repercussions of the disaster one month later.

Said nursing major Kate DeKryger ‘22, “It was interesting to see other disciplines at work in front of us and alongside of us. My biggest takeaway from this experience and the challenges that it brought is that no one discipline or group of people, even expertly trained and skilled individuals, can handle crises alone.”

Each group included at least one student majoring in nursing, education, social work, and psychology. The students experienced working together in an interdisciplinary way.  Along with respecting the expertise of others, it was a chance for each one of the student to find their voices and advocate for their own insights and opinions.

For Dr. Deb Majewski, Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling, the simulation fit in perfectly with her graduate-level Counseling 603  Internship II course. “The project offered the students real-world experience in responding to a crisis simulation in conjunction with other disciplines.  They were required to collaborate in respectful and deeply caring ways as they considered the needs of the community,” Majewski said.

Majewski’s students found the exercise to be deeply meaningful for them personally. “It built confidence, awareness of their knowledge and natural empathy.”

Listening to the insights and expertise of others is a valuable skill in today’s world, agreed Professor of Education Bill Boerman-Cornell, Ph.D. “Our society needs more practice in hearing what other people have to say.”

According to Dr. Tina Decker, chair of the nursing department, the exercise also gave the students the opportunity to really think about their professional roles. “Students got to act in the role of their profession. They were acting as nurses, teachers, counselors, and social workers, and not as students.”

It was a “disaster” that took a long time to plan. The idea for the interdisciplinary simulation came from a meeting that Assistant Professor of Social Work and Director of Field Education Lisa Doot Abinoja attended several years ago, where a professor at another local university described a simulation exercise they had done.

“We are familiar with experiential learning here at Trinity, and I quickly recognized that we could do that here,” she said. Abinoja reached out to her Trinity colleagues in several different departments, who were enthusiastic about the idea. During the spring semester of 2020, Abinoja received a Collaborative Initiative Grant through Trinity’s Provost’s Office for the simulation.  “We originally planned to meet first in June 2020 for a Spring 2021 event,” she said. “With COVID, we quickly knew that wouldn’t happen and were able to delay a year.”

During that time, Abinoja, Decker, Majewski, Boerman-Cornell, Dr. Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, Director of the Online BSW Program and Associate Professor of Social Work, and Dr. Michael Dieter, Assistant Professor of Education, began doing a great deal of prework. That included adding the simulation exercise to each class’s syllabus with a specific learning outcome. “The main outcome was working in an interdisciplinary way and how students embodied their profession,” said Abinoja. Each professor provided equal weight to the assignment, which helped to ensure success. “For example, we did not want this to be extra credit for one class, while it would make up a third of the grade in another class,” she said.

The experience also allowed professors to work closely with each other in an interdisciplinary manner, said Boerman-Cornell. “It was fun to get to know our colleagues in a different way.”

Learning took place in ways the organizers didn’t anticipate, which added to the richness of the experience. “In a classroom setting, there are things that can’t be replicated in an event like this. Even the challenges we experienced were good for learning,” said Abinoja.

The event went so well that the organizers are looking to make it a regular part of the curriculum. Several participants will also be offering a presentation about the simulation at the International Christian Community of Teacher Educators (ICCTE) Conference at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., in May.  For Boerman-Cornell, the outgoing president of ICCTE, the conference will not only allow Trinity professors to share their experience. They will also have the opportunity to learn how other colleges around the country have conducted similar types of simulations and hear some of those best practices.

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)

For every incoming class, our Founders’ Scholars stand apart even amongst their exceptional peers. Normally, Trinity designates two incoming freshmen to receive the prestigious, full-tuition Founders’ Scholarships. Yet thanks to the generosity of our donor community, Trinity has been able to designate five Founders for the Class of 2026.  

These five students demonstrated outstanding spiritual, academic, and social leadership: 

• Carvel Anderson 
• Caitlin Haverdink
• Mia Musick
• Grace Steenwyk 
• Anika Wicker 

Carvel Anderson, a native of Chicago, is a representative in his high school student government and a member of the Black Student Union. The future elementary education major also served as a Mikva Summer Fellow, where he interned with an elected official. Anderson has also been named a Diversity Scholar with Trinity.  

A native of Hudsonville, Mich., Caitlin Haverdink plans to earn a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Trinity. She has been involved with golf, musical theater, and service projects. Haverdink also participates in the Spiritual Leadership Team at her school and with the praise team and nursey at her church.  

Mia Musick, from Fisher, Ill., is considering majoring in psychology or social work. She is currently involved in student government and the National Honor Society at her high school and also plays the saxophone. One of five girls, she also competes in sports and serves as an FCA group leader. Musick is also a member of the gospel choir and preschool volunteer at her church. 

Grace Steenwyk is from Zeeland, Mich., where she plays volleyball and soccer. She plans to continue her volleyball career as a Trinity Troll, as well as to participate in Trinity’s Honors Program. She is currently involved in the National Honor Society and student leadership. Steenwyk plans to major in psychology.  

Anika Wicker grew up traveling the world with her parents, Lloyd ’97 and Heidi (Boeck) ’98, as her father serves as a Navy Chaplain. Wicker has participated in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) for four years and is currently a commanding officer. Wicker, who is planning to major in special education, plays piano and guitar and sings, and advocates against human trafficking through the Dressember Foundation.  

Trinity is excited to welcome these newest Founders’ Scholars to campus this fall! Said Professor of Communication Arts and Co-Director of the Honors Program Craig Mattson, Ph.D., “Hearing about our new Founders is electric. I watched these people doing collaborative problem-solving in high-stakes conditions. They are extraordinary.” 

Trinity’s Counseling and Psychology and Social Work Departments are pleased to present the Ninth Annual Psychology Renewed Conference on Saturday, April 30 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Attendees to the conference will explore Conceptual Dialectical Behavior Therapy and how it can be used to treat emotional dysregulation.

Dr. Paul Holmes, a Senior Lecturer at Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice at the University of Chicago, will introduce the “Chronic Distress Model” as an explanation of emotional escalation. He will give an overview of the structure and processes that comprise C-DBT, an approach that emphasizes experiential encounters where participants decouple behaviors from emotions, thoughts, and memories and select responses based on context and valued ends. Participants can experience freedom from their past and create opportunities to organize their behavior in relation to a future they desire.

For more information and to register for the conference, click here.

Cost:
CEUs – $30 | Trinity Alums – $10 (CEUs are included in the alumni cost) | Current Students – Free with Registration

Trinity’s Counseling and Psychology and Social Work Departments are pleased to present the Ninth Annual Psychology Renewed Conference on Saturday, April 30 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Attendees to the conference will explore Conceptual Dialectical Behavior Therapy and how it can be used to treat emotional dysregulation.

Dr. Paul Holmes, a Senior Lecturer at Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice at the University of Chicago, will introduce the “Chronic Distress Model” as an explanation of emotional escalation. He will give an overview of the structure and processes that comprise C-DBT, an approach that emphasizes experiential encounters where participants decouple behaviors from emotions, thoughts, and memories and select responses based on context and valued ends. Participants can experience freedom from their past and create opportunities to organize their behavior in relation to a future they desire.

For more information and to register for the conference, click here.

Cost:
CEUs – $30 | Trinity Alums – $10 (CEUs are included in the alumni cost) | Current Students – Free with Registration

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. 

When looking at colleges as a high school student, Rachel Reule ’15 had a good idea of what she was looking for. And Trinity met those criteria.  

“I knew that I wanted to have the college experience, a high-quality education, while continuing to reside at home, which was Crestwood, Ill.,” she said. “I also heard about Trinity’s soccer program and wanted to continue playing soccer at a collegiate level under Coach Josh Lenarz.” 

She also knew she wanted to go into a helping profession of some sort, and Trinity’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree answered that need, too. “It came naturally to me because I have always been passionate, a good listener, and was reliable towards the people that I cared about within my life,” she said. “Social work ended up being the perfect direction for me to go.”  

Reule said the Social Work Department staff and professors, particularly Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, associate professor of social work and department chair, and Lisa Doot Abinoja, assistant professor of social work, played a key role during her time at Trinity. “They assisted, supported, and encouraged me during major transitions within my young life especially during times of uncertainty or feeling overwhelmed.”  

Other members of the Trinity community had an important impact on her as well, including Dr. Rose Malinowski; Doug Fulmer, LWCS; Dr. Mackenzi Huyser, now the executive director of Chicago Semester; Brad Breems, professor of sociology emeritus; and Mary Lynn Colosimo, professor of psychology emerita. “I will forever remember their classes and their dedication to the field. Their efforts have left a lasting impact on my education and my foundation of being a social worker,” she said.  

After graduating from Trinity, Reule earned a master’s degree in social work from Dominican University, and she currently holds two positions. She works full-time as a high school social worker at UCAN Academy High School, a therapeutic day school on the west side of Chicago. “I am responsible for a case load of about 18 high school level students with Individual Education Plans due to their special education needs because of learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, and/or intellectual disabilities.” Students are given an assigned number of weekly minutes that need to be serviced through social work sessions. “Many of our students have been trauma exposed and often experience crisis situations, triggers, and/or escalations when in the school building. As the social worker, you assist the classroom and other staff in case management services, deescalating students, writing safety and behavior plans as needed, and providing education around mental health conditions that students are experiencing or diagnosed with.” 

After obtaining her clinical license, Reule also started a part-time position at a private practice office, where she provides therapy services to a variety of clients. “It has been a humbling experience thus far to assist people in their healing process,” she said.  

Reule said Trinity has prepared her well for her current work. “The Social Work Department imbedded in me the importance of being a flexible, seasoned professional at all times, utilizing a strengths-based perspective along with other evidenced based practices to provide your best abilities and services for your clients,” she said. “They have instilled the importance of always having effective self-care practices, as well as affirming boundaries and professional standards and ethics, no matter how comfortable a client is with you. Social workers often assist the vulnerable–if not the most vulnerable populations. So, it is essential to always have that in mind.”