Initiative Category: Theology & Ministry

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 45 years, the Chicago Semester program has been providing opportunities for students to gain real world experience in an exciting big city. Along with many Trinity students who have taken advantage of everything that the program and the city of Chicago have to offer, several professors from the College will be participating in Chicago Semester’s Summer 2022 Scholar-In-Residence program.

Scholars will spend two weeks living in downtown Chicago with access to the workspaces at 1871, where Chicago Semester’s offices are located and where Trinity is a University Partner.

“The purpose of the Chicago Semester Scholar-In-Residence Program is to build relationships with faculty from our founding institutions by offering opportunities to nurture their research through resources available in Chicago,” said Chicago Semester Executive Director Mackenzi Huyser.

The Scholars-In-Residence professors from Trinity include:

— Bill Boerman-Cornell, Professor of Education

—Kaleb Dean, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design

— Craig Mattson, Professor of Communication Arts

— Ben Snoek, Campus Pastor

— Michael VanderWeele, Professor Emeritus of English

They will join colleagues from Calvin University, Central College, and Hope College.

The mission of Chicago Semester is to provide urban experiential education from a Christian perspective that equips students for integrated personal, professional and public lives. Chicago Semester envisions a just, generous and hospitable world where individuals are invested deeply in place and with each other as they serve joyfully and fearlessly on their vocational journey.

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. 

The Lincoln Laureate Student Awards honor Illinois college seniors for their leadership and service in bettering humanity and for their excellence in their academic and extracurricular work. And this year, Trinity is pleased to announce that Evie Dykhouse ’22 has been named the College’s Lincoln Laureate. 

For Dykhouse, who is double majoring in theology and communication arts with a concentration in media studies, the award came as a surprise. “I was honored to be selected,” said Dykhouse, a native of Byron Center, Mich.  

While Lincoln Laureates are typically recognized in a ceremony in Springfield, that tradition has been altered because of COVID. So, the Trinity community applauded Dykhouse during halftime of the men’s basketball game against University of St. Francis (Ind.) during Fall Fest. 

Along with maintaining excellent grades, Dykhouse is deeply involved on campus. She serves as a representative for the Student Government Association, as a tutor at the Writing Center, and as a prayer team leader. She is also, in her words, “incredibly involved” with Trinity’s Theatre program, working in the box office and as president of Theatre Club. Along with directing a one-act play earlier this semester, Dykhouse is part of the Fall Mainstage Production “Macbeth,” acting in the role of one of the witches and handling hair and makeup.  

Along with her many achievements, Dykhouse sets herself apart by how she serves, according to Trinity’s Lincoln Laureate Committee. “Evie is an empathetic, kind, and thoughtful leader who is committed to the betterment of others. She demonstrates a generosity of spirit that is marked by humility and worthy of admiration. Her peers respect her deeply and Trinity’s campus is a better place for her having been a student in this community,” the committee noted. 

When she came to campus as a freshman, Dykhouse wasn’t planning to major in either communication arts or theology. Instead, she was considering pursuing a psychology degree. “But I fell in love with communications,” she said. In the summer of 2020, in the midst of COVID, she decided to add a second major in theology. “I’ve gone to Christian schools my entire life,” she said. “I wanted to inform my morals going to work in the media world, which is known for being more secular. The theology degree has allowed me to think in different ways. It’s the best decision I ever made.” 

When Dykhouse graduates in May, she plans to pursue a job in the broadcast field.  

The annual Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Ceremony recognizes excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by seniors from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois. 

Trinity Christian College Lincoln Laureates  

2020—Ross Barz
2019—Indira Escalante 
2018 – Mallory Boyce 
2017 – R. Josiah Rosario 
2016 – Courtney Kalous 
2015 – Hallie Wisse 
2014 – David (Woody) Lucas 
2013 – Megan Anderson 
2012 – Adam Perez 
2011 – Alberto LaRosa 
2010 – Joseph Wydra 
2009 – Jon Vander Woude 
2008 – Caitlin Fillmore 
2007 – Elizabeth VanderSpek 
2006 – Allison Backous 
2005 – Erin Marshalek 
2004 – Rachel Van Oort 
2003 – Yvana Hansen 
2002 – Evan VanderZee 
2001 – Nate Bosch 
2000 – Laurie Johnson 
1999 – Hanna Vancer Zee 
1998 – Kristen Devine 
1997 – Heidi Boeck 
1996 – Julie Tinklenberg 
1995 – Keri Dyksterhouse 
1994 – Mark Mulder 
1993 – Kristen Hart 
1992 – Sarah Ver Velde 
1991 – Aron Reppmann 
1990 – Nathan Van Der Male 
1989 – Drew Sweetman 
1988 – Erik Hoekstra 
1987 – Kimberly Dykema 
1986 – Edward Wiener, Jr.  

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. 

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.

Convocation represents one of Trinity’s most beloved and long-standing traditions. For 62 years, it has marked the beginning of the academic year and the return to campus of students and professors. While this year’s Convocation may have looked a little different than past years, the spirit, purpose, and joy of the event continued intact.

In order to ensure that the campus community remains safe, the event took place outdoors in the Quad, with participants wearing masks and socially distanced from each other.

As part of the Convocation tradition, the Professor of the Year provided the address. This year, Professor of Theology Yudha Thianto, Ph.D., spoke about “A Tapestry.”

Thianto began by sharing some of his own story, including his struggle to continue his education as a teenager in his native Indonesia while facing parental expectations, discrimination, and financial challenges.

According to Thianto, a good tapestry tells a good story through the interweaving of all its threads. “All of our stories are interlaced into one big tapestry that God is creating,” said Thianto. “Our lives intersect in this corner of God’s creation we call Trinity Christian College. Through God’s infinite wisdom,  we meet here at Trinity to form this tapestry. We are here to be with each other, the threads, to learn from each other, to hold each other’s hand in joy and in sorrow and to glorify God together.”

Thianto also spoke about the difficulties of being forced apart by the Coronavirus during the Spring 2020 semester. “And then, as we are struggling through the pandemic, we are again deeply shaken by the injustices that happen around us,” he said. “Our sense of togetherness as a whole people is torn apart when we see the systemic racism that is still happening in this country and all over the world. So, we say, ‘This is not right.’ In the midst of God’s beautiful creation, we experience the pain caused by brokenness of our world. That is why we stand together and say Black Lives Matter. We show that we carry each other in our hearts, minds, prayers and actions.”

God has brought us together here at Trinity Christian College, Thianto said. “Our individual stories become one big family story. Together, we will accomplish the calling that He has given us.”

As another aspect of the Convocation tradition, faculty led the procession to start the program, with music provided by Prof. Minkyoo Shin. President Kurt Dykstra, J.D., provided the welcome, and Javonta Howard, ’21 gave the invocation. Calvin Handoko, ’22 read from Ephesians 3:14-21.

The Prayers of Thanksgiving & Petition were offered by Kyle J. Dieleman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History; Ny’Ahmby Romaine, Academic Support Coordinator, Office of Learning Services; and Kyra Khan, ’21, Resident Assistant.

Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Formation Rev. Willis Van Groningen, Ph.D., closed Convocation with a benediction.

The entire 62^nd Annual Convocation can be viewed here.

Trinity is pleased to announce that the 2020-21 Professor of the Year is Yudha Thianto, Ph.D., Professor of Theology.

“It’s an honor,” said Thianto. “Trinity is just a great place for teaching and learning. This award is about the community recognition of who we are at Trinity.”

Thianto’s nomination cited his deep caring for all his students, particularly his work with international students. “When Yudha teaches, he offers himself, his identity, and his scholarship to the students for the sake of their growth as scholars and their formation as followers of Christ,” according to the nomination.

As Professor of the Year, Thianto will offer the message at Trinity’s 62nd Annual Convocation this fall. He will also be honored on Dec. 19, when Trinity celebrates commencement for the Spring 2020 graduates.

Thianto said being named professor of the year came as a complete surprise. At the time he learned of the honor via a Microsoft Teams call with Provost Aaron Kuecker; Prof. Mark Jones, who chairs the Faculty Development Committee; and previous professor of the year honorees Kara Wolff and Clay Carlson, he was more focused on Trinity’s transition to online learning as part of the College’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along with Trinity’s shift to online learning for the spring semester, Thianto said the pandemic has also changed his summer schedule. He planned to spend part of the summer in the Netherlands conducting research on one of his projects, the history of psalm singing in the Reformed tradition. He is also working on another project, writing an introductory book on John Calvin. Then, he planned to travel to his native Indonesia and continue work with Trinity’s partner institutions there.

Instead, Thianto is spending the summer researching and writing his book and looking forward to the return of fall classes. “Students bring joy to me,” he said.

Thianto has been on the faculty of Trinity for 19 years and his courses include History of Christianity and Calvinistic Tradition.

Recent Professor of the Year Award recipients:

2012: Bob Rice (History)

2013: Brad Breems (Sociology)

2014: Lynn White (Business)

2015: Dave Klanderman (Mathematics)

2016: John Sebestyen (Communication Arts)

2017: Michael Vander Weele (English)

2018: Clay Carlson (Biology)

2019: Kara Wolff (Counseling and Psychology)

Worship leaders, pastors, and other church leaders should be encouraged to recognize the need for worship to be a product of the way we live in our communities and love our neighbors and neighborhoods well, Jonathan Brooks, recruiter and mentor for Trinity’s five-year B.A./M.Div. program with Northern Seminary, told the audience during a seminar at the recent Calvin Symposium on Worship.

During his seminar “Church Forsaken,” which shared a name with his recent book, Brooks, who serves as senior pastor of Canaan Community Church in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, also talked about introducing hip hop as a worship style that the church not only needs to accept, but embrace. “Hip hop is probably the most impactful and globally diverse culture in the world,” he said. “I had Pastor Terence Gadsden, the campus pastor at North Park University, also known as DJ Rock On, who performed with me during the vesper services, join me for the workshop.

“We wanted to show it was about more than music, and that embracing and learning from hip hop is a way that the church can lean into its God-given diversity,” he said.

This is the first time that Brooks has presented at the conference. “But I have been in contact with the Calvin Institute for quite a few years discussing how worship needs to be activated in the community. In other words, real worship can come outside of the four walls of the church and actually be a product of the way we live in the world,” he said. “In my book Church Forsaken, I talk about how my activity in the community and my love for my neighbor has led to a greater and more authentic worship of God.”

Brooks said some attendees were very encouraged by the notion that our worship of God can be enhanced by the way we move closer to our neighbor and are more engaged in our neighborhood. “The premise that our welfare and the welfare of our family is bound up in the welfare of our neighborhood, from Jeremiah 29:7 (‘Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper’), was truly an eye opening reciprocal way of thinking about how we live in the world,” he said.

The annual Calvin Symposium on Worship is a three-day conference sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Center for Excellence in Preaching held on the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary.