Archives: Initiatives

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is famous for the running of the Indy 500, which takes place every Memorial Day weekend. But on June 4, 2016, Dr. Rick Snoeyink, professor of education, plans to ride his bike 100 miles around the track in memory of his father and to support the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure. Snoeyink completed the ride for the first time last year as a tribute to his father, who suffered from diabetes before his passing. “Now I have decided that as long as I am physically able, I want to make this an annual event to honor my dad,” he said.

Snoeyink credited the Trinity community for its support, both financial and communal. “When I first decided to do this ride last year, I thought I could probably raise $250, which is what the American Diabetes Association requires for all riders. I put the word out on the Trinity listservs, and within a couple weeks, people had donated over $1,200,” Snoeyink said. “I was amazed.”

Since the community was so generous last year, he wondered if Trinity would continue to generously support him in this year’s fundraiser. “I am again amazed that the total is now approaching $1,500. Several Trinity folks have also asked me about how my training is going and have offered words of encouragement,” he said.

Since 1991, Tour de Cure riders have raised more than $250 million to help advance the ADA’s mission and move closer towards the ultimate goal to stop diabetes, according to the ADA. Proceeds from the fundraiser go towards diabetes research, education and advocacy.

Trinity is pleased to announce that it has been ranked among the top 10 Christian college education programs in 2016 by Christian Universities Online.

To be considered, schools must be members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, or eligible for membership. Schools were then ranked on a variety of factors, including:

• Number of undergraduate and graduate education degrees

• Faculty-to-student ratio

• Percent of full-time beginning undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid

• Selectivity

• Overall retention rate
• Overall graduation rate

Providing business solutions to social problems—that was the goal of the first Chicago Innovation Tournament, which Trinity hosted on Oct. 7, 2017. And the goal was met and surpassed, according to Prof. John Wightkin, assistant professor of business and chair of Trinity’s business department.

Seven teams from five different colleges competed in the Chicago Innovation Tournament, which addressed the issue of refugee resettlement in the United States.

“I was particularly excited to see how entrepreneurship can be used to make a difference in the world,” he said. “Entrepreneurship is not only about starting a business. It’s more about innovating, thinking creatively, experimenting, collaborating, problem solving, and presenting effectively. Using entrepreneurship as a way to look at the world, we can solve more than just business problems.”

Two experts spoke on the refugee resettlement problem: Kenneth Elisapana, Executive Director & Founder South Sudan Voices of Hope, and Alison E. Bell, Senior Resettlement Manager of World Relief DuPage/Aurora. Then, student teams had three hours to arrive at a solution and develop and practice their presentation. After two rounds of pitches, winners were selected. The team from the University of Chicago placed first, a team from Trinity placed second, and a team from Roosevelt University took third.

Marketing major Komaria Carpenter ’21 heard about the tournament in one of her business classes and decided it sounded like an interesting opportunity. She was partnered with other Trinity students, including  Eden Foreman ’18, a communication arts major, Kailah Price ’19, an English major, and Jose Silva ’21, a music production major. “It was super fun, and it was great that not everyone was a business major,” said Carpenter.

Price agreed that the interdisciplinary nature of their team was one reason the team came in second place. “We all brought different perspectives.”

Silva encourages others to participate in next year’s tournament. “It was a great growing experience, and it allows you to think outside your personal bubble.”

The Psychology Renewed Conference is an annual event held in April for alumni, students, and members of the community.  Each year the conference is centered on a particular theme in the field of counseling/clinical psychology.  Past themes have included mindfulness, addiction, and attachment.

The conference opens up space for attendees to delve deeper into a topic relevant to their work and network with others who have similar interests.  The on-campus conference allows those who are working in the field to earn CE credits and students to get experience at a professional conference.

Hannibal Lecter, the villain created by author Thomas Harris and immortalized in movies by Anthony Hopkins, is many things. Cannibal connoisseur and creative serial killer often get the most attention, but Lecter is also a philosopher. The new book “Hannibal Lecter and Philosophy: The Heart of the Matter,” delves more deeply into Lecter’s philosophical ways, and includes a chapter by Dr. Derrick L. Hassert, professor of psychology.

In his chapter “The Psychiatrist as Sociopathic God,” Hassert explores how Lecter addresses the “Big Questions,” which concern the nature of God, humanity, and evil. As Lecter asks FBI agent in training Clarice Starling in the film version of “The Silence of the Lambs:” “Of each particular thing ask, What is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?”

Looking at the Lecter books and films, Hassert urges readers to understand how Lecter’s desire for friendship represents an essential part of human existence. He suggests readers consider the choices they make, the behaviours they exhibit and the nature they reveal to themselves and the world. He reminds readers that, unlike Lecter, “Also, plying people with mind-altering drugs may get you into trouble…”

Hassert first learned about the plans for the book from Dr. Aron Reppmann, professor of philosophy and department chair. Knowing Hassert’s interest in pop culture, Reppmann forwarded an email that called for abstracts from the book’s editor, Joseph Westfall, in 2014. Westfall accepted Hassert’s abstract and provided helpful feedback throughout the writing process, Hassert said. While most of the authors are philosophers, Hassert brings his background in psychology, behavioral therapy, and neuroscience to his chapter.

And with favorable reviews on Amazon.com and in “Fangoria” magazine, “I’m happy to be included in a book that people might buy,” Hassert said with a laugh.

Trinity Christian College’s newly formed chapter of Phi Alpha, the national honor society for social work, inducted its first members on April 7, 2016. Two faculty members and 20 students made up the inaugural class of the Phi Xi Chapter, along with honorary member Dr. Brad Breems, retired professor of sociology.

The purpose of the Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. According to the society’s website, Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers, and its members have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

The induction ceremony included candle lighting and the presentation of certificates and honor cords. As Bianca Solis ’17 said during the invitation to candle lighting, “You, as members of the Phi Alpha Honor Society, represent the best and the brightest in the world of social work.”

While not a social worker, Breems was recognized for his contributions in establishing the vision and laying the groundwork for what would become the social work program at Trinity. Breems provided a short history of Trinity’s social work program, beginning with the “Theory of Social Work” class offered during the 1968-69 academic year to the establishment of a sociology program to the social work degree program that exists today. “We have grown through the strength of the faculty and the academic excellence exhibited by today’s inductees,” he said.

This year’s inductees were:

Faculty Members

• Prof. Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein
• Prof. Lisa Doot Abinoja

Student Members

• Kayla Bakhshi ’16
• Cassandra Boyd ’16
• Victoria Brady ’16
• Michelle Busscher ’16
• Cendy Delgado ’16
• Miranda Deuter ’16
• Aracely Diaz ’16
• Danielle Dougherty ’16
• Brittany Dykstra ’17
• Nelida Elizondo ’16
• Abigail Gibson ’16
• Sarah Gillespie’17
• Elizabeth Jones ’16
• Sarah Kischkel ’16
• Natalie Lavaretto ’16
• Hannah Limback ’17
• Anneliese Lokken ’16
• Angela Pappas ’16
• Bianca Solis ’17
• Rachel Toren ’16

Students in Prof. Christine Scholma’s SPED 317 class, “Teaching Students with Low Incidence Disabilities,” recently had the opportunity to put their knowledge to work. Those taking the class were presented with genetic disorders and syndromes that students at Elim Christian School in Palos Heights, Ill., have. “Our Trinity students researched these topics and created poster presentations to share with Elim staff during their annual professional development–120 teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service professionals came to learn about how to accommodate for these students’ needs in their classrooms,” said Scholma ’04, an assistant professor of special education. “I’m so proud of them!”

The Psychology Renewed Conference is an annual event held in April for alumni, students, and members of the community.  Each year the conference is centered on a particular theme in the field of counseling/clinical psychology.  Past themes have included mindfulness, addiction, and attachment.

The conference opens up space for attendees to delve deeper into a topic relevant to their work and network with others who have similar interests.  The on-campus conference allows those who are working in the field to earn CE credits and students to get experience at a professional conference.