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The Society of Christian Scholarship in Music (SCSM) convened at Trinity Christian College on February 20-21 for its annual meeting. The conference, hosted by Dr. Yudha Thianto, professor of theology, and Dr. Mark Peters,professor of music, drew nearly 50 music scholars from around the world and featured several key events that celebrated music and scholarship in the context of Christianity.
The first event, a panel discussion, welcomed Columbia College Professor James Falzone and Northeastern University Professor/Consultant Emmett Price, Ph.D., focusing on John Coltrane’s album A Love Supreme (1964).
The February 20 lecture was hosted by both the music and English departments. “The Cave and the Cathedral: Meaning-Making in the Dark” was delivered by Gregory Wolfe, editor of Image journal. Using examples from the film “Cave of Forgotten Dreams,” Wolfe highlighted the “oneness” with the Creator depicted in ancient cave drawings, contrasted with a sense of “egoism” expressed through modern works of art. In a post-lecture summary, students said they gained a deeper realization that art is not separate from God, but entwined, because “art, at its core, is worship.”
Other presenters included Trinity alumnus Adam Perez ’13 and Dr. Aron Reppmann ’92, professor of philosophy, who submitted papers to the association for the meeting.
A third feature event of the conference was a free concert performed by Falzone’s ALLOS MUSICA. The quartet played a variety of pieces, including a few of Falzone’s originals. Playing wind, string, and percussion instruments, the group took listeners through a musical journey of different cultures from around the world.
The SCSM had its first conference in March of 2002 with a focus on bringing faith and academic research together. The 2014 meeting at Trinity was a wonderful example of melding Christian music and scholarship.
Peters has served on the executive committee of the SCSM and as chair of the publication committee. He now acts as publisher of the SCSM newsletter. “I’ve been involved with the SCSM for nearly 10 years, and it was exciting to host this year’s meeting of the society at Trinity,” he said. “Both Trinity and the SCSM place a high value on Christian approaches to scholarship and on interdisciplinary dialogue, so it was a natural fit. Those attending the conference were impressed with Trinity’s commitment to Christian scholarship and by the welcoming spirit they found here.”
On February 22, Trinity sent two teams of tech savvy students to the 27th Annual Computer Programming Competition sponsored by the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA). One of those teams, comprising Michael Lautermilch ’15 of Lockport, Illinois; Brian Haak ’14 of Zeeland, Michigan; Spencer Ten Haken ’15, and Lucas Vanderwal ’15, finished 2nd place in the competition. Team 2–Ben Pausma ’15 of Melvin, Iowa; and Asma Abdelqader ’14 of Chicago–finished in 7th place.
The event, hosted by Olivet Nazarene University, featured 20 different computer programming teams from eight different colleges. Using one computer and no faculty instruction, each team was required to program solutions to eight different problems in four hours. Judges confirmed correct/incorrect answers and provide feedback. Teams could answer numerous times but were penalized for wrong answers.
The second-place team programmed seven of the eight problems correctly, only one shy of Wheaton’s first-place team. They also answered the most difficult question before any of the other teams. Jeff Nyhoff, associate professor of computer science, said he was very pleased with the close finish.
The students were accompanied by both Nyhoff and Ron Hansum, retired Trinity computer service technician. The advisors helped students prepare for the challenge of competing in the “Advanced” division, the highest division in the competition. Last year, Trinity’s team took first place in the “Novice” division.
Interns at nearby Argonne National Laboratories, Haak, Vanderwal, Ten Haken, and Pausma all plan to participate in similar competitions next year.
“It speaks well of the Trinity students who participated that they could see the merit in participating in something like this,” said Nyhoff. “I also was impressed by the teamwork and camaraderie the students displayed, throughout the day.”
Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2014 Founders’ Scholarship.
Congratulations to Morgan De Ruiter of Pella, Iowa, and Katie Oomkes of Grand Rapids, Michigan!
The Founders’ Scholarship
The Founders’ Scholarship is a renewable, full-tuition award available annually to two incoming freshmen. Applicants must:
- rank in the top five percent of their graduating class or achieve a 3.8 grade-point average
- score a minimum of 30 on the ACT or 1320 on the SAT
- exhibit leadership in their church, school, or community
- display evidence of personal faith in Jesus Christ
About Morgan De Ruiter
Parents: Darryl and Shelly De Ruiter
Home church: Grace Fellowship
High school: Pella Christian High School
Siblings: Derek and Jake
On her first visit to Trinity, Morgan De Ruiter was impressed by the spiritual strength present on campus. Growing up in a Christian home, she was looking for a place to grow alongside a community of believers. “I feel that a Christian college is what I want and what God has planned for me,” she wrote.
Throughout her time at Pella Christian, De Ruiter has been an active member of multiple sports teams, choir, band, and student government. She has served as both class president and vice president and is currently a member of her school’s student council. Once a student at Trinity, De Ruiter hopes to study biology and participate in student ministries and intramurals.
“God loves me much more than I can imagine, and he only wants what is best for me. I know that he calls me to be his ambassador in this world.”
About Katie Oomkes
Parents: Daniel and Lois Oomkes
Home church: Third Reformed Church
High school: Northview High School
Siblings: Matthew and Jacob
Katie Oomkes seeks to receive a strong, Christ-centered education through her time at Trinity. “I want to learn from professors who care as much as I do about my future and how God is going to shape it,” she wrote. She feels that Trinity’s location will give her a unique chance to serve both in the city and surrounding suburbs.
Oomkes has played tennis, participated in jazz band, served on student council, and been a part of the National Honor Society throughout her high school career. She has also found multiple windows to serve in her community, including a peer-to-peer support group, vacation Bible school, praise team, and various youth camps. At Trinity, Oomkes will study church and ministry leadership while taking part in band and backstage theater.
“My passion for Christian leadership is something that I feel can be directed and fed at Trinity,” she wrote. “While I want to learn more about Christian leadership, I also want to be ready to live out my faith in the world.”
Like many, I’m looking ahead to the summer with a variety of emotions. Our soon-to-be graduates are finishing the work required for the semester while eagerly anticipating Commencement. They also anxiously await news about jobs or graduate school placement.
Graduation signals a time of exciting new challenges, while realizing that it is also a time of goodbyes to people who have come to mean so much over the years. Our faculty are thinking ahead to writing projects and research activities that they will step more fully into during the summer months, yet they are focused on a strong finish to all of the tasks they need to complete this semester—and particularly making the best use of the remaining classroom time and the grading process that stretches on ahead.
I, too, am anticipating many changes this summer, for the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has nominated me to be their next Executive Director. This nomination awaits final approval at action at CRCNA’s annual Synod gathering in June. Anticipating approval, this means that I’ll be stepping into a challenging and significant role for a denomination of a quarter of a million members with churches across the U.S. and Canada and with ministries of word and deed around the globe. Stepping into that role means that I’ll conclude my 11 years as Trinity’s president in July. I am fully confident that Trinity’s Board of Trustees, campus leaders, faculty, staff, and students will continue to flourish in the weeks, months, and years ahead, for God has and will continue to bless Trinity!
But it’s not summer yet! It’s not even spring here in Chicago. So please stay tuned; I will continue to offer glimpses of Trinity by means of this blog and, in a few weeks, I will also be able to provide updates about the search the Board will undertake for Trinity’s next president.
English major Anna DeBoer ’16 recently attended the annual English Department Graduate Student Conference held in honor of Professor Emeritus Dr. Daniel Diephouse. She shares her experience of the event in the story below.
This Valentine’s Day, Trinity’s English Department celebrated higher education with its fourth English Graduate Student Conference. The two-day event began Friday, February 14, and featured presentations by alumni, a conference writing workshop, and dinner. Saturday’s events included a brunch and discussion centered around current Trinity students considering graduate school.
As a whole, the conference acts as an encouragement to students, demonstrating ways in which we can use a degree in English. On an individual level, it encourages us to be advocates of our own thinking and writing, to go beyond what we think we can do. It is a call to excellence.
It encourages us to be advocates of our own thinking and writing, to go beyond what we think we can do. It is a call to excellence.
– Anna DeBoer ’16
Friday afternoon, I walked into the conference room. I saw many familiar faces—classmates and professors. There were a few others who were not so familiar—the graduates who had come back to demonstrate to us the benefits of continued education.
Professor VanderWeele acted as host of the conference, which he said got its start as a “gift” from faculty in honor of Dr. Dan Diephouse, professor emeritus of English, at his retirement. He said he hopes other events will follow this event, the fourth Diephouse conference. He introduced Diephouse to the students and also noted Professor Jones’ involvement in planning the event.
Next, he introduced the graduates for the first round of presentations. Natalia Wegrzyniak ’11, in the midst of her master’s degree work at Governor State University, read her paper on Tony Harrison’s poem “V.”
Listening to Wegrzyniak’s in-depth analysis of a poem she is passionate about reminded me of all the writings that have inspired me. Her presentation spoke to us undergraduates about more than the paper’s thesis; it also served as a reminder to take the material we have been inspired by and to simply write.
Next, alumnus and Trinity adjunct professor Tim Hendrickson ’96, began with a challenge: “Come up with big ideas. Write outside of class, outside of what your teacher tells you to write.” Hendrickson recently earned his Ph.D. at Northern Illinois University.
Other alumni presenters included Elyse Lamszus ’08 and Allison Backous-Troy ’07. The weekend included a time of reading, writing, critique, and discussion.
Cal Tameling ’72, CEO of SET Environmental, answered questions about his faith and career journey at the first “Conversations on Leadership” event at Trinity on February 17. This was the first in a series of discussions sponsored by the College’s business department.
Tameling, interviewed by Professor of Business Lynn White, discussed preparing for leadership, founding a business, and giving back to the community.
Tameling graduated from Trinity in 1972 with a degree in Sociology. Although unsure of his path, his relationship with Christ remained strong throughout his studies. “My desire was to serve God in whatever way I could,” he said when asked his initial career goals. “The title of your degree doesn’t define your work for Christ.”
Through his time at Trinity, Tameling learned how to develop a well-rounded, Christ-centered way of thinking. His professors prepared him for understanding “Kingdom building” in different vocations and helped him discover his gifts and abilities. He accepted a partnership at his family business after graduating and worked there for five years before starting SET Environmental in 1979.
SET Environmental is a chemical waste disposal service, operating under a motto of “integrity, innovation, and excellence.”
What sets this company apart from others are the principles which guide all employees and activities, said Tameling. He aims to hire men and women of character and ensures the ethics of the business are clearly communicated to prospective hires. “I provide the framework for my company. We have a code of conduct which reflects my values,” said Tameling.
Tameling also experienced times of hardship throughout his career. But he explained that his failures taught him more than his successes, and he encouraged students to surround themselves with supportive Christian communities for such difficult times.
Continuing the conversations with students
The “Conversations on Leadership” series, sponsored by the Leadership Committee, is designed to inspire current students to succeed by using their gifts and implementing faith in the workplace. Many students and faculty alike walked away from the seminar with fresh ideas about Kingdom building in the fields of business and entrepreneurship.
Catherine White ’15 of Orland Park, Illinois, an accounting major with an entrepreneurship minor, aspires to become a CPA and work for an international business after graduation.
She said, “At an event like this, you have the opportunity to ask someone who is extremely successful in their career about tactics, advice, or even assistance for the future. It is a great way to network and also to gain knowledge.”
Assistant Professor of Business Kyle Harkema also attended the discussion. As a former entrepreneur, Harkema was very appreciative of Tameling’s story.
“The temptation to sacrifice your Christian standards of business conduct are tested when faced with difficult financial times in your business,” said Harkema, “that is why it is so important for the students to hear from accomplished professionals regarding how they were able to navigate these tough times without sacrificing their integrity as Christian business people.”
Jacob Tiemersma ’14 of South Holland, Illinois, helped organize Monday’s event. As part of the Leadership Committee, Tiemersma recognizes the importance of Christian leadership in business. “Work is fulfilling our call to be workers for the Kingdom of God,” he said. “We must perform our work knowing that God’s eye is always on us. We work for him, not for ourselves.”
Tameling’s interview was the first of five conversations in the “Conversations on Leadership” series.
The leadership conversations are free and open to the public. To R.S.V.P, contact Dennis Harms at 708.293.4819 or dennis.harms@trnty.edu.
Upcoming Conversations on Leadership
- Monday, March 31, 10 a.m., Fireside Room – Karen Bushy, former trustee and president of the Village of Oak Brook and CEO, Memories & Beyond, will be interviewed by Professor Todd Barre
- Monday, April 14, 10 a.m., Fireside Room – John Venhuizen, CEO, ACE Hardware, will be interviewed by President Steve Timmermans
- Monday, May 5, 10 a.m., CL215 – Jack Van Namen, Director of Sales, KBC Direct Floral Programs, will be interviewed by Professor Rick Hamilton
For five consecutive years, students from Associate Professor Ellen Browning’s photography class have been selected by Photography Forum Magazine to be published in The Best College Photography of 2014.
This year, Trinity recognizes the accomplishments of Kaleb Dean ’14 of Caldwell, Idaho, and Rebecca Vanderzee ’14 of Dyer, Indiana, whose work was reviewed and selected by professional photographers in the field.
Photo credit: Kaleb Dean
Photo credit: Rebecca Vanderzee
The Best College Photography 2014 contest is co-sponsored by Nikon and Sony and had over 16,000 entries from the United States and Canada. This hardcover publication will include these students’ work and will be distributed to college libraries, instructors of photography, and artist and designers worldwide.
After a two-year incubation period, student leaders have officially established a new prayer ministry at Trinity. The ministry seeks to nurture spiritual relationships by allowing students to congregate in prayer before Outcry, the student-led worship held every Thursday night.
The Outcry team has always gathered to pray before leading the student body in worship. The vision for a student prayer ministry began in 2012 as team members discussed the possibility in weekly meetings. After searching for the Lord’s direction, several other students stepped forward, voicing their interest.
Student leaders Tanner Reklaitis ’17 of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Sam Meyer ’16 of Villa Park, Illinois, felt prompted to head the ministry in its beginning stages. The Outcry team continued praying for the Lord’s blessing and brainstorming logistics, and by January 31, 2014, the prayer ministry was underway.
Senior Outcry leader Megan Anderson ’14 of Elgin, Illinois, played a large part in making the ministry a reality.
“As ministry leaders, it is our job to keep enabling and creating space for students to step up and take ownership of their faith journey,” she said, “We hope that by providing another intentional space to be in community, praying, and preparing their hearts to enter into worship right after, students will grow and encounter God in new ways.”
The ministry is made possible by past and current members of the Outcry team and other students who have dedicated their prayer and time to getting it off the ground. The ministry is open to all interested students and meets at 9:15 p.m. before Outcry. The session itself has no specific structure, but will be shaped by the needs of participating students.
The ministry seeks to bring the Trinity community closer and feed a spiritual hunger demonstrated by the students.
“Whatever God chooses to do through this ministry is up to him, after all, it is his ministry,” said Anderson. “But, I can’t help but just feel satisfied that we’ve all obeyed and it’s happening. All glory to God.”
Building on the success of its strong traditional undergraduate and graduate studies psychology programs, Trinity is launching a psychology degree-completion program through the Adult Studies department.
In Trinity’s accelerated program, adult students:
- apply their previous college credit
- attend classes once a week
- finish a bachelor’s degree in psychology in two years
Through the accelerated Adult Studies psychology program, students develop the theoretical insight and professional skills needed to serve in a variety of psychology-related careers and professions or to enter graduate study. Students who wish to work as Licensed Professional Counselors can continue on to earn a master’s degree through Trinity’s Graduate Studies Counseling Psychology program.
Learn more on March 26
Prospective students interested in learning more about Trinity’s Adult Studies psychology program are invited to attend an information session on Wednesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. Register online at adultstudies.trnty.edu or by calling Trinity Christian College at 708.239.4768.
A community of learners
The program, structured around a cohort model, brings students into a dynamic and exciting community focused on the science of psychology and its many applications to professional experiences.
“Adult learners at Trinity develop strong, supportive relationships with instructors who are caring, competent, and committed to student success,” said Dr. Michael DeVries, professor of psychology. “As a professor and clinician, I am careful to integrate Christian perspective with established psychological science.”
Thank you for your interest in and support of Trinity Christian College! We are happy to share with you the 2013 President’s Report, which provides four perspectives on the previous year:
A letter from the president—President Steven Timmermans, Ph.D., reflects on highlights from the past year, including the completion of the DeVos Athletics and Recreation Center and excellent College rankings.
A financial review—The College offers an overview of the 2012-13 Financial Report’s Sources of Funds and Uses of Funds.
The Year in Review in photographs—The College looks back on 2013 to remember and give thanks for the countless blessings on students, professors, staff, and alumni.
A list of donor friends—The College thanks and acknowledges donors.