Archives: News Stories

“The Bible in Its World”, a new overseas trip to the Holy Land, took 19 students to Israel where they explored ancient sites and hiked over Israel’s rugged terrain. Led by Instructor of Theology Emily Thomassen ’09, the course focused on biblical geography and a deeper understanding of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament.

After days of traveling around Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Dead Sea, the group spent time in the peaceful region of Galilee as students learned about Jesus’ life and ministry.

Thomassen, who earned her master’s from Jerusalem University College (JUC), returns often to Israel and developed Trinity’s Interim course based on a similar program offered at JUC. The emphasis on biblical geography called for the students to map Bible events and reference these maps during their travels.

“I was given the opportunity to not only read and learn about Jesus but to learn about the history of the land, so that I could better understand the context in which the Bible was written,” said Leah VanTol ’16 of Rock Valley, Iowa.

“One of the most incredible things was being able to experience the movement of God’s people as they traveled into the Promised Land,” said Daeleen Visser ’15 of Burlington, Washington. “As Professor Thomassen explained the significance of where we were standing in the barren Judean wilderness, we could feel the Israelites’ uncertainty. But as we followed their path west into the beautiful Shephelah, we were given a vivid picture of the way God continues to guide his people from desolation to blessing if only they put their trust in his promises.”

Six others accompanied Thomassen and the students, including parents Dave Visser and Lisa Huisman ’86. Huisman, mother of student Lette Huisman, captured hundreds of photos of the experience. “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to study with Emily in Israel and to be able to share the experience with my daughter, Lette,” she said.

“In the week since I’ve been back I’ve been able to read the Bible with a new set of eyes and a new understanding. It suddenly comes to life in a new way,” said Lette Huisman ’14 of Hudsonville, Michigan. “I’m so thankful for the opportunity to study in Israel.”

Thomassen said this new appreciation for how they read the Bible was echoed by other students. She added that the bond that was formed between the students was an added blessing of the trip.

Because of Thomassen’s connection with JUC, the group had the honor of visiting in the home of college president Dr. Paul Wright, who served as Thomassen’s thesis advisor during her graduate studies.

This course was only one of the 25 options students could choose from during the College’s annual two-week Interim program.

Representatives from local ministries and organizations visited the psychology classes of Dr. Mary Lynn Colosimo on January 30 to share the many service opportunities available to students.

Completing service hours is required in some classes, such as those taught by Colosimo. Each year hundreds of Trinity students log thousands of volunteer hours locally and abroad through classes and clubs and during the two-week January Interim and spring break.

Several Trinity alumni served as panel guests today, answering questions about their work and explaining the various ways students can volunteer.

Thank you to panel members…

Alyssa Prasse ’15
Trinity Christian College, Sunday Snacks Ministry

Ray Banks
Restoration Ministries

Harold Boyd ’10
Roseland Christian Ministries

Chuck Dobeck ’12
The Bridge Teen Center

Heather Gomez
Providence Life Services

Erika Johnson
By the Hand Ministries

Tabitha Matthews
Trinity Christian College, Community Service and Pre-College Program

Julia Norris
Roseland Christian Ministries

Jeremy Oosterhouse ’06
Palos Heights Christian Reformed Church

Eric VanderSchaaf ’08
Restoration Ministries

The campus community commemorated the 85th birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the annual gathering on January 20.

Dr.Brad Breems, professor of sociology, delivered the address “Martin Luther King Jr., Beyond the Man, the Dream, the Day.”

Breems emphasized that Christians, believing the understanding of love as defined in Scripture, can never claim ignorance to another person’s struggle.

“We are all related,” said Breems, “and we neglect others at our peril. If we love God, we must love others.”

As part of the celebration, remarks on King’s stance on non-violence were offered by Tabitha Matthews, coordinator of community services and pre-college programs.

Inspirational dance and song provided a worshipful tone to the event. A praise dance was performed by Noel Huddleston ’16 of Homewood, Illinois, and the celebration closed with “Amazing Grace,” sung by junior Ciara Deal of Bolingbrook, Illinois.

The annual celebration is sponsored by the Office of Ethnic Diversity and the Ethnic Diversity Committee.

The two-week Interim program Trinity offers each year between semesters has proven to be a successful extension of the learning environment. Locally and abroad, students choose from more than 25 options of special interest classes, trips, and service opportunities.

Far and away

A new overseas course was introduced this year as 19 students, led by Emily Thomassen ’09, instructor of theology, traveled to Israel where they toured the Holy Land, exploring ancient sites and hiking over Israel’s rugged terrain.

Travel abroad to countries like Jamaica, Costa Rica, and England allowed students the opportunity to study different cultures, to serve others, and to gain a new appreciation of the Creation.

Read the blog posts for details on some of these day-to-day experiences.

Cool classes on campus, too!

A wide variety of on-campus classes was offered, including Chicago’s Role in Contemporary Theatre, Conspiracy Theories, and Rock Climbing, which was available for the first time and employed the new climbing wall in the DeVos Center for initial lessons in technique.

Check out the photo galleries for these other Interim courses:

Origami, the art of Japanese paper folding

Volunteer service at Restoration Ministries

Nine years later, she continues to teach music to her junior high students and takes on an additional role in the world of music as Junior/Senior General Music Division Vice President of the Illinois Music Education Association. The mission of the association is to promote lifelong music learning and to provide leadership for music education.

In this role, Evenhouse will focus on growing the field of music for teachers, including opportunities for professional development and dissemination of information on trends in music education. She leads a council of nine teachers from various districts in Illinois who meet throughout the year to plan ways to support schools in developing music programs.

In addition, Evenhouse oversees planning of the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria, held this year in January. The conference features keynote speakers, various sessions, concerts, and a recital performed by the winners of the student composition contest that saw 150 entries in 15 categories.

It’s all one experience.

Evenhouse said the early opportunities to be involved as a Trinity freshman in leadership roles prepared her for future leadership. She said that preparation, as well as the mentoring from professors, are unique to Trinity.

“After graduation, I had the confidence to take on leadership roles in education,” said Evenhouse, also noting the holistic approach to education at Trinity.

“A Trinity, education is interconnected. There are not different spheres of learning; the academic, spiritual, and social are all one experience.”

Many opportunities exist for Trinity students to gain hands on experience through internships. In addition, professors plan projects that offer students ways to collaborate with companies and organizations, enhancing classroom learning and providing a service to the partnering organizations.

During the fall semester, students in the course Fine Arts Education worked alongside members of a strategic planning committee for a new school in the Chicago neighborhood of Roseland. The project, and the course, examined ways to integrate visual arts, music, drama, and dance into the future curriculum.

Each semester, Dr. Bill Boerman-Cornell, associate professor of education, arranges a semester-long project with a different school or organization to help offer art activities to the children being served.

Boerman-Cornell is part of a committee investigating the possibility of beginning Roseland Christian Academy. This initiative follows the closing of the 129-year-old Roseland Christian School in 2013 and the still-present need for a high caliber Christian elementary school in this high-needs community.

On the first day of class, Trinity students viewed a past fundraising video about Roseland not realizing the school had been closed. Boerman-Cornell said the students were deeply affected by the eventual realization, but that disappointment quickly changed to determination as they were told their assignment: work throughout the semester to help build a curriculum for a new school.

The Trinity students worked in five groups, each focused on an aspect of art, including visual arts, writing, dance, music, and drama. For each category, the students developed a grid that included every grade and the various ways the fine arts could be integrated into every subject.

Former Roseland Principal Mathew James said the work of the Trinity students “has shaped what the new Roseland will look like.”

The project has also been formational for the Trinity students.

“This course has changed the way I think about teaching,” said Chad Westenbroek ’15 of Ontario, California. “It has shown me all the work that goes into creating a curriculum and that I have the creative potential as a teacher that I didn’t realize I had before.”

Sophomore Paige Van Wolde of Dyer, Indiana, realized the importance of the arts in education. “The arts give children a voice,” said Van Wolde. “Through all of the research, I saw the ways the arts will give the children of Roseland a voice, which every child should have.”

James said the research students conducted provided foundational material that would aide future staff who would otherwise have had to spend time conducting research in addition to planning classes and teaching. He said another contribution from the students’ efforts included investigating the use of space for art activities.

The collaboration, which also involved students attending the committee meetings, presents the potential for ongoing opportunities for Trinity education students such as student teaching positions and other internships.

One way for current and prospective students to get a glimpse into the future is through the stories of Trinity graduates.

The College’s new webpage features many alumni success stories with more being added each semester. The stories showcase a variety of majors and career paths that alumni have pursued as they also discovered God’s calling for their lives.

If you are a current or prospective student, be inspired by these great stories and visit again as new ones will be added soon!

On December 14, Trinity Christian College graduated the first class of master’s degree students.

Dennis Brumirski, April Grant, Michele Kintz, Paula Karll, Vincent Lucca, Daniel Matt, Laura Ridgley, Katherine, Sanavaitis, William Scott, and Barbara Wolterink are alumni of the inaugural cohort Master of Arts in Special Education program.

A number of the students are alumni of Trinity’s undergraduate and Adult Studies programs and were pleased to have the opportunity to continue their education here.

Paula Karll ’13 earned her teaching license at Trinity. “I had a great experience in the Adult Studies program, and I wanted to have the same positive experience, so I continued my education at Trinity.”

Bill Scott, another Adult Studies alum, said, “I felt very comfortable at this school where everybody is genuinely concerned for your success.”

Scott progressed from being a one-on-one aide to having a special education classroom of his own because of the master’s program. He is not alone. Nearly every member of the cohort who entered the program without a teaching position secured a full-time teaching position because of the experience and training they received in the year-and-a-half program.

“Classes became more than just instruction,” said Dennis Brumirski ’13. “On a week to week basis, we received instruction not just to pass the state tests, but we received information that helped us in the classroom immediately.”  

Professors in the program bring a collective 75+ years of special education experience to their courses.

“I have enjoyed the variety of teachers I have had,” said Barbara Wolterink ’13. “Every professor has been excellent and knowledgeable in their field of study. I learned so much in a year and a half.”

Dr. Patti Powell, director of the Master of Arts in Special Education program, also teaches in the program.

“The first year of Trinity’s master’s degree in special education has been one filled with talented students, dedicated faculty, challenging coursework, and thoughtful final research papers based on solid data,” said Powell.  “Our new graduates are committed to helping each child they teach reach their full potential.”

Trinity will graduate the first cohort of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program in May 2014. Information on the Graduate Studies programs can be found at http://graduatestudies.trnty.edu or by calling the Graduate Studies office at 708.239.3900.

Hanging out with friends, earning extra money during seasonal jobs, and sleeping in may be on the list for most high school seniors during winter break.

But here are a few ways they can use some of that time off to prepare for the important months ahead.

Look for a summer job—Many students look for a summer job during spring break, but why not get a head start? You can even collect job applications from local stores while you do your holiday shopping. Fill out the applications and file them in manila envelopes until you’re ready to submit them.

Schedule a college visit—Check the websites of colleges you’re interested in and schedule a time to visit in the near future. Trinity’s next Destination Trinity visit is February 27-28, 2014. Signing up is easy!

Apply for scholarships—Trinity offers lots of scholarships to help students fund their education. If you have already been admitted to Trinity and plan to apply for scholarships, the priority deadline is January 15! Required materials should be received by this date.

File the FAFSA!—After January 1, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA is required if you want to be considered for any need-based grants, work-study, or loans. The priority deadline is February 15, but it’s best to file as early.

Make it special—This is the last winter break before college begins and life changes dramatically. Back to that first list… Yes, hang out with friends, rest, earn extra money for college. And make the most of your time with family over the holidays!

Computer science students in the Visual Programming course spent several weeks working in teams to create original projects that made use of the Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect camera, which tracks the user’s body movements.

The projects, which involved complex coding and programming, included new kinds of interface experiences, games, and digital art. One team developed a way for a person’s hand gestures to replace the functions of the computer “mouse.” Another group created a tribute to the 1970s “PONG” video game, using their arm movements to control the game’s paddles.

The resulting projects were “impressive, accessible, and even whimsical,” said Dr. Jeffrey Nyhoff, associate professor of computer science.

The students invited various faculty and staff members to view a demonstration of their creations on December 10 in the Heritage Science Center.