Our third year of participating in the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge began Saturday, September 21, as Trinity students and students from local Muslim faith communities linked hands to work together on the Cal Sag Trail.
Dr. Mackenzi Huyser ’97, dean for faculty development and academic programs, and Dr. Patti Powell, director of the graduate program in special education, have been accepted to the roster of Fulbright Specialists.
According to the website, the Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) promotes linkages between U.S. scholars and professionals and their counterparts at host institutions overseas. The program awards grants to qualified U.S. faculty and professionals, in select disciplines, to engage in short-term collaborative two- to six-week projects at eligible institutions in over 140 countries worldwide.
For more information about the program, visit the Fulbright website.
Dr. Mackenzi Huyser ’97
Huyser developed the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program for Trinity and obtained full professional accreditation for the program, a process that began in 2000 and took five years to complete. She was selected as an emerging leader by the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers in 2010.
Huyser’s motivation for applying to the Fulbright Specialist Program stemmed from a desire to gain a more global perspective on teaching in her discipline. She is interested in learning from international partners about their work preparing the next generation of social workers. She also hopes to gain new insights from international institutions of higher education to see how they celebrate and inspire faculty in the area of faculty development. In these overseas universities, Huyser would provide consultation in the areas of program and curricular development, assessment of student learning, and faculty development.
“I continually see the significant impact that a global perspective has on higher education both in specific disciplines and institutionally,” said Huyser. “In Trinity’s social work program, this has resulted in integrating a global perspective into our curriculum, expanding our continuing education offerings to address cross-cultural issues in the field, and developing partnerships with international field placement sites in Ecuador and Kenya.
“Pursuing this work has connected our program with wonderful partners in the Chicagoland area and overseas. I see similar opportunities for partnership through the Fulbright Specialist Program.”
Dr. Patti Powell
Named a Fulbright Scholar in 2011, Powell spent a semester at Sam Sharpe Teacher’s College in Granville, Jamaica, teaching special education classes, observing student teachers, introducing service-learning to students and faculty, and helping the special education faculty write curriculum to change from a three-year diploma granting program to a four-year degree granting program.
Powell said she applied for the Fulbright Specialist Program because of her scholar experience and her continuing work in Jamaica, where she leads Trinity students in service-learning at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf every January.
As a specialist, Powell hopes to utilize her education and strong background in service-learning by participating in international collaboration.
“I have the opportunity to impact both students and faculty at Trinity as well as members of the various special education and international organizations that I am a part of,” said Powell. “The richer my experiences, the more I can give back to those considering such an option.”
Powell serves as the Fulbright Program Advisor on Trinity’s campus and believes that overseas experiences enrich her in this role as she encourages students to pursue their own international experiences. She is also a board member of the Chicago Fulbright chapter.
The Trinity community recently celebrated the launch of Almost Pioneers, the memoir of Laura Gibson Smith, discovered and edited by Dr. John Fry, professor of history.
Fry discovered Smith’s manuscript at the Iowa Women’s Archives in Iowa City while writing his book, The Farm Press, Reform, and Rural Change, 1895-1920. The manuscript tells the story of Smith and her husband Earle’s experiences homesteading near Chugwater, Wyoming.
At a reception and book signing held on September 10, Fry read from the memoir and from the afterword he wrote for the book.
“Were the Smiths quintessential Americans, launching out into the unknown to better their position financially, willing to go backwards…in order to make a better future…and helping to build the prosperous and free nation that we enjoy today?
“Or were the Smith quintessential Americans, only looking out for their own interests without regard for those who had come before them, or the needs of their local community?”
Readers can draw their own conclusions as well as enjoy a real-life adventure of the American West and the thoughts of a true “professor” of history.
More about Fry’s work on Almost Pioneers
Students came back to some changes on campus when they returned for the fall 2013 semester.
The College was hard at work over the summer to make improvements to the grounds, common buildings, and residence halls in addition to finishing and equipping the gymnasium expansion and renovation.
So what’s new on campus?
Phase 2 Gymnasium Expansion—The DeVos Athletics and Recreation Center has been completed! Final construction and renovation included refinishing the Mitchell Memorial gym floor and adding new equipment; furnishing classrooms; installing flooring, exercise equipment, and a bouldering wall in the fitness center; and adding exterior landscaping.
“The new facility is gorgeous,” said Student Association President Nate Tameling ’14 of Burr Ridge, Illinois. “You feel like you’re working out in a facility that you would have to pay hundreds of dollars a year for to have a similar experience. I think it is also encouraging students who typically don’t work out. This will be a huge bonus to athletics.”
Entrance Road—Now that construction is finished on the athletics and recreation facility, the road from Rt. 83 has been widened and repaved, providing a welcoming entrance onto campus.
George and June Schaaf Athletics Complex—Development continues on the Rt. 83 athletics fields progress made over the summer on the baseball and softball fields.
Tibstra Hall–This residence hall saw major improvements! To accommodate upper class students, all suites on the 2nd and 3rd floors have been remodeled and full-sized kitchens installed. Each kitchen is equipped with cabinets, a full-sized oven and refrigerator, a new kitchen sink, and a new microwave. Kitchens were also updated with paint, lighting, and flooring. Bathtubs were removed in all the suites, and new showers, valves, plumbing, and enclosures were installed. The suites were also furnished with new living room and bedroom furniture. The main lobby area has a new front desk with display cases, new furniture, and a new television. The east end floor lounges were equipped with computer work stations and new furniture. The west end floor lounges have new furniture and televisions. All of the lounge areas were updated with paint, carpet, and lighting. A new Life Safety Fire Alarm system was installed in the dorm.
West Hall–Students looking for a place to relax will enjoy the new furniture and television in the basement lounge, which was also updated with carpet, paint, and lighting. Additionally, a private computer room and an office for the Residence Director were constructed. The second floor lobby has new furniture and a new television.
South Hall–The former Student Association room in the lower level has been remodeled with air conditioning, lighting, carpet, paint, kitchen cabinets and sink, tile, and a new television and furniture. All four lounges in the dorm were remodeled.
Jennie Huizenga Memorial Library—Students heading into the library to study will find freshly painted walls and new carpeting in the common areas of the first and second floors (including the Board Room).
Dining Hall–Students in line for their meals in the Dining Hall will notice new lighting and beautiful tile work in the serving area.
Molenhouse Student Center–Looking for Student Programs? You can find them in their new office where the previous cubicles were located outside the Cooper Center.
Art and Communication Center—The temporary lot south of the ARCC now provides a fenced grassy area for students to construct and display their work.
Campus grounds—New flowers and shrubs brightened up the landscaping, adding to Trinity’s already beautiful campus.
Bootsma Bookstore Café—Thanks to the efforts of Student Association, students will now enjoy evenings around the permanent fire pit.
Administration Building–New carpeting and lighting spruced up the staircases as well as the hallway leading to the Dining Hall.
The College hopes that students are enjoying these many changes, and the updates to the campus enrich their Trinity experience!
Trinity Christian College has been ranked 28th among Regional Colleges—Midwest by U.S.News & World Report in “Best Colleges” for 2014. A total of 367 colleges are ranked in the entire Regional category.
Trinity also ranked 8th in the area of Campus Ethnic Diversity: Regional Colleges—Midwest. This ranking speaks to the College’s continued commitment to develop a multi-racial, multi-national, and multi-denominational student body.
The College stands among other institutions in the Regional Colleges category that offer a wide range of degree programs in the liberal arts and in fields such as business, education, and nursing. The U.S. News rankings are based on several criteria, including peer assessment, graduation and freshmen retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving.
From the first day of class to commencement to participating in God’s kingdom, the living and breathing qualities of a Trinity education are evident,” said Provost Liz Rudenga, Ph.D. “We are pleased to be recognized by U.S. News but know that qualities which can’t necessarily be ‘ranked’ permeate our campus.
“It is evident when students and professors engage in conversation during First Year Forum, as athletic contests are held, as students participate in internships, and as professors serve as mentors to students.”
Other recent rankings
The College has been listed by Washington Monthly among hundreds of the nation’s top colleges in the 2013 Baccalaureate College Rankings.
Trinity has also been named to the 2014 Military Friendly Schools list by Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life.
Trinity is pleased to announce some recent rankings that speak to the quality and value of a Trinity education.
The College has been listed by Washington Monthly among hundreds of the nation’s top colleges in the 2013 Baccalaureate College Rankings, with a national ranking of 48. These rankings are based on the school’s contribution to the public good in three categories. The first is social mobility, which gives colleges credit for enrolling many low-income students and helping them earn degrees. The second recognizes research production, particularly at schools whose undergraduates go on to earn PhDs. Third, colleges are measured in terms of their valuing commitment to service.
President Steve Timmermans noted, “This third area, service, is key to formation, and we see it in vibrant service-learning, flowing out of courses and out of student desires to volunteer.”
Trinity also made Washington Monthly’s 2013 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings based on the economic value students receive per dollar. Trinity is honored to be a part of the “exclusive” list of 48 baccalaureate colleges in America that do the best job of helping students of modest means attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.
The College also ranks No. 2 in value among Illinois colleges and No. 103 (out of 1,288) in Best Nationwide Colleges for the Money, according to CollegeFactual.com.
College Factual identifies which colleges and universities deliver quality education and economic value by comparing academic quality, as indicated in the Best Colleges rankings, to the cost of obtaining an undergraduate degree from the institution.
Each year, Trinity has consistently been ranked in the Top Tier of U.S.News and World Report’s Best Colleges—Regional Midwest.
Trinity Christian College has been named to the 2014 Military Friendly Schools list by Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life.
This ranks Trinity in the top 20 percent of all colleges, universities, and trade schools that make efforts to embrace America’s military students and ensure their success on campus. An annual list is compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 VA-approved schools nationwide.
For information about applying to Trinity, call 866.TRIN.4.ME. For information about military-related benefits at Trinity, contact Ryan Zantingh in Financial Aid at 708.239.4872 or ryan.zantingh@trnty.edu.
