Archives: News Stories

In February, graphic design student Heather Van Sant ’14 of Sully, Iowa, accompanied by Ellen Browning, assistant professor of art and design, attended the 12th Annual Self Employment in the Arts Conference sponsored by the Coleman Foundation.

The conference brings together professionals across the arts for everything from portfolio review to negotiating contracts.

“The opportunity to meet and talk with professionals in the field opens up all kinds of doors for students,” said Browning. “It’s a confidence builder and provides another perspective that helps students see where and how exactly they fit into the job world after school.”

Browning was able to help Van Sant obtain a scholarship through the Coleman Foundation to attend the conference.

“The conference was a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of what my life will be like as a graphic designer and photographer,” said Van Sant. “I feel much more prepared now and know what is to come. I also had the chance to talk to a graphic designer and photojournalist one-on-one.”

Story written by Kelsey Barnett ‘12

Members of the Trinity Campus Ecological Stewardship Advisory Group (CESAG) recently met in the Heritage Science Center to see how well students were recycling. The demonstration was an effort to improve the College’s recycling habits.

Members of CESAG asked custodians to refrain from throwing out the trash and recycle bins in the Heritage Science Center for one week. They then opened up all the bags and bins to see what students think should be recycled and what should be thrown away. After observing each pile, the members sorted them properly.

The initial response was that the bins were much better than when they did this experiment at the Bootsma Bookstore Café last semester. Another thought was that the volume of each pile was similar.

The most common mistake was that plastic bottles, cans, and paper are being thrown away and should be recycled while Styrofoam and other biodegradable items should not be recycled but thrown away.

When CESAG Chair Dr. Thomas Roose, associate professor of physics and science education, was asked what he would grade the Science Center, he said a low A to a high B for what is being recycled, but a C for the garbage pile. Recalling the same experiment at the BBC last fall, Roose said he would have given both piles a D or lower.

“Our desire should be to be good stewards of God’s creation,” said Taylor Bandstra ’13 of Pella, Iowa, and member of CESAG. As a member of CESAG, he says the vision statement of this group explains why the recycling habits of the college must improve.

It reads: “A Reformed worldview mandates that humans be good stewards of God’s creation. Trinity seeks to teach this worldview and to practice good stewardship, working to care for and redeem the earth.”

“God commands us to care for his creation, no buts or ifs about it,” added Bandstra. “That is the only motivation we should need.”  

CESAG challenges Trinity students, faculty, and staff to be more conscious of what they throw away and to follow signs explaining what is recyclable.

CESAG addresses questions and issue concerning recycling and their mission here: tcc.trnty.edu/about/habitat-for-life.pdf.

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On Monday, February 27, students and faculty heard the real-life stories of three guest speakers who shared their experiences about being homeless.

The guests were part of a speaker’s bureau from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit organization that works against homelessness in Chicago.

Elizabeth Brice ’12 of Tinley Park, Illinois, organized the event. The social work major is an intern with the organization and appreciates hearing the powerful stories of those helped by the Coalition.

“Hearing each of their stories keeps me energized and focused,” said Brice. “It can be easy to get bogged down in the details of my work. It’s great to hear from these survivors that our work is meaningful and impactful.”

At the campus event, students listened to stories about the speakers’ journeys, including struggles with   prostitution and living on the street while raising children.

“I learned that homelessness is more complex that you might think,” said Ben Borst ’13 of Grand Rapids, Michigan. “The term is thrown around a lot, but there are many variables that come into play.”

The event was sponsored by the College’s Department of Social Work, Department of Sociology, Social Justice Chapter, and Sunday Snacks.

Three Trinity photography students recently had their photos published in “Best College Photography 2012,” a book distributed worldwide to college libraries and to instructors of photography, and art and design.

Annalise Flier ’12 of Lowell, Michigan; Steve Martinez ’13 Chicago, Illinois; and Michael Hume ’13 of Evergreen Park, Illinois, entered their photos in Photographer’s Forum 32nd Annual College Photography Contest. From nearly 14,000 entries from around the world, the three were chosen as finalists.

The photos submitted were projects for a photography class taught by Assistant Professor of Art and Design Ellen Browning, who encourages student to enter the contest each year.

Flier, who is minoring in photography, was glad to be recognized outside of the classroom for her photo, “Oranges.”

“There is a big difference between achieving success in the classroom and achieving success in the art world,” Flier said. “I am constantly taking more photos, and I find this is the best way to continue expanding my technical abilities as well as my understanding of my photographic style.”

Hume expressed appreciation for what he learned in Browning’s class to help him with his entry, “Tattoo.”

“In class, I gained a wide variety of knowledge behind lighting and what makes a good composition,” said Hume. “If the light source had been anywhere else, then the photo would be less successful.”

See the winning images below:

Andrew Elliott Rusticus

June 20, 1982 —February 25, 2012

The Trinity Christian College community is mourning the loss of alumnus Andrew Elliott Rusticus, age 29. Rusticus died of an apparent heart attack on Saturday, February 25, leaving behind his wife Michelle and his daughters, three-year-old Baylee Noel and three-month-old Libby Grace.  He is also survived by his parents, Roland and Mary; brothers, Jeremy and Lisa (Evan, Ayana), Alex and Emily; parents-in-law, Tom and Carlene Cooke; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Jenn and Brent (Grady, Anna, Tate, Millie) Mingerink, Stephanie and Brad (Addison, Mckayla) Sterk, Heather and Dan DeBoer, Misha and Tanya; numerous grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and many dear friends and relatives.

Rusticus was a 2005 graduate of Trinity who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and psychology. He was honored with the Sociology Department’s Award in 2005 and qualified for the Dean’s List. While at Trinity, Rusticus interned for the Chicago Police Department and after his graduation, he was hired as a police officer in Woodridge, Illinois. Rusticus applied his faith to every aspect of his job—in his style of work, in his attitude, and in his Christian interaction with others. He is remembered fondly by Dr. Brad Breems, professor of sociology,  “Andy was one of the finest students I ever had; a humble and caring Christian, studious, compassionate, and careful, with a deep Reformed current always running through his analysis. All who knew Andy, including me, will miss this simply outstanding young man.”

During the three and a half years Rusticus served with the Village of Woodridge Police Department, he was awarded for valor for arresting a suspect who shot at officers; given a lifesaving award for performing CPR on an infant; and received two commendation awards for professional responses to criminal incidents. Rusticus joined the Grand Rapids Police Department in April 2009. He was jogging on Saturday afternoon around 2 p.m. as part of a training regimen for an upcoming canine handler position physical agility test with the department. A neighbor found him collapsed on the edge of the road near his home on Pheasant Run Drive north of Dorr, Michigan. He was pronounced dead at Metro Health Hospital at 7:08 p.m.

Visitation was held on February 29 at Cook Funeral and Cremation Services. The funeral service was held on March 1 at Dorr Christian Reformed Church in Michigan.

The family welcomes memories and messages in their online guestbook at www.cookfamilycares.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family to help with the cost of a Christian education for his daughters, Baylee and Libby. 

The Trinity Alumni Board encourages alumni and friends who wish to give a gift to do so online or by check via one of the following options:

By Mail:
Thin Blue Line of Michigan
TBL/FBO Michelle Rusticus 
P.O. Box 415
Howell, MI 48844-0415

Online:
http://www.andyslittleangels.com/

 
In Person:
at Trinity Christian College in the donation box at the front desk of the 2nd floor of the Huizenga Library.

If you have any questions, please contact Travis Bandstra, director of alumni relations, at 708.239.4854 or travis.bandstra@trnty.edu.

Trinity’s marketing students, business professors, and members of 25 different companies came together on February 15 for a Trinity Business Network (TBN) event. The presentation featured guest speaker David Duerr, chairman and CEO of Internet marketing company Straight North.

Duerr spoke on the topic “Internet Marketing—Understanding Search Engines, Online Advertising, and Social Media.” In the message, Duerr explained the new opportunities that the Internet provides for marketers.

“Social media has a huge effect on the way we communicate as humans,” said Kaitlin Feddema ’14 of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who attended the event as part of her online marketing class. “It’s changing the way the business world works as well. Nowadays, it’s all about forming a relationship with future buyers, and what better way to do so than taking advantage of technology that’s already out there?”

Students attended the luncheon where they had the opportunity to ask questions of business leaders and network.

“I enjoyed talking to business people to understand how they run their business,” said Joshua Hernandez ’12 of Chicago, Illinois. “It gave me a sense of their accomplishments while discussing their views of technology and marketing.”

Duerr’s speaking session was followed by a question and answer session led by Dennis Harms ’89, director of business and corporate giving.

Trinity’s Office of Ethnic Diversity recently expanded to include a pre-college department that helps high school students from after-school programs get a glimpse of what life is like as a Trinity student.

Tabitha Matthews, the College’s pre-college coordinator, works with two of Trinity’s partner organizations in Chicago: Circle Urban Ministries and By the Hand Club for Kids. Both organizations are community programs for students in grades 1-12 and include college-readiness programs.

The partnership with both the organizations gives Trinity students the opportunity for service learning, as well as encourages the program’s students to attend college, and more specifically Trinity.

On February 10-11, students from By the Hand Club for Kids experienced firsthand what it was like to be at Trinity. Ten students came to campus for a night of games, open gym, and Trinity basketball games.

The students stayed overnight in the dorms with Trinity students and attended financial aid sessions as well as other college-readiness classes taught by Chris Bohle and Caitlin Fillmore ’09, resident directors at the College. The courses focused on choosing a college and campus life.

“The students all appeared to be very engaged and had some really great questions,” said Fillmore. “I hope I challenged them to think carefully about the choices they make.”

All 1,189 chapters of the Bible will be read out loud during the week before Easter, which is expected to take about 80 hours. It is just one of several ways that students and groups at Trinity are spiritually preparing during the time of Lent.

The reading will take place at the Molenhouse Student Center from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning on March 26. The final verses will be read on April 4 right before chapel. Individual students, groups and clubs, faculty, and staff will sign up for specific verses to be read in 30-minute time slots beginning on March 16.

“My hope for the reading is that people from the entire Trinity community will be involved through scripture,” said Caroline Klingbeil ’13 of Chesterton, Indiana, who is organizing the event. “My church back home did it a few years ago, and it was an amazing experience.”

The event is part of the Lenten practice of reading a book all the way through called “take up and read.” To coincide with this, the chaplain’s office is encouraging students to read Voices of Redemption, a book written by Trinity alumnae that tells the stories of people helped through Roseland Christian Ministries.

Members of the Trinity community can also celebrate the season of Lent by utilizing the prayer tabernacle, a large indoor tent set up in the chapel and designed as a place for individual prayer, meditation, or group prayer. The tabernacle features a space to write prayer requests or prayer prompts for those who would like inspiration.

“Praying for each other’s prayer requests is one of the best ways that God-centered community can be built,” said Antonio Alicea, ’15 of Chicago, leader of the prayer ministry at Trinity.

Trinity will also be celebrating Lent during chapel services.  The Lenten chapel series theme is “Beauty and Brokenness,” focusing on Jesus as the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53.

Trinity’s Gospel Choir, local high school choirs, and other guest singers came together to perform in the 13th annual Gospel Fest on February 11. About 450 people attended the concert in the Ozinga Chapel.

The College’s 20-member Gospel Choir, directed by James Palmore, sang four songs, including “I Hear the Sound” and “Trust Me.”

“Gospel music is soul music and universal,” said Camille Villegas ’12 of Chicago, Illinois, vice president of the choir. “The overall goal of Gospel Fest is to celebrate gospel music and its history.”

The event, sponsored by the Organization of African American Unity, was inspired by the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, the oldest music festival in Chicago and held each summer.

Also performing were Trinity alumni Marlin Exton ’07, Harold Boyd ’10, and Candace Brown ’09, among others. Brown joined the Gospel Choir for the opening song and later performed with her seven-member group “One Voice.” Boyd performed a solo gospel hip-hop number.

“I was so excited to come back to my alma mater to perform,” said Brown. “I am glad that Trinity students took initiative and made this year’s Gospel Fest a success.”  

Local schools, including Curie High School, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, and Thornwood High School, participated. Pastor Eric Sanders of Logos Church in Chicago and the chorus Youth in Christ also performed.