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Alumni met on campus on February 5 for the annual Dinner and Hoops event. Nine alumni teams squared off in the morning’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament, then cheered on the Trolls in an afternoon double header against Calumet College of St. Joseph. In the evening, alumni guests joined students and faculty for a performance by the student improv team.
For the 3-on-3 tournament, alumni played in two divisions—advanced and recreational. Winning teams and their players included:
Advanced Division Winners
Eric Lubbers ’99
Scott Pothoven ’97
Chuck Commeret ’05
Randy Commeret
Recreational Division Winners
Matt Medema ’04
Chris Decker ’03
Luke Post ’04
Rudi Gesch ’04
John Sikkenga ’06
Trinity games against Calumet College
Men’s game: http://athletics.trnty.edu/News/Trolls-Take-Care-of-Calumet-St.-Joseph.html
Women’s game: http://athletics.trnty.edu/News/Scoring-Woes-Continue-to-Hurt-Trolls.html
Students who traveled to Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia, for Interim experienced life in an intentional Christian community.
Eight students, accompanied by Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, adjunct professor of social work, and Nikki Bruna, social work project coordinator, spent Janurary 7 – 14 at Koinonia Farm. Their days were filled with chapel, service work, meals, and fellowship with each other and with the residents of the farm.
Founded in 1942 by Clarence Jordan, Koinonia Farm is a community of Christians that pray, work, study, and live together. Many social justice-seeking organizations, like Habitat for Humanity and the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, are products of Jordan’s intentional community.
“It was inspiring to see the students embrace the idea of being intentional about community,” said Bruna. “This almost immediately fostered a sense of kindness, peace, and commitment to the entire group. This was seen in our interactions with one another, the way we treated those we encountered, and how we approached our work.”
Something students appreciated while practicing intentional community were the evening conversations that followed each day.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion times we processed as a group,” said Sophia Briseno ’13 of Mason City, Illinois. “We all huddled around a small heater or brought blankets and talked about heavy concepts for several hours.”
Bruna said the intentional community and experience of Koinonia Farm is one that encourages students to take home the intentional mentality.
“This Interim allows students to experience firsthand the impact of living in an intentional community and think about what lessons they can bring back and incorporate in their own community,” said Bruna.
Bruna’s desire for post-Interim thought from participating students is evident.
“One question I kept asking and am still working through is, ‘Should you look for a community that will define you, or will you define the community you are in?’” said Briseno.
As with many Interim courses, serving with Restoration Ministries focused on the Christian call to service.
Students resided and ministered in Harvey, Illinois, at Harvey House and Tabitha House during the two-week Interim in January. Led by Dr. Mary Lynn Colosimo, associate professor of psychology, students participated in multiple programs providing life-changing opportunities to those in the community.
Restoration Ministries offers a free, residential 18-month Christian training program for men and women who have overcome addictions. Other programs include after-school tutoring for children and a prison outreach.
“The biggest impact of this Interim was seeing how much bigger God is,” said Ishael Jedidah Tendero ’13 of Evanston, Illinois. “Hearing testimonies from the Tabitha House women and Harvey House men made me realize God was very present in their lives even when they didn’t have any clue of who he was. It was truly a blessing to see how God is present in every aspect of our lives, in both the dark and light.”
Students spent much of their time working in the Restoration Ministries Thrift Store and tutoring children after school. Other service opportunities involved volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, distributing food to the homeless in Chicago through Trinity’s Sunday Snacks ministry, and sharing Scripture, music, and testimonies with youth and the elderly.
The group also attended Bible studies, church services, intercessory prayer meetings, and daily devotions at the Spirit of God Fellowship Hall in South Holland, Illinois.
Seven students, accompanied by Charles Emmerich, professor of political science, spent the last portion of the two-week Interim in Washington, D.C., attending the 2011 Christian Student Leadership Conference.
The Christian Student Leadership Conference, sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), is designed to give college students the opportunity to meet with leaders in government and learn how those leaders participate in politics while incorporating their faith, according to NAE’s website. The theme for this year’s conferences was “From Generation to Generation” and focused on issues the United States faces today and will continue to face in the future.
While in D.C. from January 17-21, the students spent most of their time attending briefings given by members of Congress, a Supreme Court justice, presidential staff members, and leaders of public policy firms. Sightseeing and a tour of the U.S. Capitol building guaranteed a packed schedule for the group.
Students made note of how hearing political officials talk about their faith in politics has changed their thinking and inspired them as they continue in their endeavors at Trinity.
“I feel like I have a changed view of politics,” said Kim VanSpronsen, ’13 of Escalon, California. “This trip has encouraged me that I am in the right area of study. I am even more willing to strive to bring Christian values to the area of political science.”
For students pursuing careers in politics or law, the trip to Washington, D.C. provided extra motivation.
“The speakers and events encouraged and inspired me to pursue a career in politics, and this Interim made me think deeply about where I would go after I graduate from Trinity,” said Kelsey Barnett ’12 of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Students who participated in the Washington, D.C. Interim include:
Kelsey Barnett ’12 of Kenosha, Wisconsin
Dan Carter ’12 of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Jeff Klein ’12 of Homer Glen, Illinois
Allie Leyva ’14 of Chino, California Nate Tameling ’14 of Burr Ridge, Illinois
Kim VanSpronsen ’13 of Escalon, California
Ken Wojnarowski ’13 of Orland Park, Illinois
Nursing students traveled to Ecuador during the January Interim to provide health care to urban and jungle-based populations.
Led by nursing professors Patti Bowman and Lorinda Lindemulder ’86, students experienced the health care disparity between the urban and jungle settings in addition to the disparities between persons of South America and North America.
Students visited two mission hospitals operated by HCJB Global and provided health care instruction at local churches in oral and hand hygiene, wound care, blood pressure monitoring, and sprain treatment. They also distributed family care packs containing soap, first aid products, medications such as antihistamines, and small toys.
Autumn Boss ’12 of Lansing, Illinois, said they went with the expectation of distributing care packages and received much more in return. “I received so much from God through these people that it is unexplainable,” she said. “I truly experienced how amazing God’s love is from these people, who live in the jungle with not much of anything.”
Members of the group were especially moved by the children they served at the Casa de Fe orphanage in the jungle in Shell Mera, Ecuador. Established in 1937 but later abandoned by the Shell Oil Company, Shell Mera became the main base of operations for Mission Aviation Fellowship and missionaries Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, and others who were eventually killed by members of the Waodani tribe.
Many of the children in the orphanage have special needs or are children from multiple births, both of which are taboo among the indigenous population. Because of ancient beliefs, mothers are required to kill children who may appear unhealthy, so many abandon the children in communities where they will be cared for.
Students, now back on campus, hope to raise $1,000 to donate to the orphanage.
Students traveled the globe, served others, and explored new cultures during Trinity’s Interim 2011. Trinity sets aside a two-week period in January to give students various opportunities to learn “way” outside the classroom, offering a diverse selection of courses overseas, across the U.S., and on campus.
To read journal entries from the overseas trips and to view photos, visit: Interim Blogs
Students on this year’s Costa Rica Interim, led by Dr. Tom Roose, associate professor of physics and science education, had the opportunity to see and study some of the greatest biodiversity in the world.
“The main highlight of my trip, besides being plunged deep into the lush Costa Rican rainforest, was getting to experience the Costa Rican culture,” said Melissa Conrad ’14 of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.
“You could tell that people had a deep appreciation for everything and a strong respect for nature, as well as each other.”
Other overseas offerings included service learning in Peru, Jamaica, and Ecuador. Closer to home, students experienced an intentional biblical community in Georgia, participated in the 2011 Christian Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., and ministered at Restoration Ministries in Harvey, Illinois. A variety of other special interest courses were available on campus.
Led by President Steve Timmermans, Ph.D., the first chapel of the semester provided the opportunity to come together as a community to worship and to refocus.
Looking to Scripture as students, faculty, and staff look ahead to the second half of the academic year, Timmermans offered “a picture of hope,” based on Zechariah 8:1-8. The verses paint an idyllic picture of a faithful city, “full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”
Timmermans pointed out two kinds of hopefulness in these verses: the foretelling of the coming of Christ and the second coming. But the broken world we live in is a contrast to the city described in Zechariah, said Timmermans, recounting visits to Johannesburg and the issues in America’s own cities.
As Christians wait for the second coming, Timmermans urged that the response should be to “join in the work of the kingdom by returning” and refocusing on who we are as God’s children. Second, he said Christians should “join in the work of rebuilding” by regularly participating in prayer, service, giving, and doing all of this through the power of the Holy Spirit.
First-year worship scholar Ruby Gunderson ’15 of Elk River, Minnesota, led the prayer response, and freshman Jordan Ghiglia of Wenatchee, Washington, read the scripture. The songs of worship, led by students, included “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less,” which was fitting, as Timmermans notes in this week’s blog post.
Trinity’s Office of Learning Services (OLS) sees nearly one-fifth of the student body coming through its office on a yearly basis. With tremendous support from the administration, the OLS has grown and expanded its services under the direction of Nancy Kwasteniet.
“We provide academic resources which enable students to accomplish their goals,” Kwasteniet said.
All services are confidential and free to students. The OLS offers resources such as tutoring and academic coaching to the general student body. Students wondering about a potential learning issue can receive academic counseling and discuss the possibility of a diagnostic evaluation. Students with identified disabilities have the legal right to receive accommodations. The director of the OLS works closely with the student and the student’s professors to devise an individualized accommodation plan which may include things like extended time for testing and utilizing text-to-audio reading systems.
“Trinity’s small size proves beneficial as the OLS facilitates open communication between students and instructors,” Kwasteniet explained. Many of the professors “go above and beyond” in this “highly collaborative process,” she said, noting that Trinity’s faculty understands both the legal and ethical implications of supporting all of their students.
Tutoring and Academic Coaching
The OLS offers tutors, academic coaches, and help through the Writing Center. Students can request tutors for a specific subject or an academic coach to help them prioritize and organize their schedules as well as hold them accountable for their work.
“It’s also for really strong students who want to get the most out of their classes,” Kwasteniet said. The aim is to help students excel in all areas, so they reach their academic goals. She added that it’s not unusual for a student to serve as a tutor in one subject and to seek tutoring in another.
“I think it is also beneficial for the tutors,” said student tutor coordinator Jessica De Young ’13 of Waupun, Wisconsin, “because it gives them a chance to use their strengths in certain subjects to help others learn.”
Supplemental Instruction
A new program implemented in fall 2010 is Supplemental Instruction (SI), headed up by Lisa Kuiper, coordinator of student support services. Trained student leaders attend lectures and lead SI group study sessions each week. The leaders act as facilitators to help students process the course material and study more efficiently. SI is currently being offered for Math 151, Biology 205/206, Chemistry 101/102, and Accounting 221/222.
Students who have benefited from the help they received from taking part in the SI program say:
“SI is very helpful, and I would recommend it to anyone – it is nice to get a student perspective from the material. I think I do better in a group session, and it has improved my knowledge of the material.”
“I always came out of SI sessions with a clearer idea and understanding of the material. It was nice to have multiple SI’s a week, as well as [the SI leader] having office hours. I was able to approach my test more relaxed because I had been to SI.”
“[The SI leader] was wonderful! She offered so much help and time to us. She made me feel comfortable and adjusted to everyone’s learning levels and abilities. She definitely was a huge contributing factor to my grades.”
The OLS creates a supportive atmosphere where students can receive free and confidential help. With the number of students taking advantage of the resources steadily increasing each year, the OLS will continue to expand its services.
For a complete list and explanation of all the services provided by the Office of Learning Services, visit http://studentlife.trnty.edu/office-of-learning-services.html.
Director Nancy Kwasteniet explains the help available to students through the Office of Learning Services:
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Students on this year’s Costa Rica Interim had the opportunity to see and study some of the greatest biodiversity in the world.
Led by Dr. Thomas Roose, associate professor of physics and science education, the group of students explored both the rain forest of the lowlands and the cloud forest of the mountains to learn about how the ecology of these regions work and how humans interact with the rainforest.
Although Costa Rica covers only .03 percent of the earth’s surface, this tiny country holds more than 5 percent of all life forms. The Interim team of students, all from varying majors, enjoyed whitewater rafting, zip-lining through the treetops, hiking near an active volcano and in tropical forests, and encountering toucans, sloths, poison dart frogs, iguanas, and other wildlife in their habitats. The students also experienced how global climate change is adversely affecting this unique part of God’s creation.
“My Interim trip to Costa Rica was more amazing than I could have ever imagined,” said Melissa Conrad ’14 of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.
Conrad said she is passionate about wildlife conservation and sustainability and the trip provided an opportunity for her to experience both firsthand.
“The main highlight of my trip, besides being plunged deep into the lush Costa Rican rainforest, was getting to experience the Costa Rican culture. You could tell that people had a deep appreciation for everything and a very strong respect for nature, as well as each other. Their motto is ‘pura vida’ (pure life), and indeed it is. I would absolutely love to go back.”
Interim is a two-week program in January led by faculty and staff of the College. Special courses and trips are offered on campus, in Chicago, or at destinations in the United States and abroad.
Click here to read Dr. Roose’s Costa Rica Interim blog.
Students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered in the Grand Lobby of the Ozinga Chapel on January 17 to celebrate the 82nd birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
President Steven Timmermans, Ph.D., opened the evening with an excerpt from a 1962 sermon of King’s, which was followed by a scripture reading from senior Edmond Mensah of Chicago. The celebration continued as Dr. David Brodnax, Sr., assistant professor of history, gave a presentation called “Reflections on Music and the Civil Rights Movement,” and the Trinity Gospel Choir performed a selection of songs.
The evening focused on the roles music and the Bible played in King’s life and activism.
“Music played an important role in the civil rights movement,” said Brodnax. “Although Dr. King has been gone for over 40 years, the songs of his civil rights movement live on.
“The songs of the civil rights movement inspire us to think differently,” added James Palmore, director of the Gospel Choir. “Social justice songs took on a biblical proportion.”
Senior Velvet Woods of Chicago also read from a speech King gave in 1967. Afterwards, attendees viewed a video commemorating King’s life. The video was created by Audio Visual Coordinator Dave Jousma and junior Justin James of Riverside, Illinois.
The evening concluded with closing remarks and prayer offered by Don Woo, dean for ethnic diversity and multicultural programs, who related the passage of 2 Corinthians 5:17–6:2 and the life of King to God’s call of Christians today.
“God did not call us to be comfortable,” Woo said. “He called us to make a difference.”