Archives: News Stories

The dorms have been cleaned and prepped, the grounds have been well manicured, and the staff and faculty are ready to welcome students back!

While summer is a time for refreshing the Trinity campus, without students, it is missing the vital part that makes the campus a community. So, let us get you ready, whether your first year, your last or somewhere in between, we want you to have all the details you need to start this year strong!

FALL 2022: WHEN DO I MOVE IN?

August 21: Bridge Student Move-In 1:30pm-3:00pm
August 24: Freshmen Move-In (Thrive) 9:30am-2:30pm
August 25-26: Transfer Student Move-In
August 26-27: Returning Student Move-In
August 27*: Mandatory Meetings and Opening Celebrations at 7pm
August 29: First Day of Classes begin at 8:00am

Freshmen
Freshmen move-in day is Wednesday, August 24 from 9:30am-2:30pm.  Freshmen who are part of the Bridge Program will be able to move-in Sunday, August 21 between 1:30-3:00pm in order to participate in the Bridge program.  Freshmen who are part of a varsity, fall sport may also need to move-in at an earlier date for pre-season; that information will be communicated directly to students from coaches.

Transfers
Students transferring to Trinity have the option to schedule a move-in appointment on August 25 or 26.  Transfer orientation begins on August 27.  Transfers who wish to move-in on August 25-26 can use this link.

Returning Students
Students returning to Trinity (sophomores, juniors, and seniors) are free to move-in on Friday, August 26 between 11:00 am to 4:00 pm or Saturday, August 27th 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Some returning students may be required to return early to campus for a Trinity-related program or on-campus job.  Below is a list of groups with approved early move-in dates.  If you need to move in early and your group is not included below, please email housing@trnty.edu

• Women’s Volleyball (Monday, August 8)
• RAs (Monday, August 8^th)
• Varsity Men’s Soccer, Varsity Cross Country, Women’s Soccer & Golf (Wednesday, August 10^th)
• Student Leaders in Student Activities, Service, Multicultural, Campus Ministries and Thrive (Tuesday, August 16)

BEFORE ARRIVING ON CAMPUS

Complete these actions on your student portal:

• Fill out all your “Student Life Forms” (they will each turn green once completed)
• Complete the “My Health” section by either uploading your COVID vaccination recordor checking off the box confirming you do not intend to be vaccinated

ON MOVE-IN DAY

• Bring as many family and friends as you want—there are no limits this year! Just make sure you and everyone with you is healthy and fever-free
• Park your vehicle in the lot nearest your residence hall
• Go to Tab Lawn to check-in and receive your room key (located in the grassy area between the Dining Hall and the Residence Halls)
• Shopping carts and helpers will be available to assist with your move-in process

WHAT TO BRING

As a resident at Trinity, your space comes furnished with a twin-sized bed and mattress (36″ x 80″), a desk and chair, dresser, closet space and a bookcase. You have the opportunity to make your space your own. We provide ways for students to loft their beds and the furniture is stackable to make many different configurations. You will be able to customize the arrangement of your room in a way that works for you and your roommates.

This list is a general overview of items that typically are used in the residents halls. We recommend that you consult with your roommate in order to determine who might bring certain items due to space and economic considerations. Note: All items on this list must, where appropriate, be Underwriters Laboratory (UL) rated. This is not an all-inclusive list; if you are unsure about an item, please contact the area directors.

Click here to learn even more!

Assistant Professor of Business, Sundeep Vira, was recently featured in the Morgan Stanley GIFT 2021 Impact Report, where he has served on their board since 2018. GIFT or Global Impact Funding Trust strives to support and encourage impactful philanthropy through their donors, whose financial commitment supports communities both near and far.

Featured in the title section “If Not Now, When?” which highlights a campaign focused on minority business communities, Professor Vira speaks about his life and business experiences. He chronicles his time coming to the U.S. at the age of 21, joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney as an investment analyst, and after 20 years in the investment management industry, beginning the shift to philanthropic activities.  This change in paradigm took him to Singapore, where he spent 7 years on charitable work in various areas, across countries in rural Asia including Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, and India.

He describes moving back to Chicago and teaching social entrepreneurship, strategy, and consulting while launching the data analytics program at Trinity Christian College.

Through this endeavor with Morgan Stanley GIFT, Vira had the opportunity to bring a focus to the Trinity community, which is where the Community Alliance Fund was born. Vira said, “My role on the Morgan Stanley GIFT Board in many ways facilitated this work.” The Community Alliance Fund uses donations from Trinity Alumni along with student resources to help minority business owners across Chicago communities with business, marketing, and financial support. “We are interacting with ministries and churches and community leaders along with Chambers of Commerce to find such investment opportunities, find entrepreneurs who are interested in us investing in them.” Professor Vira said.

One key aspect of the Community Alliance Fund is the work done with the students at Trinity. This project has been ongoing for the past two semesters with strong plans for expansion into the future. “Not only would the students work for the business, but there may also be a micro internship opportunity on a Wednesday where they can work for this business, gain experience and income for that work. We are excited to finish and launch the new business model in the fall semester. It’s a win for the business and the student,” said Vira.

Professor Vira is proud of the work done at Morgan Stanley GIFT and is excited for the future impact this work will have globally and within the community at Trinity Christian College.

To learn more about the business program at Trinity Christian College, click here.

Communication Arts professor Dr. Bethany Keeley-Jonker is celebrating the July 2022 release of an edited book including a chapter she co-authored titled “And What More Shall I Say? Heroism in Hebrews 11 and Star Wars.” The book, published by Rowman & Littlefield, features 15 essays from scholars in different disciplines engaging the growing film/television franchise with a theological imagination.

“I’m proud of the work we did in this essay, arguing that we need to take both the narratives in the Bible and in Star Wars seriously as narratives,” says Keeley-Jonker. “Sometimes when people move toward theological reflection on our favorite media, we either transform it into what we wish it was, or we flatten it into something it wasn’t meant to be, and then dismiss it. The complicated nature of heroism, and the distinct roles people can have in cosmic stories is reflected in the Star Wars canon, as well as the Biblical one. It was fun to consider those parallels through examples while working on this essay with my dad.”

While Keeley-Jonker enjoyed the topic of the work, the other joy of this piece of scholarship was in her relationship with her co-author. “Co-writing is great because you can do a little work, walk away, come back, and there’s more writing!” she jokes. But adds “it was especially fun to move from ongoing conversations about both faith and movies with my dad to writing something for publication that invites others into that conversation too.”

To learn more about Dr. Bethany Keeley-Jonker and her passion for communications click here.

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If you are interested in pursuing a degree in Communication Arts, and to explore all Trinity Christian College has to offer, schedule a visit to our campus today!

ConnectCareHero, a digital engagement and data platform that uses culturally relevant content to keep older adults socially connected, while improving health outcomes, was recently awarded $100,000 from Google as part of their first ever Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund, which supplies promising Latino-led startups non-equity cash awards to help fuel their business. ConnectCareHero was one of the fifty recipients selected nationwide.

The Chicago-based ConnectCareHero has Trinity Christian College weaved within the tapestry of the company of approximately ten employees. Founder and CEO, Osvaldo Montelongo ’11 and Founder and CMO, Tornu Ngwayah ’11 are both Trinity Christian College alumni, along with many of their leadership team and support staff.

ConnectCareHero was founded in 2017 by Osvaldo after a personal experience with his own 83-year-old father not having enough rich cultural programming to help with his overall health. Today, ConnectCareHero drives real engagement with older adults to help senior living organizations improve health outcomes.

“We are beyond honored to be part of the inaugural Google Latinx class, and to be recognized by a leading global organization, like Google, means a lot to us and solidifies what we’re building in our space,” says Osvaldo Montelongo. “We plan to use Google’s support to scale our technology to help us reach millions of lives in senior living using cultural programming as a way to tackle social isolation.”

Tornu and Osvaldo met early in the Trinity experience as they were both applying for the same scholarship. Their time together at Trinity was filled with life-changing experiences which then grew into a longstanding friendship, and now a strong partnership in business. Tornu spoke highly of his time at Trinity, “I believe it set me up for success, giving me the perspective needed in business and in life.  Keeping God at the center of all my life decisions and trusting that God would use my college experiences for good.”

During his time at Trinity, he recalls the influences of the countless events he attended, and how he uses those even in his career today. “Fireside Chats – those are something that we had often in college in the Fireside Room and I know it’s not a unique name, but when we began a program at ConnectCareHero to bring lecture-style events to our clients, I immediately thought of my time at Trinity and said let’s call it Fireside Chats” said Tornu.  Osvaldo and Tornu also had the opportunity to experience Chicago Semester during their time at Trinity. At ConnectCareHero, they continue to work with Chicago Semester to hire interns each year, noting how this experience shaped their business acumen and they hope to encourage the next generation of Trinity students.

With the award from Google, ConnectCareHero has plans to add more content, more tours, and therapy for older adults to truly enrich their days. Walk-throughs of world class cities, ballparks, and artist exhibits are just a few of the ideas on the horizon to expand the already robust content available for older adults.

They also plan to invest in their staffing, growing their team to help expand their footprint outside of the Chicago area, look further out into the Midwest, and even establish key partnerships near the Trinity community. This growth will also bring about the opportunity to improve technology, to work with Google on further development, as well as strengthening their AI going into the future.

In addition to the $100K in cash, recipients will also receive direct programming and support from Google, deep mentorship from technical and business experts, access to free mental health therapy, and a vibrant community of fellow founders. “We are excited to support these talented Latino entrepreneurs as they build innovative solutions and solve tough problems,” said Daniel Navarro, US Marketing Lead, Google for Startups.

To learn more about ConnectCareHero click here.

Interested to learn more about Trinity Christian College and the Chicago Semester Program, click here!

A program designed to supply a rich introduction to three historic Italian city-states – Venice, Florence and Rome.  This is what was in store for a group of Trinity students, who traveled with Assistant Professor of History, Dr. Kyle J. Dieleman, but what they experienced went far beyond the pages of a history book or the pictures in a travel brochure.

Traveling from Chicago and arriving in Venice, Italy, the students were exhausted after an 8-hour flight and stopover in Philadelphia, but excited about the adventure ahead.

While in Venice, the group tried foods like pizza and gelato, which in true Italian fashion were delicious and did not disappoint. While no trip to Italy is without its decadent food, the goal of this trip was to learn more, enrich understanding of history, art and geo-politics.  There was time to explore Doge Palace, St. Mark’s Square, and of course, a ride on the classic gondolas in Venice. A native Venetian tour guide led a walking trip through the city, explaining the significance of the architecture, the different churches and saints, and even how the canals are maintained.

From Venice, the group enjoyed a scenic ride through the Italian countryside and arrived at Florence. Upon arrival, they were immediately greeted by the sights of historic architecture and ancient structures. A guided tour of Florence shared interesting facts about this city, which was formed nearly 1500 years ago, along with some of its famous residents, including Leonardo Da Vinci, the Medici family, and Donatello, to name a few.   Homemade pasta, ravioli, and tiramisu helped to round out the perfect stay over in Florence.

After a rich day in Florence, it was onto Pisa, to see the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa and learn the history of the area. An excursion was planned to see the Mediterranean Sea and enjoy the area with clear water and warm sand. The onto Rome and Assisi to explore the deep history of these areas. Starting in Assisi, the group learned that this area is known to be one of the greenest parts of Italy, with little to no industrialization. The brief time in Assisi felt like a step back in time, even walking the streets felt as if they were living in a different period. The opposite to that would be Rome, which is a larger bustling city with expensive shops and restaurants, filled with extensive history, architecture, and art.

To hear from the Trinity students themselves and learn more about what was learned from the trip click here to read the blog posted during their trip.

Blueprints Weekend is one of the most beloved traditions at Trinity Christian College. During this weekend, incoming freshmen and their families gather on campus for summer pre-orientation and registration and so much more—the chance to get to know each other, meet others in their new community, and to get a glimpse of what life will be like as Trinity students in just a few short months. This year’s Blueprints was held Friday, June 17 through Saturday, June 18.

“Blueprints is really a bright moment for the Trinity community because it is the first time we gather and celebrate with our incoming first year students and their families” said Erin Nagelkirk, Associate Director of Admissions at Trinity. The campus was ripe with anticipation to welcome our incoming students and their families; balloons were hung, tables and tents were set and games all-ready to go in the lawn. To round it out, the weather was perfect in Chicagoland, with a warm summer breeze and sunshine to fill the day.

While Blueprints is a time of celebration, it does not stop there, it is a weekend filled with both fun activities and informative sessions to help everyone feel excited and fully prepared to join the Trinity Christian College community in the fall.

This year’s Blueprints weekend hosted 73 students and approximately 180 guests overall.  Students had the opportunity to attend multiple breakout sessions like Intercultural Engagement at Trinity, spend time in the Ozinga Chapel for praise and worship, meet one-on-one with a faculty advisor to begin building their schedule for the fall, and sleep overnight in the dorms.

President Aaron Kuecker led the opening welcome for the weekend with a celebratory tone, looking ahead to a momentous new year with countless opportunities as we embark on the beginning of our new academic calendar and all the potential that comes from the addition of Trinity Wednesdays.

Parents and family members had the chance to gather with other families and hear from Student Life on what their students can expect during that time at Trinity. During that session, the students gathered outside for the iconic TrollNation session, which is a time of connection and fun for all new students to meet other first-time students and begin the process of making lifelong friends.

Student athletes and their families met together for an all-athlete meeting which offered a time to get to know staff, coaches, athletic spaces, and their new teammates.  All incoming students had their photos taken and received their official Trinity ID, which solidified the next step in the journey for students, with a tangible first piece of their Trinity experience.

The Trinity hospitality was on display during the weekend in countless ways; cupcakes from local bakery, Doughs Guys, were decorated in Trinity colors and a specially prepared Chicago-style lunch was served on Saturday for all the families.

To watch a short recap video of this year’s Blueprints weekend, click here.

It was a beautiful, 80-degree day; the sun was shining, a light breeze filled the air, and the sound of birds were singing in the background. The stage was set for what would be a wonderful day filled with golf and fellowship with others in the Trinity community.

In its 22^nd year, the main goal of the annual alumni golf outing is to raise funds for the Alumni Excellence Scholarship. This year’s recipients will have the opportunity to grow in wisdom and knowledge through their various majors across the Trinity Christian College landscape. Previous receipts have gone onto be leaders in their various fields, and now have the unique opportunity to participate in this annual alumni event.

“Every year we are blessed to have alumni from nearly every decade represented at the event, and this year was no different” said Jeremy Klyn ‘02, Director of Alumni and Family Engagement at Trinity. With 80 participants this year, the event raised over $18,000 for the Alumni Excellence Scholarship.

Participants and sponsors came from various locations, both near and far. Jeremy added, “We are so grateful to not only have alumni participate in this event, but current and former parents, friends of the College, as well as current and former students who all come together to help support this scholarship.”

This year’s alumni golf outing was held at the beautiful Water’s Edge Golf Club, located in Worth, IL, Trinity’s home golf course. Winners of this years’ event were Steven Massey ’19, Jessica Massey ’18, Kay Massey and Eric Massey.

Thanks to everyone who participated this year and mark your calendars for next year’s outing in June 2023!