Archives: News Stories

Each semester the Department of Athletics recognizes student-athletes who excelled in their studies by achieving high marks in the classroom. Of the 215 athletes who participated in the spring 2021 semester, 102 were named to the Trinity Athletics Honor Rolls – 16 maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. Overall, the combined semester GPA for all athletes was 3.241.

“This spring our student-athletes displayed remarkable commitment to their studies, while dealing with their busy sports schedules and adjusting to the changes created by the pandemic,” said Mark Hanna, Trinity’s Director of Athletics. “I am thankful for the commitment of our coaching staff and the professors and their dedicated to ensuring that our student-athletes flourish in the classroom.”

 Freshmen

High Honor Roll

Anastasia Anane (WBB), Alyssa Busker (WT&F), Emma Dykstra (WVB), Taryn Hinken (WVB), Carli Jenkins (SB), Abby Jones (WG), Bart Maciczak (MVB), Becca Morin (WS), Abby VanBeek (SB), Shannon Simpson (WVB)

Honor Roll

Kara Amidon (WS), Eli Den Bleyker (MS), Grant Koops (MS), Brad Walters (MS), Leah Lisowski (WXC/TF), Taylor Martin (WG), Olivia Andre (WS), Beka Roelofs (WS), Demi Scibetta (WS), Amanda Lichtenstein (WVB)

 Sophomores

High Honor Roll

Noah Andringa (MBB), Josh Bakke (BSB), Alec Belcasro (MS), Tyler French (MS), Chloe Kikstra (WXC/TF), Ashley Keen (WG), Michael Moralez (BSB), Vince Overway (MBB), Tony Reppmann (MXC/TF), Spencer Rice (MG), Mia Salas (WS), Madeleine Vinz (WBB), Valerie Wellman (WXC/TF), Jared Oates (MBB)

Honor Roll

Ava Kelly, (WT&F), Brett Karrels (BSB), Ben Morris (MS), Chase Rozeveld (MS/TF), Claire Darby (WS), Rachel Robinette (WS), Kenzie Gibson (WVB), Brooke Veldman (WVB)

Juniors

High Honor Roll

Ellie Banks (WG), Julia Belcher (WVB), Nicole Belcher (WVB), Autumn Bergemann (WS), Nico Gutierrez (BSB), Sarah Hernandez (WVB), Selah Hopkins (WS), Thadd LeFebre (MS), Mike McIntyer (MS/BSB), Brent Norkus (BSB), Amanda Ophoff (WBB), Mark Schaaf (MG), Lydia Smallwood (WS)

Honor Roll

Angel Toscano (BSB), Emmanuel Iradukunda (MS), Jake Ostema (MVB), Alyssa Martin (SB), Sydni Mitchell (SB), Erin Curtin (SB), Summer Cramer (WBB, SB, WG), Grace Theo (WXC/TF), Anna Van Denend (WS), Jessica Eckberg (WVB)

Seniors

High Honor Roll

Ross Marz (MTF), Ben Boers (MS), Taylor Busker (WS), Maddy Clausen (WT&F), Oleksandr Dolishniy (MBB), Brianna Figueroa (WVB), Ramon Flores (BSB), Zach Huisman (BSB), Jared Jonkman (MG), Nate Kamp (MG), Will Kulcher (BSB), Ally Kranstz (WS), Anna Maatman (WVB), Mike Maher (MG), Lexi Marin (WBB), Alyssa Mulligan (WBB), Jordan Rhodes (BSB), Marcos Shimizu (MS), Alejandro Sotelo (MS), Kaleigh VanElst (WS), Lexi VanRyn (WT&F), Dan Vos (BSB), Cayla Winters (WBB), Danielle Zander (WVB), Madi Zula (WVB), Jim Bruinius (MXC/TF), Ryan Mathes (MXC/TF)

Honor Roll

Ashley Martinez (WG), Josh Caceres (BSB), Caleb DeWeerd (MXC/TF), Zach DeKock (MS), Karl Kosary (MS), Mathis Muller (MS), Kyle Graff (MTF), Emily Montalvo (SB), Amber Ryan (WVB), Jasmine Elliott (WBB)

BOLD signifies 4.0 GPA
High Honor Roll – minimum 3.75 GPA
Honor Roll – minimum 3.50 GPA

Trinity students leave the College confident in what they believe and possess the skills and experience necessary to excel in their field for good, according to Colleges of Distinction. That is one reason that the organization has once again recognized Trinity in several categories, including among Christian colleges and Illinois colleges. The organization has also recognized Trinity’s business, nursing and education programs and for career development. 

“The College of Distinction recognition underscores the spectacular work of Trinity faculty and the excellent engagement of Trinity students,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D. “The recognition of Trinity’s three largest academic departments highlights the breadth of Trinity’s academic excellence, while recognition in the career development category highlights the successful translation of that academic excellence into vocational preparation.” 

In recognizing Trinity, Colleges of Distinction specifically highlighted the College’s student-to-faculty ratio and high percentage of graduates who quickly find employment or enroll in grad school. “Trinity students are prepared for life beyond college thanks to their liberal arts curriculum that is grounded in Christian faith,” noted the organization. 

Among the areas that set Trinity apart: 

Business 

Colleges of Distinction awards badges to institutions whose business degrees are multidisciplinary in nature and loaded with practical experiences for students to engage the wider world of business. Trinity’s business program was lauded for its real-world experience; industry connections; business ethics emphasis; collaborative learning; and dedicated advisors and counselors. 

Education 

Trinity’s education program excels in its commitment to nurturing and supporting future educators, Colleges of Distinction found. Among the aspects that set Trinity’s education program apart: stability; multidisciplinary exposure; practical experience; non-education specialization; dedicated advising and counseling; high-Impact practices; and industry connections. 

Nursing 

Trinity’s top-ranked nursing program has received yet another recognition with the Colleges of Distinction honor. The organization cited several factors that led to this ranking: stability and excellence; validation from a nursing-specific accreditation agency; practical experiences; high mastery rates; dedicated advising and counseling; liberal arts exposure; high-impact practices; and industry connections. 

Career Development 

In the career development area, Colleges of Distinction recognizes Colleges that have demonstrated superior ability to think ahead about how their students will succeed after they graduate. “Our Career Development Colleges of Distinction does not just have a career services office on campus; they integrate future careers into the present curriculum,” the organization noted. 

Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has recognized colleges based on four key areas: engaged students; great teaching; vibrant communities; and successful outcomes. 

It was a beautiful day for a golf outing on June 11 and a record number of participants in Trinity’s annual Alumni Golf Outing took full advantage of it, raising funds for scholarships while having a great time with new and old friends! 

“Thank you to everyone who participated in, sponsored, or volunteered at our annual Alumni Golf Outing to help raise money for alumni scholarships,” said Director of Alumni and Family Engagement Jeremy Klyn ’02. “We were blessed with a record number of golfers at the event and were able to raise approximately $13,000 in scholarship funds, our largest amount in the past five years. God is good!” 

Andrew Kowitz ’20 was one of the attendees, and it was his first time at the event, which was held at Water’s Edge Golf Club, the College’s home golf course. “It was a great opportunity for me to get together and enjoy a full day of golf on a beautiful course with some of my friends,” he said. “However, it also supports a good cause through the scholarship to support students like we ourselves were recently. It was great to see people, reconnect, and enjoy the day.”   

Eric Henley ’12 not only had a great time golfing—he also approached his company, Gallagher, about serving as a sponsor. The insurance company, where Henley works as area vice president, health & welfare, agreed to sign on. “I was excited to have Gallagher sponsor a hole for a couple of reasons. Selfishly, it’s always cool to see your company out there supporting your personal network. But also, Gallagher has been hosting a lot of business students over the years,” he said. “Now that an alumnus is working at Gallagher, it was long overdue to highlight that partnership, and I am proud to be reinforcing that bridge.” 

Alumni Helping Next Generation 

And amidst all the fun and support, the focus remained on supporting scholarships for children of Trinity alumni. And recipients were happy to express their appreciation.  

Andrew Deblecourt ’25, a recipient of the Alumni Excellence Scholarship and the son of David ’95 and Emily (Kiekintveld) Deblecourt ’98, said that he chose Trinity because of the opportunities it offers in different areas. “The study abroad program is highly regarded, the proximity to Chicago gives me many opportunities for internships, and Coach [Bob] Brickman and the track/cross team offer me great opportunities to grow as an athlete,” he said. “I am very excited to attend Trinity in the fall.” 

Sydney DeVries ’24, daughter of Michael and Rachel (White) DeVries ’97, MA ’21 said that Trinity has allowed her to grow in her faith and trust where God is leading her as a nursing major. “Through Trinity, I’ve been able to pursue a calling to do everything to God’s glory while helping people at every stage of life,” she said.  

In talking with participants at the event, DeVries shared her experience as a freshman at Trinity in a virtual environment because of COVID-19 restrictions. “As the days grew closer and I saw that I would have to learn from home, I became worried. Would I make friends? Would I even feel like I was at college? Would I be able to learn everything this way? Was it worth it to still go to Trinity? Would it ever feel normal again to go to school?” But all of her concerns were quickly put to rest.  

“Yes, I would make friends. That first day of Thrive brought me into a Zoom call with people who were also learning online. We went into breakout rooms and quickly found things in common in our group,” she said. 

DeVries said online learning went well, too. “The professors at Trinity went above and beyond for all their in-person students and all their virtual learners,” she said. “They answered questions in a heartbeat, called on students to answer from around the world, and they always made sure everyone was actively involved, seen, and heard.” 

Trinity became home for her, and she thanked all the participants in the golf outing for helping to make that possible. “Because of you all here today, I was able to thrive at Trinity and will be able to thrive at Trinity in the coming years. I am forever grateful that because of your generosity, I am able to be here and to grow spiritually and academically as a nursing major so I can give back and help those around me in the future. Thank you!” she said. 

Every year, Trinity’s Alumni Board awards up to four renewable scholarships to the children of alumni to help them enroll at the College. If you would like contribute to the scholarship fund to help students like Andrew and Sydney, you can make a gift on our website, with a designation to the Alumni Scholarship Fund. To learn more about Trinity’s 11,000-plus alumni, and all the opportunities for connections and giving back, visit our Alumni page. 

Event Sponsors 

The outing could not have been successful without all the support of many generous sponsors! Thanks to everyone who contributed.  

Gold Level 

Ozinga 

Van Drunen Farms 

Futureceuticals 

Assurance Agency 

Silver Level 

Providence Bank & Trust 

Chris and Jamie ’00 Stephenson 

Bronze Level 

Proven IT 

Colonial Chapel 

Homewood Disposal Service 

BHG Brad Ericks 

ECF Wealth 

Golf Ball Sponsor 

Schaaf Window Co. 

Lunch Sponsor 

E&R Towing 

Dinner & Beverage Sponsors 

El Famous Burrito 

Extract Juicery 

Legacy Insurance Group 

Hole Sponsors 

Schepel Auto Group 

Steve Vander Zee 

Coldwell Banker Realty 

Caleb Jonkman ’18 

Jared Jonkman ’21 

E&R Towing 

Silva International 

Aspen Group 

PDJ, Inc. 

In His Image Fine Art 

Clarence Davids & Co. 

ECF Wealth 

Schaaf Windows 

Interiors for Business, Inc 

Gallagher 

According to Missy Strong, host of the “Music Ed Amplified” podcast and general and vocal teacher at Fleetwood Elementary School in Mount Laurel, N.J., hearing the phrase “music history professor” often conjures up a picture of a “middle aged, CIS gender Christian white guy” for her.  

And as she told her audience on a recent episode, that’s described her guest, Trinity’s Professor of Music and Department Chair Mark Peters, Ph.D. So why was she interviewing him, particularly for a podcast generally focused on elementary school educators?  

“When I heard about the transformation Dr. Peters is doing in his classes, I wanted to know more, and I wanted to ask him questions, and I wanted to feel some hope for what is happening in undergraduate music education when it comes to music history,” she said. “Because I haven’t felt much hope in the last couple of years.” 

She added, “I’m happy to say that my talk with Mark inspired me by encouraging me that there are programs where professors are making real change, and that there are intentional efforts to see more diversity in the field.” 

Over the course of the hour-long podcast, Strong and Peters talked about a range of topics, including how he has moved on from the story that has most often been told to undergrad students in music history, which is that of European white men. Instead, he strives to tell the story of all human persons. Peters also shared his thoughts about how history is not a record of what happened in the past—rather it’s the stories we decide to tell about the past; why he doesn’t use textbooks in his music appreciation courses; and how he wants students in his general music courses to think differently about music in their lives, rather than focus on technical and classical terms. 

“We must learn to give a voice to those who have not had it in the past,” said Peters. 

Click here to hear the entire episode, “Telling a Different Story: A New Approach to Music History.”

Blueprints Weekend is one of the most beloved traditions at Trinity. 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. 

In many ways, this year’s Blueprints on June 18-19 continued those traditions. But it also represented a particularly significant milestone for the Class of 2025, many of whom had never met in person because of COVID restrictions, and who may have spent much of their senior year of high school in virtual learning. And the approximately 250 students and family members who took part in Blueprints got a chance to see what Trinity will look like in the fall, when it returns to normal, pre-COVID operations.  

From meeting with professors to a praise service in Ozinga Chapel to spending a night in Alumni Hall, Blueprints attendees got to experience the full range of what Trinity offers! 

“It was such a wonderful weekend, with the campus teeming with life as we welcomed our incoming students into a glimpse of what a more full campus experience will look like this fall,” said Director of Admissions Jeanine Mozie. “For some students, it was their first time stepping foot on Trinity’s campus. And for most, it was their first time meeting key members of the community face to face. Blueprints was an incredible time of connecting, encouraging, and preparing our next class of Trinity Trolls.” 

Students and Parents Appreciate Experience 

For Andrew Ardon ‘25 of Johnsburg, Ill., Blueprints provided a chance to get a closer look at what college life will be like when he returns in a few weeks as a full-time student and member of Trinity’s cross country and track teams. 

“It’s been a pretty good experience,” said Ardon, who graduated from Johnsburg High School and is still settling on a major. Ardon had visited campus previously and met with Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach Bob Brickman ‘03, and those visits helped convince him to continue his education at Trinity. 

Andrew’s mother Alma said the weekend’s activities reinforced the sense that Trinity was the right college for her son. “There is a real community feel here, and everyone has been very helpful,” she said. 

For Zanthe Scott’s son Zakary ‘25, Trinity was already a familiar place, thanks to the time he spent attending Troll Athletics’ sports camps. Zakary, a graduate of Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago, had considered several other colleges in the Chicagoland area. But Trinity offered a perfect mix of size, location, and Christian focus, and attending Blueprints reinforced that feeling. “This has been a very informative, and we are very blessed that we are here,” said Zanthe.  

A Welcome by President and Mrs. Dykstra, with Mr. Bates 

As part of Friday evening’s events, incoming students and their family members were welcomed by President Kurt and Mrs. Leah Dykstra, with a special appearance by Trinity’s First Dog Mr. Bates! 

“Every year, we are excited to welcome our new class of students,” said President Dykstra. “But to be gathered together in this space is the answer to a prayer.” 

He said to students, “We are here tonight to begin this next step in your life. You are going to work and you are going to have fun. At Trinity, we believe in connecting the mind, body, and spirit.” 

Dykstra also assured the parents in attendance that he knows exactly what they are feeling, since the Dykstras have a daughter who recently graduated from Trinity and another who is a current student.  

The welcome ended with pro tips on navigating Blueprints by Erin Nagelkirk ‘07, assistant director of admissions for visits and operations, who offered suggestions on getting the most from Blueprints for those gathered on Trinity’s campus, as well as those attending virtually. 

A Weekend Full of Information, Activities, and Fun 

Trinity’s Admissions team, working with many others on campus, assembled a dynamic program that offered crucial information, the opportunity to ask questions, time for taking care of paperwork such as getting photo IDs, and lots of chances to meet with new friends. 

Informational sessions focused on a range of topics, from off-campus study programs to academic overviews for different majors to resources for academic and emotional support. The Financial Aid Office hosted multiple sessions to answer any questions about billing, and deadlines. Every student also participated in one-on-one advising sessions. 

There were also many sessions focused on student life and athletics, including student leadership positions, multicultural engagement, and what to expect on move-in day, as well as break outs targeted to first generation students and Diversity Scholars. 

And of course, attendees had many opportunities to get to know each other, relax, and enjoy snacks. That included a visit by the food truck of Doughs Guy’s Bakery, another Trinity tradition. 

Saturday ended with a closing session and farewell…for now! We can’t wait to see all our freshmen back on campus in August. 

Missed out on Blueprints, or just want to relive the fun? Check out this video here. 

Gracious. Patient. Kind. Professional. Those are just some of the words used to describe Human Resources Payroll Administrator Kris Doorn ‘89, who has been named Trinity’s 2021-22 Staff Member of the Year.  

According to one nominator, “Kris has a servant-heart, and it shows in her work ethic and how she treats all of us, with kindness, patience and compassion. She shows her love for the Lord daily through her actions and words. If you have had any interaction with Kris, then you know that she is a professional who knows her job very well but always tendered with kindness.” 

Another noted, “Kris always takes time to help with payroll, PTO, and many other things.  Every time you call you are greeted with a happy individual that is willing to serve/help you and the College with the utmost care and concern.” 

In her work at Trinity, Doorn oversees payroll, ensuring that all of Trinity’s employees are compensated on time. She also assists with other HR-related issues. But her contributions to Trinity go far beyond that.  Doorn said the best part of her job is helping students, staff, and faculty, with whatever questions they have about benefits, payroll, the payroll system and other matters. “Human Resources should be about the people, and I feel like it’s my job to help in any way I can,” she said. 

Doorn, who earned a business degree from the College, returned to Trinity 15 years ago as a staff member, after working as a preschool teacher. She initially began as a temporary employee in the Business Office before being hired permanently and shifting her focus to human resources.  

Doorn has been helping people through her connection at Trinity since her student days. She cited a spring break service trip to Kentucky as one of her favorite memories. “We worked in some very poor areas through Appalachia Reach Out. We helped a family improve their house,” she said. “We had a great time, and it was a great experience.”  

Staff Member of the Year Award 

The Staff Member of the Year Award recognizes the achievements of a distinguished staff member. Recent award recipients include: 

2019: Laura Chávez-Dávalos, Director of the Office of Learning Services 

2020: Diana Pell, Administrative Assistant to Faculty 

PHOTO: Alyssa Busker ’24 (left), Maddy Clausen ’21

Hard work and dedication, that’s what it took for Maddy Clausen and Alyssa Busker to claim titles at the recent NCCAA National Track and Field Championships and earn their spot at the recent 41^st Annual NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

For the second time in her career, Clausen jumped her way to the top of the podium at the NCCAA Outdoor National Championships, capturing the high jump title. Teammate Alyssa Horstman was just one step away on the podium, finishing as National Runner-Up. Clausen’s top performance of the season came at the ONU Outdoor Open on April 17^th when she cleared 1.64m (5-feet, 4.5 inches).

Just a freshman, Busker came to Trinity and literally RAN into the track history books. In her first collegiate race, she broke the program record in the 60m and the 200m. She proceeded to break her own record in every race she ran, extending it into outdoor season in the 100m. In her final race, she earned NAIA All American honors in the 200m with a 6^th place finish. At the NCCAA National Championships, she captured titles in the 100m and 200m – earning Track Athlete of the Meet.  She also captured both titles at the CCAC Championship, earning the same distinction.

The duo represented Trinity Christian College at the three-day NAIA event, which ran from May 26-28 at the Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Christian Association of World Languages (CAWL) brings scholars together to provide a forum for promoting Christian reflection and practice in the field. And Trinity’s Department Chair and Associate Professor of Spanish Yeon Lee, Ph.D., will lay a key role in this mission as the association’s new vice president.

As vice president, Lee reviews abstract submissions, administers the Emerging Scholars Award, and organizes the conference program in the role as conference chair. As a member of the executive board, she also contributes with new initiatives and projects that advance the mission of CAWL.

“I am grateful to be a part of an organization where the contributions of many leading scholars continue to nurture the minds of our discipline,” she said. “These outlets provide opportunities for rich intellectual exchange and fellowship.”

For Lee, the Emerging Scholars Award has a particular resonance, since Trinity students Megan Gjertsen and Avery Kats won the award in 2018 at the 27^th Annual CAWL Conference. “Both of my students conducted research under my supervision,” said Lee. “They presented their research and received recognition at the annual conference.”

The knowledge and relationships nurtured at CAWL also provided particular value to Lee over the past academic year. “Last year’s environment led me to create a remote learning setting that is a close equivalent to the traditional setting, as well as ways to enhance its educational value,” she said. “To engage more insight on remote learning, I would consult David I. Smith et al., who recently published a relevant book on the subject titled Digital Life Together (2020) and who is also a contributor to CAWL, to discuss the impact of technology on education and strategies under the classification of two different class sizes. This subject animates my research interest, and I plan to continue to take a deeper look at remote learning optimization in the shifting landscape of higher education.”

Founded in 1991, CAWL is home to the peer-reviewed “Journal of Christianity and World Languages” (JCWL), the CAWL Annual Conference in April, and the Emerging Scholars Award of undergraduate research.

Every year, Trinity recognizes an exceptional educator whose work extends beyond the classroom to make a lasting impact on students. And Trinity is pleased to announce that Professor of History David Brodnax Sr., Ph.D., is Professor of the Year for 2021-22.

Brodnax said the award came as a surprise, not least because he teaches about difficult, often overlooked areas of history. “I’m incredibly grateful to students, former students, and colleagues who nominated me,” he said. “But it is bittersweet in some ways. Part of why I won this award is based on what I am doing to bring about justice. But that means there remains a struggle for justice. I would rather that there be no wrongs, than to win an award for righting wrongs.”

The many nominations cited Brodnax’s excellent academic work, his education and perspective with both a law degree and a doctorate, and his tireless service to the College. Nominators also offered numerous examples of his caring for others. And they repeatedly lauded his work with minority students and his willingness to address past and current injustices on campus and in the broader world.

According to several of the nominations:

— “His courses pushed me further academically than I had experienced, even compared to my semester at Oxford. He knew each of his students was capable of so much more than a hastily written essay from 4 a.m. the night before the deadline. And he knew each of his students was so much more than just a student. He poured into athletes, musicians, historians, and thespians, and he took it upon himself to show each student who walked through his door that they were so much more than what they believed. No one left his office or class unchanged.”

— “He cares about the history courses he teaches. He teaches them well. He doesn’t sugarcoat the truth of historical events but presents them in a way to enlighten the students and help us understand the complexities of our past and to learn from them. He teaches equality and justice — and anyone could learn from him.”

— “He’s known for the depth and quality of his research, the astuteness of his teaching, his years of service on Personal Committee. Surely these are all significant gifts he brings to the College, but behind them is a form of labor that never gets talked about in his self study, and that doesn’t figure as part of his tenure and promotion. And that is his silent labor with our extensive minority student population as the single most significant focal point that they have on campus. Without asking for it, without being assigned to it as an official College task, he serves as leader, encourager, role model, shaper, helper of the many students who turn to him on a daily basis for this kind of support. This work is boundless and Christlike. He so very, very deeply deserves the recognition of this award.”

Among his work and research, Brodnax has recently published “‘Meet force with force and law with law’: Black Self-Defense in 19^th-Century Iowa,” a chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Midwestern History, which is scheduled to be published by Oxford University Press later this year; and “‘The brightest star under the blue dome of heaven’: Civil Rights and Midwestern Black Identity in Iowa, 1839-1900,” an article in Middle West Review last fall. He is also scheduled to take part in a roundtable panel at the Midwestern History Conference in May and has served on the executive board for the Mid-America American Studies Association for several years.

“The Professor of the Year is an award that recognizes faculty who have excellence in teaching or scholarship, but especially those whose work demonstrates a strong connection between their teaching and their scholarship and in work that advances the mission of the College,” said Aaron Kuecker, Trinity’s provost, in recognizing Brodnax at commencement on May 8. “On behalf of Trinity Christian College, congratulations and thank you for the service you render in this community.”

Recent Professor of the Year Award recipients:

2016: John Sebestyen (Communication Arts)

2017: Michael Vander Weele (English)

2018: Clay Carlson (Biology)

2019: Kara Wolff (Counseling and Psychology)

2020: Yudha Thianto (Theology and Christian Ministry)