Archives: News Stories
The business department welcomed Lee Brandsma, CEO of Groot Industries, Inc., to campus on March 4.
In addition to reflecting on more than 40 years in the industrial, commercial, and residential waste management industry, Brandsma shared honest and valuable advice on career preparation, faith at work, and networking.
As students think to the future, Brandsma advised them to consider who they are, how they will accomplish their goals, and what vehicle will get them there.
“In your own time, in your own way, assess who you are and how you’re wired,” he said. “Read the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fortune to keep developing yourself as a business major.”
For all the preparation, students, especially seniors, still wonder about the job market. Brandsma spoke words of encouragement seasoned by his vast professional background. He said that although the macro-economic landscape might not be “rosy” right now, Brandsma assured students they would all get through the first step of landing that first job.
To help make that happen, he urged them to present themselves well on their personal social media platforms, where he said many employers “get to know you” before the interview. Brandsma also encouraged students to network, be patient, and above all, to trust God.
“Having someone like Lee come and share his experiences is a valuable resource for our students,” said Dennis Harms ’89, director of business and corporate giving. “This fits well with the business program’s goal to bring business professionals to campus.”
On March 3, students attended a special event hosted by the Future Founders Foundation and Startup Institute in Chicago.
The event, Introduction to Chicago’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, helped students gain a better understanding of the entrepreneurial community and resources available to them.
Attendees learned more about:
- the history of Chicago’s startup ecosystem
- getting involved in the community, whether building a startup or working for on
- using Startup Institute and Future Founders as a resource
- networking with students and community professionals from across the city
Students also had the opportunity to tour 1871, Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub for digital startups.
Read more about Trinity’s partnership with the Future Founders Foundation.
Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Founders’ Scholarship.
Congratulations to Mallory Boyce of Alto, Michigan, and Emma Darcy of Morton, Illinois.
The Founders’ Scholarship
The Founders’ Scholarship is a renewable, full-tuition award available annually to two incoming freshmen. Applicants must:
- rank in the top five percent of their graduating class or achieve a 3.8 grade-point average
- score a minimum of 30 on the ACT or 1320 on the SAT
- exhibit leadership in their church, school, or community
- display evidence of personal faith in Jesus Christ
About Mallory Boyce
Parents: Scott and Stephanie Boyce
Home church: Rush Creek Bible Church
High school: Byron Center Senior High
On her first visit to campus, Mallory Boyce found that the welcoming attitudes of students and an atmosphere of worship set Trinity apart from other colleges. After attending a public high school, seeing a group of students worship together was a new experience for her.
“When I attended chapel and Outcry, the students there had an authentic desire to worship – it was encouraging to see a true community coming together to glorify God,” she wrote.
Throughout high school, Boyce participated in band and student government, was a member of the National Honor Society, and participated as a youth leader in several ministry environments. By studying social work at Trinity, Boyce hopes to continue outreach to youth and to share the love of God with those encountering difficult situations.
“Trinity truly desires to involve every part of someone’s life in their education and to do it all with the purpose to glorify Christ.”
About Emma Darcy
Parents: Dave and Mindy Darcy
Home church: Grace Evangelical Church
High school: Morton High
Finding a small, Christian college with the right values was important to Emma Darcy’s college search. She looks forward to her Trinity experience for both the spiritual and educational growth it promises to provide.
“I believe that attending Trinity will be a great way to grow in my faith, because it is a place filled with good, Christian role models that will encourage and guide me in my walk with Christ,” she wrote.
Throughout high school, Darcy was involved in cross country, cheerleading, theatre, peer and mission tutoring, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also volunteered in several children’s programs through her church. At Trinity, she hopes to study nursing, with a minor in Spanish.
“God has taught me so much through my walk with him. He has placed people and circumstances in my life that have shown me the depth of his mercy, the power of prayer, and the importance of trusting him. He has taught me to draw my strength from him, shown me the beauty of worship, and developed me into someone who can be a light for him in the world.”
Trinity alumnus Andy Arnold ’00 visited campus to talk about his recently-published novel, “Scandal 52,” on February 25. The story follows Peter, a child with Asperger’s Syndrome, who overhears a conversation that makes him a valuable witness to a crime and puts him in danger.
Arnold shared some of his personal story, as well as his motivation for writing the work of fiction. After college, he spent several years as a paraprofessional in an Elim Christian School classroom, and later as a special education teacher. His own disability, resembling Asperger’s Syndrome, inspired scenes throughout the book.
Dr. Pete Post ’74, associate professor of special education, led the discussion with Arnold. Arnold read two excerpts from the book and also shared a few tips for interacting with autistic students in the classroom.
Jessica Disselkoen ’16 of Walker, Michigan, said, “Both my experience in the special education program and my time spent teacher-aiding at Elim helped me understand better what Andy talked about.”
The event was sponsored by Trinity’s chapter of the Council of Exceptional Children.
Alumni Jeff Miltzow ’07 and Ryan Wories ’09 shared their career journeys with students on February 16, as part of a business department presentation on the topic of vocation.
Dr. Lynn White, professor of business, interviewed Miltzow and Wories, who majored in accounting and marketing, respectively, at Trinity. The two alumni communicated a similar message: Be flexible.
Miltzow advised being willing to switch roles. He said “don’t hold out for the perfect job” since it is possible to learn something from every experience.
Similarly, Wories emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind when job searching and taking opportunities even when they may seem to veer from an intended career path.
Dr. Rick Hamilton, professor of business, said it was valuable for his students to hear that they need to be flexible as they enter and progress in their careers.
Miltzow and Wories also expressed an appreciation for their liberal arts background, something they said employers value. Both said Trinity provided them with a strong liberal arts foundation, as well as a comprehensive study in their chosen major. They also advised students to talk with potential employers about their involvement in clubs, organizations, and leadership roles.
White said it was important for her students to hear about how the wide range of skills often required by employers.
“Both speakers shared how multiple aspects of their Trinity education have worked together as their careers progress,” White said. “They continually find themselves drawing on a broad set of business and other skills.”
Beginning with his earliest memory of racism, Dr. Paul Bushnell, Emeritus Professor of History at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, shared his personal stories of activism as he delivered his Black History Month guest lecture on February 16.
Bushnell experienced firsthand many events that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. He recalls his first awareness of racism at a young age, witnessing the poor treatment of two African American children by a first grade teacher and recalling how the children never returned to school after the encounter.
As a graduate student at Vanderbilt University in 1960, he participated in the sit-in movement in Nashville, Tennessee. He also became a member of the local executive committee of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a group that promoted the efforts of the Civil Rights Movement.
Throughout many years in the South, Bushnell spent much of his time with African American friends and fellow activists. He explained that they avoided restaurants that didn’t allow blacks and whites to eat together and commented that candy machines were often the “most democratic” places to meet.
Bushnell’s work as a professor provided a way for his involvement in the continuing push for racial equality and the education of the broader community. He helped organize Illinois Wesleyan’s program in American studies and its minor in African-American studies. In addition, he published Diary of a Common Soldier in the American Revolution, 1775-1783, and several articles dealing with issues of race.
He fondly recalled meeting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and befriending civil rights leader James Lawson.
The lives of Bushnell and many like him are a testament that people can effect change. However, as Bushnell observed at the end of his lecture, racial issues such as unemployment, substandard housing, and inadequate education still exist today and must be addressed.
In February, the Trinity Business Network and Trinity’s Development Office welcomed Brian Vos, CEO of The Wine Group.
During a special luncheon attended by local business people, community members, and business students, Vos discussed his company’s unique business culture and values, as well as their creative ownership model.
“We are serious about being the most admired organization in the industry by delighting consumers,” said Vos, explaining the vision of the company and its mission to drive long-term value creation.
The Wine Group, headquartered in Livermore, California, is the world’s third-largest wine producer by volume, serving customers in North America, Western Europe, and Asia. The organization’s portfolio includes brands such as Cupcake, Franzia, and Almaden.
“Brian’s perspective on leadership was refreshing and can be applied to industries across a wide spectrum,” said Dennis Harms ’89, director of business and corporate giving. “The wine industry is certainly not very familiar to many people. It was fascinating to hear some of the history of the companies with which he has been associated.”
“What was most fun was not only hearing about the inner workings of the wine industry and how a Christian can serve faithfully in this area, but to share this experience with a wide range of the Trinity community,” said Dr. Rick Hamilton, assistant professor of business.
Trinity Christian College is excited to announce the next wave of student videos concentrating on academic experience within their related fields.
Through these video profiles, Trinity students share insights into their chosen majors and thoughts about their experience as Christian scholars in this vibrant community. A new video will be posted each week, so visit often.
You can also follow Trinity on Facebook and Twitter to receive updates on these postings and to catch glimpses into other aspects of life at the College.
twitter.com/trinitytroll
Trinity Christian College and Lewis University have signed an agreement that provides a new opportunity for Trinity graduates looking to pursue an advanced degree.
Trinity graduates who enroll in Lewis University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Finance degree level programs at Lewis’s Graduate School of Management may be eligible to receive a tuition discount.
Graduates of Trinity’s business programs may be eligible to apply up to 21 credits (based on a transcript review and meeting minimum grade requirements) of their undergraduate academic credits toward completion of the graduate program. Trinity’s traditional business program provides rigorous coursework, professional experiences, and a collaborative learning environment. Trinity’s Adult Studies business program is a degree completion program for adult learners who want to finish their bachelor’s degree in two years.
Students will also have access to resources at Lewis such as a personal advisor who will help develop a customized degree completion plan. Trinity graduates must meet Lewis admission requirements, including a minimum GPA and recommendation letter submission.
For more information about the Trinity-Lewis partnership, contact Michele Ryan, director of Lewis’s Graduate School of Management admissions, at ryanml@lewisu.edu or 815.836.5337.
A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT
Seven months have passed since I accepted the role as interim president of Trinity Christian College in June 2014, and it is a joy to pass along highlights from the past year with all of its blessings and its challenges.