VERGE C ALVIN COLLEGE | VOL. 3.2
PLUS: TACKLING HIV BRIDGE SEMESTER IN NEW MEXICO PRESIDENT LE ROY’S FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE FALL FASHION ON CAMPUS
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” —from the Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 5:14-16 (NIV)
Photographer Joshua Breden ’13 was among hundreds of Calvin students, staff and faculty who joined the Grand Rapids community in launching sky lanterns for “Lights in the Night,” a performance art piece competing in ArtPrize 2012.
VERGE Vol. 3.2
A Calvin College publication for prospective students and parents Verge – the edge, rim or margin; the brink. The point beyond which an act, state or condition is likely to start or happen—as in “on the verge.”
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The verge is a place where you’re finally able to see everything that’s in front of you. A place where you can say, “I can get there from here.”
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At Calvin, you’ll find yourself on the verge of more than you can imagine. New ideas, unexpected opportunities, new territory in your life, your studies and your faith. From the verge, you’ll catch a vision of how to live. And Calvin will take you there.
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CONTACT To submit a question or a letter: verge@calvin.edu To change your address: verge@calvin.edu PRODUCTION VERGE is produced three times a year by Calvin’s admissions and financial aid office.
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www.calvin.edu/verge EDITORIAL AND CREATIVE TEAM: Allison Graff ’07, head writer Jeanne Nienhuis ’80, editor Joy’l Ver Heul ’04, creative director Nate Hibma ’04, web rockstar CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Beth Heinen Bell ’03 Samantha Vanderberg ’12 Bart Tocci ’11 Molly Monet ’15 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jill DeVries ’08 Lisa Beth Anderson Ryan Prins Kelly Powers
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FEATURES 4 6 8 14 16
PRESIDENT LE ROY’S FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE CALVIN ... IN A WIDE, OPEN SPACE BEYOND STARSTRUCK FALL FASHION TACKLING HIV FROM THE INSIDE OUT
16 MORE 18 CHEMICAL ROMANCE 19 PROFESSOR PROFILE 20 IN THE LAB 21 PERU SEMESTER 22 HOW TO TURN AN ENGLISH MAJOR INTO A CAREER 23 INTERNSHIPS 24 ATHLETICS 26 FINANCIAL AID 28 SCHOLARSHIPS 29 BE ENCOURAGED
Meet Yuri Paek ’14 You can chat with her on CalvinAdmits. Ask her any questions you have about Calvin and get a student’s perspective. And, meet hundreds of other new students while you’re at it. HOME: Cypress, CA MAJOR: early childhood education EXTRACURRICULARS: Airband, interim trip to Florida Everglades, Dance Guild
JOIN CALV
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MY FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE so far...
Calvin’s new president—the 10th in its 136-year history—arrived on campus from Washington in July. It didn’t take long before he was helping new students move in, inspiring community members to seek truth and grace, and participating in a flash mob dance inspired by his presidential inauguration.
PRESIDENT MICHAEL K. LE ROY, PhD HOMETOWN: Bainbridge Island, Washington CREDENTIALS: PhD, Vanderbilt University, political science, comparative politics and international relations
With students after taking part in Inauguration week flash mob on the Commons Lawn.
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CATCH A GLIMPSE OF HIS FIRST FEW MONTHS HERE 1. First-year families feel welcome when the We Haul crew descends on parked vehicles to help students move in. // 2. Having dinner with the RA staff from Schultze-Eldersveld // 3. Chaos Day // 4. Convocation is the first formal event of the academic year. // 5. Eating dinner with students before the Inauguration Student Showcase. // 6. Inauguration L.O.F.T. –needs prayers for the week ahead. // 7. Making it official.
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CALVIN … IN A W In the fall of 2013, a handful of college freshmen will pack up their worldly belongings in two 15-passenger vans and hit the road, ready to begin their first semester at Calvin. Except that semester will take place in Rehoboth, N.M., instead of Grand Rapids, Mich. The Rehoboth Bridge Semester is the newest addition to Calvin’s extensive list of off-campus semester programs, but it’s the only one designed specifically for incoming freshmen. It’s not a “gap semester” in the traditional sense—you’ll be taking classes, after all—but the program offers a different way to ease into college. A bridge, if you will.
“This semester is a great opportunity for students who aren’t sure what they want to do, or even those who are afraid that college is going to be just like high school,” says Professor Becky Haney, director of the Rehoboth Bridge Semester. “It’s going to put you in a totally different setting while you learn about yourself and a completely different culture—and be able to serve that community while you’re there.” The program definitely offers the most unique way to earn your first 14 college credits. Outdoor classes, mountain climbing, service-learning among Native American tribes, weekend excursions, whitewater rafting and more will all be a part of what Haney calls “experiential learning.” Even
FACULTY PROFILE: BECKY HANEY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS CREDENTIALS: PhD in economics, University of Chicago; MDiv, Duke Seminary OFF THE CLOCK: Loves playing in the park with 2-year-old son, Micco GUILTY PLEASURE: Buttery popcorn and an action movie in the middle of the day On paper, it may seem strange to tap an economics professor to lead the Rehoboth Bridge Semester—a program that revolves around cultures, geography, sociology, service and Native American history. But Professor Becky Haney is just the woman for the job. For the past few years, Haney has taught a class on crossing
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WIDE, OPEN SPACE BY BETH HEINEN BELL
the drive from Grand Rapids to New Mexico will be a twoweek intensive immersion in Native American culture, with stops at tribal communities along the way. Students won’t miss out on the traditional freshmen dorm experience, either: The small group will live in community, with an RA, in residence halls on the Rehoboth campus. “We’re going to give students a wide latitude to discover themselves—and discover Calvin,” says Haney. “Because this semester is Calvin, in a wide, open space. It’s a mind-blowing way to begin college. I can’t oversell this.”
WANT TO BE PART OF IT? Apply for the Rehoboth Bridge Semester at www.calvin.edu/off-campus
cultures that focuses on the Native American experience. For her, the topic is personal: Prior to teaching at Calvin, Haney spent five years as a pastor to at-risk teens in a Native American community in Oklahoma. And her husband, a Native American, works in ministry to tribal members in Michigan.
Alaska, backpacked through Europe and ridden a camel to see the sun rise over Mount Sinai. “I’ve seen in my own life how much the fresh perspective of a new place can expand one’s understanding of God, God’s creation and one’s self.”
When the Rehoboth opportunity came up, she jumped at the chance.“I am really excited to see this course on cultures come alive and be taught in a community setting where the students will literally be part of the ongoing story of Christian life in Indian country.”
Professor Haney studies how differences in cultural values affect the economic well-being of future generations. She helped develop a computer simulation program called Societies (similar to “SimCity”). By tweaking different cultural aspects of a society, such as selfishness, the program shows what happens to wealth, inequality and sustainability over many generations.
WHY SHE LOVES TEACHING AT CALVIN “There is a wide variety of backgrounds and personalities here, but the common thread is a love of God and neighbor. I enjoy talking with students who care about the world around them and helping them discover their place in it.”
TRAVEL ADVENTURES Among other adventures, she has gone dog sledding in
RESEARCH INTEREST
A HEART FOR THOSE ON THE FRINGE “I relate easily to students who see themselves as a little outside the norm, so my office can be a safe space for them. I also take seriously the privilege of praying with students when they are struggling. I want to help those on the fringes of social groups realize that we’re all made in the image of God.”
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Ingrid Michaelson October 1, 2012
BEYOND
starstr CALVIN CONCERTS TAKE YOU THERE
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You’ve seen the ads from Calvin telling you to “engage pop culture.” You’ve seen the lists of artists that have played at Calvin in the last 20 years. Maybe you’ve even gone to one of our recent concerts on a visit to campus: mewithoutYou, Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor. We’ll admit that we like to talk about the great artists that come to campus courtesy of Calvin’s Student Activities Office (SAO). But before we go on gushing about how amazing Death Cab for Cutie was last spring, or how much we love it when Derek Webb of Caedmon’s Call leads our chapel services, we should probably talk about why we care about pop culture so much.
FAME AND THE HUNGER GAMES Join us for a trip into a packed classroom in Calvin’s Covenant Fine Arts Center. Students fill every seat and stand against every available wall, hoping to talk to indie pop sensation Ingrid Michaelson. They chatter about the soldout show that night and how early they’ll have to arrive at the concert venue to get a good seat. Finally, a young-looking woman enters the classroom and sits on a stool at the front, wrapping her thick cardigan more tightly around her small frame and staring through her “nerd” glasses at her boots. This is Ingrid Michaelson, the award-winning singer-songwriter whose songs are regularly featured on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and One Tree Hill and commercials for Google Chrome, Old Navy and Target. The students are a bit in awe of the artist sitting in front of them. Ingrid is visibly nervous, perhaps wondering what she got herself into when she signed up to play at a Christian college like Calvin. It takes some introductions and conversation pointers from student activities director Ken Heffner to break the ice. The main pointer: “What we want to avoid in this conversation is obsessing about people, not because they’re good artists, but because they’re famous. So if you ask any of those kinds of questions, I’ll veto them,” he says. That seems to do the trick; questions start flowing. Nobody asks Ingrid about her favorite color or who she’s dating. What they do ask her: What are you reading right now? (Book #2 in The Hunger Games) Do you give up something when you work with a producer versus recording albums independently? How do you stay so grounded? Is your music primarily targeted at females? (Read the answers to these and more questions at www.calvin.edu/go/ingrid-convo.)
ruck BY ALLISON R. GRAFF
By the time Ingrid has to leave for her sound check, everyone—including the artist—is even more excited about the concert that evening. Clearly, a new mutual appreciation has developed—one that ultimately makes the concert even more enjoyable.
YOU ARE A CULTURE MAKER Nearly every artist that plays Calvin’s stage takes advantage of the invitation to speak directly with students. Each conversation is different, but most touch on faith and the place of art in society—students and artists ponder together how music can transform culture in positive ways. Often the students and artists disagree about matters of faith, politics and lifestyle choices. Almost always, the artists are challenged by the depth of the questions Calvin students ask them.
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Pre-concert conversation with mewithoutYou
Join the conversation. www.calvin.edu/go/culture
From (nearly) day one as a Calvin student, you will learn to approach everything in the world, including popular culture, as subject matter for thoughtful Christian engagement. “There’s kind of a teachable moment here,” Ken says. “Because [college students]...tend to be disproportionately interested in popular culture, you have a touch point there.” Paying attention to pop culture, he says, helps bring Calvin’s faith-soaked curriculum to life. Students learn to take the theological ideas and Christian thinking they’re learning in the classroom and see how they play out in something they care deeply about. “The ideas kind of die on the vine if they don’t get practiced,” said Ken. So when you leave this place, you’ll not only be able to get a job with the skills you build in class, you’ll be able to have deep, intelligent conversations about the culture you live in. And beyond the deep conversations, you’ll have all the tools you need to actually transform—and make—culture. “If you really want to change culture, you have to make more,” said Heffner, paraphrasing from Andy Crouch’s Culture Making. “So you can’t just critique it, you have to dream up new ways of doing things.”
TRUTH AND BEAUTY Going to pop music concerts and engaging the artists is part of Calvin’s approach to just about everything: dig in and look at it from every angle. Invite the Holy Spirit into the conversation and see what He reveals. Sometimes what He reveals is the beauty that comes from good music. Sometimes it’s truth that pierces the heart when music and lyrics line up to say something important. And sometimes it’s the sense of community that emerges from a shared experience of listening (and occasionally dancing to) great music.
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For Ingrid Michaelson, it’s the last type of revelation that marks the difference between a good show and a great one: “I can go up there and sing perfectly. But just performing well isn’t enough for me to enjoy it. The reason why I do this is because of the idea that [thousands] of people are all having this experience together. There’s something magical... about everybody losing themselves in this moment.” And at Ingrid’s show, that’s exactly what happened. Yes, she played her piano well. Yes, she sang extremely well. She even delivered on some enthralling vocal and instrumental tricks. But the kernel of the show—what made it truly good—was how the audience and artist interacted through music, conversation and applause.
THE REAL STAR OF THE SHOW In the end, you can see a good show at Calvin and think nothing more of it. You can listen, clap, dance, be entertained and even blown away by the artist’s talent. Many people would call this a successful concert-going experience. But to Ken Heffner, this would not be enough. “We have to have eyes that see where redemption is showing up in all kinds of places, some of which are Christian, some of which are not,” he said. And so in the end, Calvin students don’t need to be starstruck when they sit across the room from a charttopping musician like Ingrid Michaelson. Why? Because the process of cultural engagement (having “eyes that see”), led by the Holy Spirit, reveals the true star of the show. Go to enough concerts at Calvin, and you may catch a glimpse of it: It’s the God-inspired hope that emerges when we realize that through the conversations and the music, through us, he is making all things new.
CONCERT REVIEW Ingrid Michaelson charms audience with personality and powerful vocals By Will Montei ’13 I wasn’t very familiar with Ingrid Michaelson previous to her concert at Calvin. That’s not the case anymore. Now, I might consider myself something of an Ingrid aficionado. Between her hilarious, rambling banter and beautifully stripped down set, anyone at the show, really, should know her quite well by now.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? A guide to deep listening
Every Tuesday evening, a group of students gathers to listen to music. Sometimes it’s well-known; sometimes it’s music from up-and-coming artists. These students, known at Calvin as Cultural Discerners (CDs), then go back to their dorms and lead deep-listening sessions with their dorm mates.
Ingrid put on an amazing show — one of the best I’ve seen. Not owning a single one of her albums, I had no expectations before the show. So, even though the opening notes of each song didn’t set my heart aglow with recognition (like they probably did for most of the audience), I was still able to enjoy every single song as if I’d been a fan all my life.
Student activities director Ken Heffner says that this kind of deep music listening is an important spiritual practice. As such, it’s best done in community—and with God’s help. “Don’t try doing this alone. Do it with the Holy Spirit,” he says.
She was playing an “acoustic configuration” of her songs that night… .“Acoustic” performances scare me because most of the time they’re really just lamer versions of the real thing. No one would take an acoustic set by their favorite band over a regular set. No one. However, in Ingrid’s case it (seemed to me to) it served to benefit her sound—her music still sounded full and complete. And the power of her music really rests on her voice, anyways, so doing away with a little extra noise couldn’t hurt her.
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TRY IT YOURSELF
But her music, excellent as it was, was only half the show. The other half was just listening to her as she rambled and told stories in between her songs. Her involving stage banter seemed to come to her so naturally, not only adding humor to her performance, but a large dose of sincerity.
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Ingrid Michaelson let down her guard enough to be a goofball in front of everyone, removing some of that awful aura of celebrity we like to rub on musicians, and everyone at the show benefited for it.
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Printed in the Oct. 5 edition of Calvin’s student newspaper, Chimes. Read the full story, and reviews of the Regina Spektor and mewithoutYou shows at www.calvin.edu/go/concertreviews.
WATCH: Ken Heffner leads Calvin students through this exercise in a chapel service. They listen to Mumford & Sons’ “After the Storm.” vimeo.com/video/19142192
(even better with friends)
Find a piece of music that intrigues you. Get into a prayerful mindset. Listen to the song quietly. Reflect on what the music does to you on an emotional level. Does it give you joy? Make you feel depressed? Angry? Hopeful? Now think about why the music is powerful. Start to ask questions about the musical style and lyrics. If one of your friends has a technical musical background, ask him/her to identify things about the song’s rhythm, key, etc. Do some research about the song’s artist and find out why he/she may have written the song. Does this change your experience of the song? What does the song say about God, the world, the human experience—either explicitly or implicitly? After reflecting on these questions, listen to the song again.
TAKE A DEEP LISTEN TO: “Barton Hollow” – The Civil Wars “Men of Snow” – Ingrid Michaelson “After the Storm” – Mumford and Sons “Laughing With” – Regina Spektor “One Foot” – fun.
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THE CIVIL WARS
LUPE FIASCO
Baby Dee Eisley Explosions in the Sky Lupe Fiasco Five Iron Frenzy Jon Foreman Fleet Foxes FUN. Gardens and Villa G. Love and Special Sauce Jose Gonzalez Great Lake Swimmers Patty Griffin Gungor Guster The Head and the Heart Ben Harper Emmylou Harris The Hold Steady Iron and Wine Jars of Clay John Butler Trio
CUT COPY
death cab for cutie
Regina Spektor October 15, 2012
The Album Leaf Anathallo India Arie Anberlin Barenaked Ladies David Bazan Best Coast Andrew Bird Blitzen Trapper The Books The Brilliance Broken Social Scene Caedmon’s Call Neko Case The Civil Wars Bruce Cockburn Colour Revolt Matt Costa Cut Copy Dave Matthews Band Death Cab for Cutie The Decemberists
Sufjan Stevens Switchfoot Rosie Thomas Tinariwen Jeff Tweedy Washed Out Wilco
SAO 20 YEAR GIVEAWAY STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICE
ALL OF THESE BANDS HAVE PERFORMED AT CALVIN See a full listing here: calvin.edu/sao/resources/artists
SWITCHFOOT
THE DECEMBERISTS
Jack Johnson Keb’ Mo’ K’Naan Jennifer Knapp La Dispute Los Lobos Lovedrug Mates of States Matisyahu John Mayer Ingrid Michaelson Midlake Most Serene Republic The Mountain Goats Jason Mraz My Brightest Diamond Joanna Newsom Nickel Creek OK Go Over the Rhine Sigur Ros Sleeping at Last
For 20 years, Calvin College has brought great musical acts to campus, from Dave Matthews Band to Lupe Fiasco and Regina Spektor. In its 20th year, the Student Activities Office is celebrating with an amazing concert lineup, its biennial Festival of Faith and Music and an awesome “Engage Pop Culture” t-shirt. Here’s how you can get in on the celebration.
Email us at visit@calvin.edu to claim one of these giveaways: • Tickets to any of Calvin’s 2012-13 concerts in conjunction with a campus visit • One of three passes for the April 2013 Festival of Faith and Music (multiple concert tickets included). Learn more at www.calvin.edu/admin/sao/festival • An “Engage Pop Culture” T-shirt (available to the first 20)
FOLLOW US facebook.com/calvinsao
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Longboard = the perfect accessory
FALL FASHION
TAKING IT TO Dressed for success on the BIG test day
Find bag recommendations from students at www.calvin.edu/go/backpacks.
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“THE PATH” Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Make a difference with your shoe purchase with some TOMS.
More than just smart, Calvin students know a thing or two about putting an outfit t1in gear. Calvin students are seriously savvy when it comes to curating great outfits on a college-student budget. Nearby campus you’ll find three shopping malls plus thrift store options beyond just Goodwill and Salvation Army, including Rock, Paper, Scissors, Urban Exchange, One Girl’s Treasure, Rosa’s Closet and blue.
How to survive a chilly fall day in Michigan
Add a blazer to be internship ready.
Don’t leave home without your boots
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RESEARCH AT CALVIN
TACKLING HIV FROM THE INSIDE OUT BY ALLISON R. GRAFF
Summer science research has done more than it’s fair share of work for senior pre-med student Yelena Boykov. Not only did it give her a well-paying summer job on Calvin’s campus, it also means a co-publication credit in a scientific journal, preparation for medical school and most of all, the opportunity to help find a solution to a problem she cares deeply about: HIV. “Research definitely gives you the real picture of what it’s like to [go into medicine]. Lots of people think, ‘Oh yeah, I want to be a doctor, it’ll be great.’ But they don’t realize what it really entails.” The process of research—conducting experiments, making mistakes, doing more experiments, making more mistakes— has definitely helped Yelena prepare for medical school. But it’s also meant getting her hands on a global problem that she’s seen in person.
The summer after her freshman year at Calvin, Yelena went on a mission trip to Chad, where she shadowed a doctor in a hospital. She watched surgeries and live births and saw many people receive treatments for HIV. “Seeing firsthand what this virus does to an individual—and then going backwards into more of the molecular side of things and figuring out the intricate process of it and learning about the actual virus—was interesting.” Yelena and Professor Anding Shen are studying two different kinds of cells and how their interaction allows people to be infected with HIV. If they can understand the interaction between endothelial cells and T-cells, they might be able to determine how to prevent the infection altogether. Basically, they’re looking to prevent people from getting HIV. And if no one gets HIV, then no one will get AIDS. This means a lot to Yelena, who is hoping to return to Africa one day as a doctor.
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What drew her to medicine in the first place? “I like the puzzle aspect of medicine, diagnosing things and figuring out how things work in the body and just how intricate all the processes of the body are.” For now, the senior biology major is wrapping up her research with Prof. Shen, which means co-writing a paper for a major medical journal. One thing she doesn’t have to worry about this year? Getting into med school. Yelena was one of three Calvin students who earned early acceptance to Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine in downtown Grand Rapids. “Calvin has a good reputation with Michigan State for medical school,” she said.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
Check out research opportunities. www.calvin.edu/go/research
PROFESSOR ANDING SHEN PhD from Johns Hopkins University Prof. Shen studies human immune cells called T-cells; specifically, why they are targeted when the body is infected with HIV. Students help her each summer, doing research that ultimately aims to stop infection.
WHY CALVIN? “I knew Calvin had a good reputation for preparing you well academically, but the deciding factor was the fact that it was a Christian school. I think I just wanted that Christian environment and the community that comes with that, as well as the academics.”
FAVE PROF
YELENA BOYKOV ’13 MAJOR: biology HOMETOWN: Caledonia, Mich. CALVIN INVOLVEMENT: varsity lacrosse, resident assistant (RA) in Kalsbeek, biology research FUTURE PLANS: attend Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
“(Professor) Shen has been really great. She’s my advisor, so every semester she’s met with me to figure out my schedule and make sure I’m on the right path [to medical school]. I took her ‘Chinese Culture and Medicine Class,’ so we got to experience alternative medicine. We did some tai chi in class and learned about acupuncture. The coolest thing we did was watch a YouTube video of a woman having a C-section with nothing but acupuncture. She couldn’t feel a thing.”
FAITH AND SCIENCE “In the biology department, we learn to integrate faith and science. Most people view those two things as very distinct worlds. Calvin does a great job of integrating the two in the way that they teach, and the professors are very open to talk about how their faith works in their life as a scientist.”
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RESEARCH AT CALVIN
RYAN MARTINIE ’13
HOMETOWN: Hudsonville, Mich. MAJOR: biochemistry AWARDS: 2012-13 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship RESEARCH ADVISOR: Prof. David Benson FUTURE PLANS: graduate school in biochemistry
CHEMICAL ROMANCE Ryan Martinie is a romantic, and that applies to the way he approaches one of his first loves: chemistry. In fact, he can wax poetic about his research topic, “Proteins as antioxidants using tyrosine and cysteine sidechains,” so that even the chemistry-illiterate can understand why it’s important. For him, science and faith are intertwined. “I love the mystery involved in my work, the questions and answers that we get to explore.” What does he study? Amino acids—which make up protein molecules. Specifically, he studies what he describes as “side chain crosslinks” in specific amino acids that may act as temporary antioxidents. This temporary antioxidant action protects cells from cancer-causing free radicals. The implication? Certain proteins (five, including the one Ryan and his fellow researchers discovered) may help ward off cancer in cells. Ryan is also passionate about outdoor recreation, which he pursues through Calvin’s many climbing, hiking and kayaking trips. For the past two summers, he’s taken time off from his research to lead some of Calvin’s Wilderness Orientation trips for new students. WEB EXCLUSIVE
Take a tour of the ISRX lab with Ryan. www.calvin.edu/go/thinkcourageously 18 VERGE
ISRx: the newly built, interdisciplinary research lab at Calvin.
Purging a sample with nitrogen gas to keep out oxygen.
PROFESSOR LARRY LOUTERS PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY CREDENTIALS: PhD, University of Iowa RESEARCH EXPERTISE: regulation of glucose uptake in human cells
Loading a plate into a robot that prepares samples for mass analysis.
Prof. Louters is one of Calvin’s most-beloved professors, becoming one of four Calvin profs to be listed in The Princeton Review’s Top 300 Professors and earning the college’s Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching. To Calvin students he’s known as an amazing research mentor, leading research projects relevant to diabetes and cancer with up to five students each summer. Fifth graders who visit his “Chem Demos” know him as the crazy science guy who blows things up and makes test tubes glow in the dark.
Research isn’t just fun and games; it also includes menial tasks like cleaning glassware.
Former student Chris Holstege ’88, now the head of medical toxicology at the University of Virginia, describes Prof. Louters well: “It’s easy for profs who are brighter than their students to be arrogant. Calvin professors are compassionate—but Larry goes way beyond that.”
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RESEARCH AT CALVIN
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Calvin’s astronomical observatory is staffed by students and open to the public.
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In the DeVries Hall greenhouse, students work with native and tropical plants. Don’t miss the plant sale every semester.
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Custom-built atom-trapping system using special magnets and lasers in a high vacuum
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Integrated Science Research Lab (ISRx), where research groups from biology, chemistry, physics and computer science collaborate
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A super computing lab, home to Dahl, a computer with up to 3.7 TFlops of processing power
COLOMBIA
MEGAN EQUADOR IN PERU
MEGAN MATTHEW ’15
BRAZIL
MAJOR: pre-occupational therapy HOMETOWM: Naperville, Ill.
Megan is a sophomore pre-occupational major working on her Spanish minor by studying off campus in Arequipa, Peru. Home of one of Calvin’s 13 off-campus semester programs, this university town is in the foothills of the Andes—making it great for hiking, rafting and canoeing. Calvin students in the program live with host families and attend the nearby Universidad Católica San Pablo.
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For as long as I can remember, I have been reading and writing. Some of my earliest memories involve The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Nancy Drew. I always knew I would study English, but for my first two years at Calvin, I thought I wanted to teach. After my first classroom experiences, I wondered if what I really liked about teaching was editing students’ papers and helping them develop their voice and style. Fast-forward to my senior year—I applied and interviewed for an editorial internship at Zondervan, one of the largest Christian publishing companies in the world. I was thrilled when my supervising editor, Bob Hudson, told me I would be his spring intern. Being an English major at Calvin taught me to be a critical reader, pay attention to detail and consistency issues, use correct but not overbearing grammar, be succinct and cut redundancies, and be gracious in reviewing others’ work. I carried these skills and my love of literature into my internship. At Zondervan, I tore a book apart to see how it’s constructed, learned about skills that every editor should have, read The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, proofread book covers, studied the psychological impact of typography and design, considered word connotations and audience needs, copyedited Tim LaHaye’s Brink of Chaos and attended publishing board meetings. My English degree, combined with the Zondervan internship, makes me feel ready to join the publishing industry. The internship also gave me the skill and confidence to apply to graduate school at NYU for my master of science in publishing. At Calvin’s biennial Festival of Faith and Writing, Newbery Award-winning author and a dear professor of mine, Gary Schmidt, said, “If you want to be a writer, you must love the utensils of your art. Love words—love their sounds, love their meanings.” If I want to be an editor, I must love books, words, book covers, Microsoft Word, my Webster’s dictionary, The Chicago Manual of Style, stories and my editing pencil. And I do.
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HOW TO TURN AN ENGLISH MAJOR INTO A CAREER BY SAMANTHA VANDERBERG ’12
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Work as a marketing intern at the British Chamber of Commerce in Chengdu, China. Get behind the scenes of a major sports team like the Detroit Lions. Collaborate with a strategic planning team at local corporation Amway.
Assist the book editing process at Zondervan or Baker.
Conduct butterfly research at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids.
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Provide services at Spectrum Health through the speech pathology and nursing programs. Find out what it’s like to work for major clothing lines and graphic designers at Anthropologie. Work at GE Aviation as an engineering intern. Help the big picture unfold as a production intern at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles. Assist cancer research specialists at The Van Andel Institute. WEB EXCLUSIVE
www.calvin.edu/go/internships 23
Emily Crowe ’15, middle hitter for Calvin’s women’s volleyball team
BY THE NUMBERS 1ST COLLEGE TO WIN SIX MIAA TITLES IN ONE SEASON
75 #8 MIAA TITLES SINCE 2000
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IN THE NCAA FOR ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
NCAA DIII NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
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CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BANDAIDS USED
606 ROSTERED STUDENT-ATHLETES
23 100 GALLONS OF WATER CONSUMED AT EACH HOME GAME
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GAME PUCKS PURCHASED ANNUALLY
CHUCK HOFBAUER ’12 MAJOR: exercise science HOMETOWN: Plymouth, Mich.
A DRIVING FORCE BY BART TOCCI ’11 At age 10, Chuck Hofbauer saw a commercial for Bowflex, kindling his interest in fitness. His dad remembers this infomercial as the most expensive 30 seconds of television in the Hofbauer household. “[Dad] finally gave in,” Chuck said, “and when that box came to the house, I spent all afternoon setting it up in my garage.” Chuck’s passion for fitness grew alongside his interest in hockey. He started playing ice hockey at age 13 after years of trying to convince his parents that he wouldn’t be injured. Fast-forward three years. That’s when Chuck was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Rather than quit playing hockey, he used this as fuel. “When I heard the diagnosis, my only question was, ‘Can I still play hockey?’ My answer was ‘yes.’ I was determined to manage my diabetes properly. I wanted to prove that I could be successful in hockey, and the diabetes became a big driving force.” Chuck’s drive and determination led him to play two years of junior hockey in Tulsa, Okla. He played “everywhere from El Paso, Texas, to Louisiana, from Los Angeles to Toronto.” After his second year of junior hockey, a friend persuaded him to play for Calvin. “I remember the very first game I played at Calvin, the student support I felt playing hockey was unbelievable.
To skate out onto the ice and see 800 students standing and cheering still brings chills to me.” He eventually captained the Knights and was selected to play on the USA National Division III American Collegiate Hockey Association team. During this time, he played in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. “Hockey has taken me to places I’m sure I would have never been able to experience otherwise.” While at Calvin, Chuck gained valuable experience which helped him to pass the personal trainer test with relative ease. “The student-athlete experience was probably the biggest positive [for me] at Calvin. It was comforting to know that there were 20 other guys trying to juggle the tough class/homework demands while being highly committed to a team. We supported and encouraged each other.” Shortly after graduating, he launched his own business, Hofbauer Performance. He specializes in training hockey players and other highly motivated athletes. Chuck’s expectations for his clients are the same he holds for himself. “My goal is to develop the hockey teams I coach into the top teams in their league. As for the gym, I would like to see it become the number one training center in Grand Rapids for aspiring hockey players...[and] all highly motivated athletes.”
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MAKING IT WORK College costs can be daunting. But don’t bypass a great college because of sticker shock. If you’re excited about a school, apply. At Calvin, more than 92 percent of students pay less than full price—a lot less, in fact. At Calvin, you will grow in every direction: boarding a plane to study abroad, praying with your team at nationals or tackling an incredible internship. In every way, Calvin will launch you into a remarkable future.
FINANCIAL
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STEP 2: APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID CALVIN.EDU/FINAID/APPLY
AID
JUNE MAY
APR. MAR.
Financial aid forms are available starting Jan. 1. Refer to the recommended deadlines on the right.
DEC.
Calvin will waive the $35 application fee if you apply by Dec. 1 (U.S. citizens) or Jan. 1 (Canadian and international citizens).
JAN.
CALVIN.EDU/APPLY
DATES
FEB.
STEP 1: APPLY FOR ADMISSION
IMPORTANT
›
DEC. 1: U.S. students apply for admission for free. JAN. 1: Canadian/international students apply for admission for free. JAN. 1: Start your financial aid application. FEB. 1: For maximum scholarship consideration, be sure you’re admitted by this date. FEB. 15: FAFSA recommended deadline. Mid-MARCH Watch for your financial aid award notice. Review and accept your financial aid package. APRIL 1: Canadian/international financial aid application deadline. MAY 1: National Candidates’ Reply Date (U.S. students): $300 enrollment deposit due. JUNE 1: Enrollment deposits due for Canadian ($300) and international students ($2,000).
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FINANCIAL AID:
SCHOLARSHIPS
“
SEARCH FOR MORE SCHOLARSHIPS AT www.calvin.edu/go/scholarshipsearch
… I thought it’d be impossible to pay for Calvin and was ready to say ‘no.’ My mom encouraged me to wait until I received my financial aid package to decide. Best decision I ever made—a few weeks later I was shocked to see how much Calvin was going to support me financially. I have been so blessed and am so grateful to attend a college where each student’s financial situation is carefully considered. —Megan Murphy ’13
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Scholarship
General Criteria and Renewability
National Merit
Awarded to National Merit Finalists Available for up to 4 years with satisfactory academic progress
$15,000
Trustee
Awarded to the top 3% of first-year students who are accepted by February 1. Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.5
$15,000
Presidential
3.9 unweighted GPA and a 30 ACT or 1330 SAT 91%+ cumulative marks Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.5
Dean’s
3.8 unweighted GPA and a 28 ACT or 1250 SAT 87–90% cumulative marks Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.4
$6,500–$8,000
Faculty Honors
3.6 unweighted GPA and a 26 ACT or 1170 SAT 83–86% cumulative marks Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.3
$4,500–$6,000
Honors
3.4 unweighted GPA and a 24 ACT or 1090 SAT 79–82% cumulative marks Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.2
$2,500–$4,000
Knollcrest
3.2 unweighted GPA and a 22 ACT or 1020 SAT 75–78% cumulative marks Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.0
$1,000–$2,000
Donor-Funded Scholarships Over 400 for incoming students
Search for scholarships at www.calvin.edu/go/scholarshipsearch. • Get admitted by February 1 for maximum scholarship consideration. • In many instances, you are automatically considered for donor-funded scholarships based on your admission materials. However some of the scholarships require submitting a letter or application by February 1.
Music Scholarships
• Apply at www.calvin.edu/music by January 16 • Auditions will be held on Calvin’s campus on February 9. • Recorded auditions should be submitted by January 16.
Phi Theta Kappa For transfer students only
3.5 cumulative college GPA and Phi Theta Kappa Member • Available for up to 4 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.2 • Students must receive transfer credit for a minimum of 12 credit hours and provide a copy of their Phi Theta Kappa membership certificate • Not available to dually-enrolled students graduating from high school
Alumni Network Scholarships
Available for students who reside in a region with a Calvin College Alumni Network Up to $2,500 that has established a scholarship program. To apply go to www.calvin.edu/go/alumni-scholarships
Mosaic Award
Awarded to North American ethnic minority or majority students from culturally diverse backgrounds who have a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA and a 20 ACT or 940 SAT • Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 2.5
Entrada Scholarship
A competitive scholarship for those who graduate with a grade of B- or better. $4,000 • Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 2.5 • The application deadline for the Entrada Scholars Program is March 8. See www.calvin.edu/entrada
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Yearly Award
$8,500–$10,000
$1,000–$15,000
Up to $5,000
$2,000
$4,000
BE ENCOURAGED Choosing a college is no easy task. In fact, it can be overwhelming, exhilarating and yes, downright frightening. Whether or not you choose Calvin (full disclosure: yes, we would love to have you here!), our prayer is that you follow God’s good purposes for your life—wherever that takes you. To encourage you throughout this process, we asked a few Calvin people, “What Scripture would you share with prospective students who are seeking God’s will for their lives?” Here are the Scriptures they chose for you.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”—Psalm 37:4 (NIV) Yeaji Choi, student body president
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” —Prov. 3:5-6 (NIV) Jeanne Nienhuis, director, enrollment communications
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Phil. 4:13 (NKJV) Cal Jen, professor, business department
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” —Matt.6:33 (NIV) Rev. Aaron Winkle, associate chaplain, campus ministries
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” —John 1:14 (The Message) Jeff Bouman, director, service-learning center
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) Ebonie Atkins, program coordinator, multicultural student development
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Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 3201 Burton St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4388 www.calvin.edu
facebook.com/calvincollege facebook.com/calvinadmissions
MAJOR AT CALVIN political science, journalism minor
GRADUATE STUDIES Harvard Law School, Class of 2014 If you had to pick one word to describe Lerae Kroon, it would probably be “justice.” A 2009 Calvin grad, Lerae is pursuing a degree at Harvard Law School and working as a student attorney at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, which provides free legal services for low-income individuals. How does a pastor’s kid from northern Michigan end up at Harvard Law? It started by choosing Calvin. “I wanted a college with an excellent academic reputation, as well as a liberal arts education that would allow me to explore my many interests,” says Lerae.
LERAE KROON ’09
Lerae jumped into the Calvin experience from day one and never stopped: she served as an editor for Chimes and interned at several non-profit organizations, including an internship with International Justice Mission through the Semester in Washington, D.C. program. It was in class and through internships that her passion for justice solidified into a future plan—law school. “Calvin encouraged me to explore issues of social justice, whether through hands-on service learning opportunities, research projects or lively discussions in the student organizations I was involved in. This led me to seek a career in which I could advocate on behalf of individuals who are facing issues of injustice in their daily lives. Calvin also gave me an excellent set of academic skills—writing, researching and critical thinking—that prepared me for the rigors of a legal education.”