Events

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CHEERS TO 50 (PLUS) YEARS!

Over Commencement weekend, graduates from 1970, 1971, and 1972 all came home to Calvin to celebrate their 50-year class reunions. Because the pandemic changed the composition of Calvin’s previous two graduation ceremonies, the alumni association had the unique opportunity to honor three classes at once. Guests of honor participated in a campuswide chapel, class dinners, a class picture, and special recognition at Commencement. Many took in the changes on campus with tours of the Bruce Dice Mineralogical Museum, the Center Art Gallery, and the Bunker Interpretive Center. Alumni board members gifted class members with medallions during a special ceremony commemorating their Commencement 50 years ago. By all accounts the 50-year reunions were a huge success, and the classes enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect and reminisce.

CONNECTING IN FLORIDA

Matt Lundberg, director of the de Vries Institute for Global Faculty Development and professor of religion at Calvin University, met with alumni and friends in Bradenton, Florida, this past spring. Attendees learned about the institute’s desire to strengthen the connection between faith and learning through wide-ranging resources for Christian educators and leaders around the globe and across the range of academic disciplines. Lundberg also spoke at chapel at Bradenton Christian School the following morning.

ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS HONORED

In May, alumni from the Washington, D.C., area gathered at the National Press Club to honor two of the 2021 alumni award winners. Each year, the alumni association recognizes outstanding alumni and friends for their commitment, faith, and service, and since both Rod Ludema ’83 (Distinguished Alumni Award) and Ryan Struyk ’14 (Young Alumni Award) live in the area, it was the perfect venue for acknowledging their accomplishments.

Both recipients had a chance to share their reflections with the crowd, as did President Michael Le Roy as he wrapped up his tenure at Calvin.

The alumni travel program, in partnership with the Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning, provided seven tours this spring and summer.

Pictured: Touring Prague before boarding a Danube River cruise (left), exploring Montreal with Karin Maag (top right), and studying volcanoes in Hawaii with Professor Gerry Van Kooten (bottom right).

WELCOMING NEW ALUMNI

The Class of 2022 had a chance to celebrate its entrance into the Calvin Alumni Association during a welcome party before Commencement. There were snacks, a DJ, and plenty of photo opportunities. The new grads got the latest Calvin boldSOCKS and other small gifts to commemorate their transition to being alumni.

TRAVEL WITH CALVIN

New Hawaii Tour!

Join Gerry Van Kooten, geology professor emeritus, as you hike on volcanoes, explore waterfalls, and learn the local culture and stories of the Big Island and Kauai in February 2023.

Explore Greece

Visit cities associated with Paul’s missionary journeys and take an Aegean cruise with classics professor emeritus Ken Bratt from April 29–May 13, 2023.

More information and additional tours at

calvin.edu/go/travel

Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL) offers a wide variety of intellectually stimulating, non-credit courses and learning opportunities designed for adults of all ages. Since there are no exams or homework, CALL members participate in courses solely for the joy of learning.

SCAN TO VIEW COURSE OFFERINGS AND SIGN UP TODAY

LEARNING FOR A LIFETIME

CALL celebrates 25 years

An imaginary bell rings, doors open, hallways fill, and Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL) students mingle with Calvin students as they walk purposefully to class. A new semester of courses is underway, a semester filled with opportunity to learn more about subjects of great interest or delve into a topic completely unknown.

Many decades have passed since most CALL students studied for degrees at a university. During that period of life, CALL students had to focus on courses within their majors. Fast forward to semi- or full retirement and these students are at the university again, eagerly studying subjects that are of particular interest today. Courses like “Jane Eyre,” “Medical Ethics,” “Pandemics in History,” “Frisians,” “White House Wives,” “Black Wall Street,” and “When Did Sin Begin?” are the offerings. With each semester comes a plethora of courses to choose from with no homework and no tests—in other words: the perfect class.

AN EVENING OF CELEBRATION

CALL celebrated a milestone of 25 years on April 19 in the Prince Conference Center. The evening was filled with memories and stories of those who poured their time and energy into this program and from members with wonderful experiences of learning throughout the years. Nine original members from 1996 attended, and the guests varied in age from 53 to two members who were 94 years young. Bruce Klanderman ’59 was presented with a gift for taking the most courses in CALL: exactly 200.

One of the touching stories of the evening shared by emcee Jolene DeHeer was the ability of three sisters in multiple states able to take the same courses. The effects of COVID forced courses to pivot online. As a result, persons outside of west Michigan were now able to participate.

DeHeer quoted these words from Audrey Wiebenga ’63 of Carmel, Indiana: “I am sending this note to let you know how much I learned, appreciated, and enjoyed these two classes I was able to enroll in this term. I appreciate all your technical ability that makes it possible for us outliers to share in these courses. We have had some fun sisterly discussions along the way concerning the topics at hand. So, I want to pass along my thanks to you.” (Sisters Fern Emma Pruiksma ’61 joined from Spring Lake, Michigan, and Cornelia Ruff from Oakland, California.)

DeHeer also shared the impact the program had on many lifelong learners when she spoke of Jane Kamminga. It was Kamminga’s daughter, Jana, who wrote the CALL office a few years ago with this story of her mother: Jane had always wanted to attend Calvin, but her father thought it best that she get a job. Decades later and in her 80s, Jane joined the CALL program and sat in the same classrooms as undergraduates. She was finally able to fulfill her dream of being a student and keeping her mind active, for which her daughter was very thankful.

THE JOY OF TEACHING

At the anniversary event Jennifer Holberg, chair of the English department, who has instructed 26 CALL courses over the years, shared her joy of teaching for CALL and noted the program’s motto should be, “We shall not cease from exploration,” words by T.S. Eliot.

And Ken Bratt ’68, classical studies professor emeritus and a CALL instructor, who has taught 881 students and led multiple extended trips for CALL and alumni, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to teach for CALL, the efficiency and technical innovation of the program, and the hundreds of creative volunteers giving the program energy and variety. He noted that CALL’s current membership of 1,250 students represents an immense treasury of knowledge, providing life experiences that all can learn from—just as the creators dreamed 25 years ago.

FRIENDSHIP AND ENRICHMENT

Sonja DeJong ’88, CALL program manager, shared some of the history of the program. Enjoying many years of growth, CALL is currently the largest lifelong learning program in Michigan. One of the most significant statistics is that this program has filled 52,997 seats in classrooms over the last 25 years. DeJong emphasized that CALL is not just a program of learning, but also of friendship and enrichment.

CALL member Fred Grasman ’66 summed it up: “For me it was another great season of learning—from “Ancient Rome” to “Ancient Athens” and from “Nederlandish Art” to the “Music of Mozart.” Professors Bratt, Luttikuizen, Steele, and Whitekettle, each in their own way, are excellent. They dig into what usually can be overly complex and make the material understandable by an amateur like me and never talk down to their audiences. Through their teaching I have been able to capture some of the areas of study I did not have time for in my undergraduate days and now have come to appreciate. This, again, has been an extraordinary joy, and I thank you for your hard work.”

WITH GRATITUDE TO CALVIN UNIVERSITY FOR ITS SUPPORT, CALL LOOKS FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF LEARNING.