VERGE 2.2

VERGE C ALVIN COLLEGE | VOL. 2.2

How Calvin students and professors are partnering with communities in Africa. p. 8

PLUS: THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE LAB NOTES FROM PSYCH 333

Photo: David Hoekema

PROJECT DORMWAY PROFESSOR DOUG VANDER GRIEND: HELPING YOU MAKE THE GRADE

JOIN Calvin Admits

www.calvin.edu/go/calvinadmits

›››

Meet Megan Matthew ’15; you’ll be chatting 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: Naperville, Illinois ACADEMICS: occupational therapy major with a minor in Spanish EXTRACURRICULARS: Photography, being on Floor Board for 2nd Rooks, watching “Psych” with her friends

VERGE Vol. 2.2

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 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Phil de Haan ’84 Alexandra Van Milligen ’12 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Lisa Anderson Jill DeVries ’06 James Wood - cover photo

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FEATURES

MORE

4 THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE 6 LAB NOTES FROM PSYCH 333 8-15 FROM GRAND RAPIDS TO GHANA 16 PROJECT DORMWAY 24 PROFESSOR DOUG VANDER GRIEND: HELPING

YOU MAKE THE GRADE

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18 19 20 22 23 26 28 29 30 32

HOW TO WRITE A GREAT COLLEGE ESSAY TRACK STAR SOCCER & LACROSSE CHAOS HOW TO SURVIVE A MICH WINTER GRAND RAPIDS CHAPEL FROM PIANO TO PRINCETON A VERY PERSONAL INTERNSHIP FINANCIAL AID ON THE STREET WITH ARTPRIZE

HOW TO WRITE A GREAT COLLEGE ESSAY

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ANSWER THE QUESTION

It seems obvious, but be sure you understand the essay question. College essays can range from writing about your hero to drafting a personal faith statement to submitting a creative writing project. Once you understand the question, do some research: Why is this question important to this college? With a clear understanding of the question and the college, you’re ready to start writing.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

College essays are a great opportunity to tell your story. Weave into your essay some interesting and unique experiences you’ve had and explain how those things impacted your life, your faith and your perspectives. College reps read these essays carefully to find out how you will fit into a college community and what gifts you can contribute.

TIP

Read the college’s mission statement to get some insight into what they look for in applicants.

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EDIT

Should you use spell check? Absolutely!

Use all the tools available to you to edit your essay. Grammar and spelling mistakes don’t make the best academic impression. Have a teacher, guidance counselor or parent read through your essay before you submit it.

TIP In addition to the essay, many colleges ask you to complete an activities chart of the things you were involved in during high school.

This list provides another snapshot of who you are and what you bring to the college. It can also help colleges identify special scholarship opportunities for you.

TIP

If you’re completing your application online, write your essay in another program first, then copy and paste it into your application AFTER you’ve edited it.

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THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE

SARAH STRIPP

PROGRAM: secondary education DOUBLE MINOR: history, music and worship HOME: Richland, Michigan

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8: 00AM 9: 00AM

MO N DAY

T U E S DAY

WE D NE S DAY

T H U R S DAY

F R I DAY

RUN

RUN

HOMEWORK

RUN

RUN

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST

CLASS

CLASS

CLASS

CLASS

CLASS

CHAPEL

CHAPEL

CHAPEL

CHAPEL

CLASS

CLASS

CLASS

CLASS

LUNCH

LUNCH

PIANO

PIANO

10: 00AM 11: 00AM 12: 00PM 1: 00PM 2: 00PM 3: 00PM

CLASS

PIANO LESSONS

LUNCH PIANO

LUNCH

DEVOTIONS

CLASS

PIANO LESSONS

CLASS

CHOIR

CHOIR

CHOIR

4: 00PM WORK

LAUNDRY & DEVOTIONS

5: 00PM FLOOR DINNER

WORK DINNER

CHOIR HOMEWORK

WORK

8: 00PM 9: 00PM 10: 00PM 11: 00PM

HOMEWORK IN ROOM OR DORM BASEMENT

HOMEWORK FLOOR BIBLE STUDY

HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS ON CAMPUS

DANCE GUILD PRACTICE HOMEWORK

DORM WORSHIP

My favorite class, “American Lit II” with Prof. Klatt.

There is always grilled cheese and tomato soup on Weds.,—so good!

I take lessons specifically geared towards accompanying worship.

I work on the calling crew for Admissions.

DINNER

6: 00PM 7: 00PM

There are so many places to run on campus.

DINNER HOMEWORK

Usually we go to $1 buck Fridays.

I have no experience in dance, but I still have a ton of fun.

My favorite time of the week. It’s a great time to connect with the girls on my floor.

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cingulate gyrus

corpus callosum

thalamus

formix

occipital lobe frontal lobe

cerebellum optic chiasm pituitary gland brain stem

LAB NOTES FROM PSYCH 333

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r

you axed— vesl a e r W t Alpha awake, bu losed. c re You a e probably r a eyes

y rhythmical Varying amplitudes, but ver

Beta WavesYou are awake, alert and could be doing critical thinking or problem solving.

quency Low amplitude and fast fre Delta waves sleep.

You are in deep, restful

MIND OVER MATTER The phrase “mind over matter” just doesn’t mean as much once you’ve really gotten into the mind in “Psychology 333: Brain and Behavior.” In fact, once you’ve actually dissected a brain (from a sheep) and measured your classmates’ brain waves using an electroencephalogram, you’ll know that the mind is matter—and lots of electrical activity among millions of neurons.

Psych courses at Calvin push you beyond textbook definitions of brain functions and mental disorders to give you real experience with these topics. In classes like Psychology 333, you’ll examine clinical case studies and do lab experiments that introduce you to the way the brain affects everyday human nature, behavior and personality.

Study the way brain waves indicate your mental state.

Note on : sligh th tl not e right y high mu than er act acti c h ivit ) th v a doin ity over nd m e left y (b u g m all com ch less ut ath par ed t o

Theta waves eping or lightly You might be almost sle ing rem- cycle dreams. sleeping; you may be hav

sheep’s brain

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FROM GRAND RAPIDS

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WEB EXCLUSIVE

Watch a video from the “Leadership in Kenya” Interim vimeo.com/user1768185/videos

Take a little trip with us, just for the next few pages. It won’t compare to the real adventures you could take as a Calvin student, but at least you can get a taste of what it might be like to study abroad in college.

Let’s go to the continent of Africa, where dozens of Calvin students travel each year.

• Travel to Ghana and help a village soccer team score a winning goal and shadow doctors at a local hospital.

• Intern with a Grand Rapids-based organization that installs water filters in places where people regularly die from drinking contaminated water.

• Learn about AIDS research a Calvin political science prof is doing in Zambia—and what you could do to help out.

GHANA

YOUR PASSPORT TO AFRICA

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Spend the fall semester in Ghana learning the native language, Twi, African dance and much more about history, culture and politics.

Use one of your January interims to study leadership in Kenya, healthcare in Ethiopia or the history of apartheid in South Africa.

Get an internship in Niger, Nigeria or Zambia through the international development studies program.

TO GHANA 4

Help a prof conduct research on AIDS in Zambia or journalism in Kenya.

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FROM SOCCER

TO SUTURES

BY ALLISON GRAFF You love soccer, and you’re not bad at it, either. Imagine yourself in the middle of a village square in Ghana playing an intense two-hour game with African men and teens who do this every single day. Now you’re not sure you’re any good at this game, especially when fans of the opposing team start laughing at you, the only white guy on the field.

Then, something clicks and you remember some of your skills.You blow past a player from the opposing team and make a pass to a teammate, who in turn scores a goal. The crowd goes wild.

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This scenario actually happened to Pete DeJong, a pre-med biology major who is studying abroad this fall in Ghana. It was a dream of his to play soccer with children there, but he never expected to have the opportunity that he did to actually play.

“It was the craziest thing to have like 50 screaming local spectators run on the field yelling and telling me ‘You have done well!’ That dream I brought with me was somewhat blown out of the water.”

MAKING THINGS HAPPEN When Pete isn’t playing soccer with his new Ghanaian friends, he’s doing something that really isn’t much different from what he’s doing on the field: working alongside local people to make things happen.

This summer, he arrived in West Africa to live in a village and intern at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kasei, Ashanti, Ghana.

There, he spent his time shadowing doctors and learning how to perform common procedures like suturing and setting IV drips.

“I learned an amazing amount about Ghanaian culture and customs while I was learning in-depth how the healthcare field works here.”

MORE THAN A TOURIST The opportunity to live and work closely with Ghanaians gave Pete the chance to go beyond something he calls “the typical tourist/vendor relationship” you might experience on many college study abroad trips.

“We are getting to know people in their part of life, and we are learning far more than we ever could in the classroom.”

Getting to know the real people of Ghana is the goal of this fall’s program. Eighteen Calvin students are studying with communications professor Stephanie Sandberg, taking classes at the Univeristy of Accra and doing a special project that gets them up close and personal with West African culture. They’re interning with local development organizations and creating ethnographies, or detailed reports, about their place of work.

“

We are getting to know people in their part of life, and we are learning far more than we ever could in the classroom.

“My hope is that this will teach the students about service and development and ethnography, as well as serve the organization they’re working for by giving them feedback,” said Prof. Sandberg.

SERVING AND LEARNING

”

Calvin students like Pete are doing just as much learning as they are serving people in Ghana. They’re studying the local language, called “Twi,” learning a new culture (including African dance, a class they attend at the University of Accra each week) and discovering the problems that local people face each day.

And they’re learning that for all the challenges Ghanaian people face, there are just as many bright and shining spots in the culture.

“Service-learning here shows us that these places are real, thriving places, too,” Pete said.

WHERE THEY WORK SERVICE-LEARNING LOCATIONS IN GHANA ABAN—Four Calvin students are writing the stories of women who work at this organization that takes girls off the street and teaches them life skills.

AKROPOLIS—Six students are working at this school that serves severely underprivileged children, improving the school’s library, tutoring and creating theatre with the kids.

HOPELINE—Two students are studying micro-finance at this business development organization. They will conduct interviews that will help the organization develop marketing materials.

SAFEWATER GHANA—Two Calvin students are traveling to places where water filters have been installed to interview the people who use them.

This will help the organization improve distribution methods for the filters. Read more about this on page 12.

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Seniors Kaylee Kuipers and James Wood are working at SafeWater Ghana, an organization that brings clean water to places where people regularly die from illnesses related to poor water consumption.

SafeWater is part of a bigger non-profit based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

GOING LOCAL AND GLOBAL WITH SAFEWATER GHANA An excerpt from Kaylee’s blog about her work with SafeWater Tuesday, September 20, 2011 This past week James and I were able to travel to one of the communities where water filters are set up in a clinic and two homes.

The first filter that we checked up on was the filter in the clinic. One filter there provides enough clean water for the entire clinic, and they never have a problem of running out during the day. This is good because it

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shows that they are using the filters properly, since the more they are used the better the filters are. The filter system was working well and the water was coming out clean, however, someone must have knocked it because the spout was broken off. We will have to try and make it back there to fix it for them, but for now it is still usable.

The second filter that we checked on is used by about seven families and other members of the community as needed. They informed us that the water is cleaner and their health is improving. We did notice that there seems to be mold of some sort on the piping though, and we will have to look into ways of avoiding that in the future. They also showed us where they get their water from to filter. The water was very dirty and unfortunately that is what they were drinking before. Water is a major issue for Ghana and hopefully we will be able to set up a few more while we are here.

The final filter was working great and had no mold or problems at all. This was really encouraging because it shows that there can be good success with them and they will not all have problems if used properly. I am glad that we were able to report that at least one is going smoothly.

Read more at kayleereneeinghana.blogspot.com

Q&A

with Prof. Amy Patterson: Researching in Africa Q

BY PHIL DE HAAN

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR IN ZAMBIA THIS YEAR?

Professor Amy Patterson teaches political science at Calvin and regularly travels to Africa to conduct research related to the AIDS epidemic there.

She recently won a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship to further her research in Zambia.

A My research examined support groups for

people living with HIV. I compared three types of groups: those affiliated with the Network of Zambian People Living with HIV, those linked to churches and those which had been established

by AIDS treatment clinics. I conducted focusgroup interviews with support groups for people living with HIV and AIDS, and I interviewed group leaders, NGO officials, AIDS clinic staff members, HIV-positive individuals, pastors and donor officials.

Q

HOW IS U.S. AID MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN ZAMBIA?

Q

A Primarily because of U.S. aid, roughly 70

percent of HIV-positive Zambians who need anti-retroviral treatment (ARVs) can access those medicines for free. This medication has meant that millions of Zambians can now work, take care of their children, marry and go on about their lives.

I heard numerous stories (more than I can count) of people who were thin, bedridden and about to die who became healthy once they acquired the drugs. They would always say: “Now look at me! I am fit, and I am looking fine!� This accomplishment should never be discounted. On the other hand, U.S. aid programs now face the challenge of how to provide real development to the country so that those healthy individuals can no longer live in poverty.

HOW DOES YOUR OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH BENEFIT YOUR STUDENTS AT CALVIN?

A I believe my time away benefits my

students in three ways. First, I teach classes at Calvin that directly pertain to the subjects I research: international development, African politics and international relations. I am able to incorporate my research into these courses, and my ability to share real-life stories from my fieldwork makes the topics of health, governance and poverty come alive. Second, I have directly incorporated students into my research agenda, including taking research assistants to Zambia and Uganda. Third, I want to model to Calvin students that as Christians we are called to engage the world and its very pertinent issues, including underdevelopment, inequality and HIV/AIDS.

Used by permission from News and Stories. Read the full story at www.calvin.edu/news.

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Be Fit for Life: Bike Australia

China: Culture, Medicine and Bioethics

Harness the Wind, Learn to Sail in Florida

Imagine the places you could go for Calvin’s three-week January interim. calvin.edu/academics/off-campus Hawaiian Farms and Food

Grand Canyon Outdoor Educator

Belize: A Nursing Experience

Partnering to Improve Health in Rural India

Israel: The Land of the Bible

Leadership in Kenya

Mongolia

Dutch Landscapes

Spanish Language and Service-Learning in Nicaragua

Taos Art and Literature in New Mexico

Byzantine and Ottoman Turkey

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2012 INTERIM TRIPS

SEMESTER PROGRAMS Britain Chicago China France Ghana Honduras—Development Studies Honduras—Spanish Hungary The Netherlands New Mexico Peru Spain Washington, D.C.

Explore geology in the Southwest

Create a film documentary in Peru

Visit a banana farm in Honduras

Study jazz in New York

FACULTY-LED STUDY-ABROAD OPTIONS

40+

Learn African drumming in Ghana

Explore peace and conflict in Northern Ireland

Cycle your way through Australia

calvin.edu/academics/off-campus

Explore more at

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Study ancient and medieval history in Italy

Do a business internship in India

Learn more about aboriginal cultures in New Zealand

Explore solutions to poverty in Cambodia

Tour U.S.-owned manufacturing plants in China

AROUND THE GLOBE WITH CALVIN

1,006 residence hall rooms—each one a blank canvas, waiting for the personalities of its occupants to bring it to life. Welcome to Project Dormway.

Calvin students rose to our challenge, creating some pretty dormtastic spaces on a student’s budget. Places where friends can’t help but hang out.

Stadium seating, DIY décor, shabby chic furnishings straight from grandma’s attic—you dream it, they brought it.

ELDERSVELD 307 Katherine and Lisa

Cozy study nook

PROJECT DO GET THE LOOK

Red spray-painted TV

DIY mobile out of painted cross-stitching forms

DIY calendar

Wall sticker

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Stadium seating fits up to 14 people for floor Bible studies and movie nights.

Surroundsound hooked up to a 42�

LED-LCD TV, with a PS3, classic N64 and original xBox

BOER 123

Cameron and Matthew

ORMWAY

PART 1 WEB EXCLUSIVE

View the online photo galleries calvin.edu/verge

DIY coffee table

Each room comes with a tack board

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TRACK STAR

BY JEANNE NIENHUIS

RACHEL BOERNER ’11 HOME: North Dakota, New Jersey, Minnesota, Michigan and North Carolina (in that order) ACADEMICS: physics major with a double minor in Spanish and astronomy ATHLETICS: NCAA DIII four-time national champion TODAY: Attending graduate school in medical physics at East Carolina University

“

I chose Calvin because of the astronomy program. I was looking at private schools in the Midwest and most of the schools only had one or two astronomy classes to offer. I investigated Calvin and realized that I would never find another Christian school with even half of the astronomy program that Calvin has.

”

Rachel Boerner made her mark at Calvin as an outstanding physicist.

In fact, her college job included working for the physics department as a grader, lab assistant and observatory assistant.

But when she wasn’t in the observatory, she was running. Rachel is an NCAA Division III four-time national champion. In the spring of 2010, she captured the national title in the indoor 400-meter dash. At the NCAA III 2010 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, she captured two individual national titles—the 400-meter dash and the 400-meter hurdles—on the same day. Capping her career was the 2011 national title in the indoor 400-meter dash.

“Calvin has affected the way I approach life. Calvin taught me to think deeply and critically about what I believe. Calvin also taught me the skills needed to explain my beliefs in a coherent manner. I don’t have even the remotest idea of what direction my life will take; I’m just trusting that God will be beside me in any circumstance that comes my way.”

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TEAM FIRST Calvin’s soccer program has a long history with the most MIAA conference titles (21) since the league started and a tradition that is focused on team performance rather than individual accomplishments.

R E C C SO E S S O R C LA GOING VARSITY

Starting in 2012–2013, Calvin is boosting men’s and women’s lacrosse to the varsity level. With seven other MIAA schools also adding lacrosse, the league will automatically qualify for NCAA Division III post-season competition.

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CHAOS! There’s pomp and pageantry, noise and stealth, body paint and mascots. Props include ropes, soccer balls, marshmallows and mattresses. There may be fire trucks, helicopters or giant paper maché turtles.

It’s Chaos Day—the 43-year tradition that is the World Series of dorm competitions. Students in seven residence halls compete in pseudo-Olympic style for the glory of winning—and for two trophies.

First prize is a plaque engraved with a long history of past winners; the second prize, the Cup of Perspective, goes to the team with the best attitude.

The tradition is rich; the outcome is meaningless.

Unless, of course, your residence hall wins.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Watch the video vimeo.com/29669494

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HOW TO SURVIVE A MICHIGAN WINTER YOUR GUIDE TO PACKING THE RIGHT WINTER GEAR Mittens and gloves are a must. If you plan on building a giant fort on the Commons lawn, bring a waterproof pair.

Show school spirit (and a wizard-chic look) with this scarf, available at the Campus Store.

Bring your snowboard to take advantage of local ski areas.

Keep your feet warm AND dry.

Your first defense against the cold is a good hat.

An insulated travel mug will keep your Fish House coffee steamy.

For those really cold days, you might want a down jacket to keep you toastywarm on your walk to class.

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Grand Rapids

THERE’S 4 YEARS’ WORTH OF

SERVICE HERE

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Got waders? Join 450 new friends in the annual Grand River Clean Up project.

Use your gift of music to make a difference in a hospice patient’s life.

Participate in Calvin’s Sustainability Summit to discuss environmental issues facing our campus.

Love horses? Volunteer at the Equestrian Center for Therapeutic Riding.

Become a Community Partnership Coordinator (CPC) in your dorm, and help connect students with opportunities to serve.

Make a positive impact on the health of three Grand Rapids neighborhoods through Calvin’s community-based nursing program.

Teach conversation skills in an English as a Second Language class at a local church.

Strap on your tool belt and help build a playground at a community park.

Gather the stories of long-term residents, refugees and recent immigrants in an oral history project.

Help organize or donate food at the campus food drive.

Explore more service www.calvin.edu/slc

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PhD, Inorganic Chemistry, Northwestern University

PROFESSOR DOUG VANDER GRIEND:

Experience: 10 years of teaching in Calvin’s chemistry department

HELPING YOU MAKE THE GRADE

BY ALLISON GRAFF Professor Doug Vander Griend is all about creating chemistry in the classroom—in more ways than just the obvious one.

“

He’s a prof you might have as soon as your first semester at Calvin if “General Chemistry” is part of your academic program (think pre-med, engineering or chemistry). And because his classes have quite a few first-year students in them, he tries to create an atmosphere where people get to know each other—and him.

A lot of students think, ‘Oh, I got a bad grade? I just have to try harder.’

But there are about 10 ways to try harder and seven of them might not be very effective for you.

”

“The more time you spend with a class, the more the internal culture and chemistry tends to improve. Students get more comfortable with everything,” said Prof. Vander Griend.

Why should you get to know your profs and classmates in college?

Prof. Vander Griend thinks it might help you do better in class—particularly in a subject that’s as challenging as chemistry. By encouraging discussion and feedback, he hopes students will feel comfortable enough to talk to him if they’re not doing well.

“A lot of students think, ‘Oh, I got a bad grade?

I just have to try harder.’ But there about 10 ways to try harder and seven of them might not be very effective for you.”

Professors, if you talk to them, can help you figure out what really went wrong with a test or assignment, he says.

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“We’re used to reading test results more like a fingerprint rather than just a number at the top.”

“At large universities, you might be in a first-semester chemistry course with 300 or more people. You’ll have a midterm and a final. You’ll enter your number code at the top and then you’ll get your report card at the end.

That’s it.”

At Calvin, where the average class size is 22 students and no class is larger than 50–60 students, you’ll have alot of opportunities to impact your final grade—and talk to your prof about it.

To Prof. Vander Griend, it’s more than just the class size that makes it easy to interact with your professors at Calvin. The faith commitment of Calvin profs makes for a completely different learning environment.

“We understand that this is not just our job, it’s the reason we’re here: to help students succeed.”

› › › ›

HOW PROF. VANDER GRIEND CREATES CLASSROOM CHEMISTRY: You might get invited to hang out at his house, where he and his family live with nine Calvin juniors and seniors in an intentional community called Koinonia House.

Once a week, you’ll sit in alphabetical order so you get to know new people.

At the beginning of the semester, you could be elected to join the class council, which has lunch with him once a week to give him feedback on how things are going for the class as a whole.

After every test, you’ll be invited to meet with him to talk about your results.

ON CHEMISTRY RESEARCH Prof. Vander Griend does research in inorganic chemistry, working with what he likes to call “molecular tinker toys.”

Every summer, and sometimes throughout the year, he has students help him with his work. This often leads to students getting published in academic journals. He says, “Even in our hardcore research, the number one task is not to discover new knowledge and do research, it’s to teach undergraduates how to do that.”

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GROW

PRAY

At Calvin, you’ll be encouraged to make your faith your own. What will this mean for you?

Consider chapel as a starting point. Every weekday at 10 a.m., chapel offers a way for students, profs and college staff to pause, reflect and reset.

But don’t stop there. Because Calvin is a Christian college unlike any other, you’ll also find many unexpected ways to live your faith.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Watch chapel live calvin.edu/faith/worship/chapel 26 VERGE

TESTIFY

How is God working in your life? One Calvin RA started a “Tea and Testimony” group on her floor, but you may find a lively debate or dancing your heart out more to your liking.

WEDNESDAY

Do you pray in pictures? Or do words express the cries of your heart best?

Try praying through your favorite verse, during your early morning run or at a silent retreat.

TUESDAY

MONDAY

Listen and believe.

It’s one of the first things God asks of us. Start listening— at a campus-wide Bible study or in the quiet of the Ecosystem Preserve.

BREATHE

SING

Proclaim Christ’s lordship as you belt out your favorite hymn during Friday’s chapel, as you slam the puck home or as you give an outstanding presentation in your marketing class.

PSALMS CAMPUS BIBLE STUDY

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

Slow the pace.

Reflect. Reconnect.

Take time to rest in God’s grace.

Breathing lessons happen everyday here: in choir rehearsal, of course, but also as you peer through a telescope on a starry night.

Over 1,000 students, staff, and faculty are joining together in small groups to read and study scripture.

The Psalms study is also extended around the world through our off-campus programs in places like Peru, China and Hungary. Plus, many churches in west Michigan and Calvin alumni across North America will also be studying the Psalms this fall.

Imagine what God can do when Calvin people gather together to study His word, pray and love each other!

• Week 1: Getting the Most Out of Psalms • Week 2: Psalm 1 | Praying Our Inattention • Week 3: Psalm 2 | Praying Our Intimidation • Week 4: Psalm 51 | Praying Our Sin • Week 5: Psalm 103 | Praying Our Salvation • Week 6: Psalm 23 | Praying Our Fear • Week 7: Psalm 137 | Praying Our Hate • Week 8: Psalm 6 | Praying Our Tears • Week 9: Psalm 73 | Praying Our Doubt • Week 10: Psalm 150 | Praying Our Praise 27

FROM PIANO TO PRINCETON

When Mike Byun first arrived at Calvin for the Entrada Scholars Program, he had no idea what to expect. He knew Entrada was a selective program and reportedly a great experience, but he was a bit skeptical.

Today, he uses words like “inspiring, enlightening and heartening” to describe his years at Calvin.

For a quiet guy, Mike jumped right in.

He loved the academics, joined the judo club, performed with the Calvin Wind Ensemble, served on the Barnabas Team in his residence hall and made meaningful connections with students and professors.

Mike coupled his love for piano performance with a religion major, a department he credits with giving him the knowledge and tools to continue on into seminary.

Today, he’s working on a master of divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary.

MIKE BYUN ’11 HOME: Tamuning, Guam MAJOR: religion and piano performance GRADUATE STUDIES: Master of divinity program, Princeton Theological Seminary

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ALLISON SCHEPERS ’12 POSITION: Student Intern at Van Andel Institute (VAI) MAJOR: pre-pharmacy

A VERY PERSONAL INTERNSHIP

BY ALEXANDRA VAN MILLIGEN Senior Allison Schepers landed an internship at Grand Rapids’ premier medical research facility,Van Andel Institute. She’s helping to find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a disease that took her grandfather’s life in 2009.

Although she didn’t know it when she interviewed for the position, Allison Schepers’ internship at Van Andel Institute (VAI) would take on meaning at both a scientific and personal level.

“When I applied for the job,” said Allison, “I guessed I’d be helping with one of the cancer projects. So when I found out I’d be working on a study dealing with ALS, I was really excited.” ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

It’s a degenerative disease that causes muscles to waste away, but to Allison, it’s the disease that took her grandfather’s life in 2009.

“I would have been happy to work in any of the labs, but working under Dr. Alberts held a particular significance.

This was my chance to honor my grandpa.”

When Allison began working at VAI, she’d just finished her sophomore year at Calvin. Like most biology, chemistry and pre-health science students, she had already received significant lab experience by that point.

“Most, if not all, of the classes we take at Calvin have laboratory components in which we work in groups to solve a problem or conduct some sort of experiment.

What most people don’t realize is that’s exactly the sort of collaboration you’ll do out in the real world. At Van Andel, we were collectively working on an ALS study, but we each had our own job to do as well. My project involves measuring the motor function and pathological changes of mice with ALS, and it was important for me to know how to work and communicate with the rest of my team.”

As a Calvin student, Allison also enjoyed the opportunity to grapple with controversial issues faced by the scientific community like Genetically Modified Organisms, animal testing and evolution.

“In order to study the new compounds used to treat ALS, it’s necessary for us to test on mice. It’s been really good for me to be able to discuss scientific ethics within the bounds of a Christian community.”

Her experience at VAI has helped to solidify her experiences in the classroom. “The opportunities VAI offers to students in the Grand Rapids area are amazing. I have learned so many new techniques and been able to work with people from all over the world at the same time. I’d encourage any student interested in science to apply. This is where science happens—in the lab. I’m so glad to have been part of this team.”

29

FINANCIAL AID:

EXPLORE YOUR ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

SCHOLARSHIPS Good news! Calvin’s scholarships are now bigger and better. Most are renewable and can be excellent resources for offsetting college costs.

www.calvin.edu/go/calculator

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIP

GENERAL CRITERIA AND RENEWABILITY

YEARLY AWARD

National Merit

Awarded to National Merit Finalists Available for up to 4 years if students make satisfactory academic progress

$15,000

Trustee

Awarded to the top 3% of Calvin’s incoming class 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 Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of 3.5

$8,500–$10,000

Dean’s

3.8 Unweighted GPA and a 28 ACT or 1250 SAT 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 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 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 Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of a 3.0

$1,000–$2,000

TIP

HOW I MAKE IT WORK

Apply for admission to Calvin by December 1 and we’ll waive your $35 application fee.

(Jan. 1 for Canadians)

FEB. 1

“ 30 VERGE

I make it work financially at Calvin through the generous grants and scholarships it awards. Calvin’s academic scholarships reward students for doing well in school, so I actually receive more aid this year then I did when I was a freshman.

MD Perry

• Get admitted to Calvin by this date to receive maximum scholarship consideration.

• Apply for additional scholarships that require a letter or application. Go to www.calvin.edu/go/scholarshipsearch to find out which scholarships require action.

IMPOR

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIP

GENERAL CRITERIA AND RENEWABILITY

YEARLY AWARD

Endowed Scholarships Over 200 for Incoming Students

Use the Calvin Scholarship Search Tool at www.calvin.edu/go/scholarshipsearch.

• Must be admitted by February 1 for consideration • In many instances, you are automatically considered for endowed scholarships based on your admission materials, however some of the scholarships require submitting a letter or application by February 1.

$1,000–$15,000

Music Scholarships

• Apply at www.calvin.edu/music by January 18 • Auditions will be held on Calvin’s campus on February 11 or recorded auditions can be submitted by January 18.

Up to $5,000

DIVERSITY AWARDS Are you from a North American ethnic minority group? Or, a majority student from a culturally diverse background? Selection for diversity awards is based on information provided in your admission materials, including written essays. These awards may be given in addition to your academic scholarship.

Mosaic Award

Awarded to North American ethnic minority or majority students from culturally diverse backgrounds who have a minimum 3.0 Unweighted GPA or a 20 ACT or 940 SAT • Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of a 2.5

Entrada Scholarship

Awarded to students who complete the Entrada Scholars Program with a grade of B- or better $4,000 • Available for up to 5 years with a cumulative Calvin GPA of a 2.5 • The application deadline for the Entrada Scholars Program is March 9. See www.calvin.edu/entrada.

$4,000

FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS If you are transferring to Calvin, you will be considered for academic scholarships ranging from $1,000–$10,000 per year. Your cumulative college GPA will also be considered in the selection process. In addition, you may also qualify for diversity awards or the Phi Theta Kappa award.

Phi Theta Kappa

FEB. 15

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.

Submit all financial aid forms, including: • The FAFSA • The Calvin Supplemental Financial Aid Form • Canadian financial aid form (April 1 deadline)

MAR./APR.

• Receive your financial aid award package in the mail.

May 1 for Canadians

$2,000

MAY 1

• Submit your enrollment deposit to Calvin.

• Accept your financial aid awards June 1 for Canadians

RTANT DATES

31

BETH HEINEN BELL ’03 MAJOR: communications CURRENT OCCUPATION: freelance writer and ArtPrize Street Team member

A metropolitan area

650,000 hosts 1,582 artists in 162 venues, drawing over 200,000 people who cast nearly 500,000 votes of

for a winner who takes

ON THE STREET WITH ARTPRIZE A big city can be intimidating. Tall buildings, narrow alleys, unfamiliar faces everywhere.

Beth Bell ’03 wants to show people that a city like Grand Rapids can be an incredibly welcoming place. That’s why she’s part of the “Street Team” for ArtPrize, an international art competition that literally takes over downtown Grand Rapids each fall.

As a Street Team member, Beth helps people navigate their way through over 1,500 pieces of art displayed on sides of buildings, on Grand Rapids’ famous “blue bridge” and yes, even in narrow alleys.

And tons of people—over 280,000 in 2011—come to Grand Rapids for ArtPrize, many of them from the city’s suburbs and surrounding locales.

Beth grew up in one of those suburbs, attending Christian school through middle and high school.

She says that coming to Calvin, though relatively close to home, allowed her to become comfortable with people from different backgrounds. Her experiences in the classroom and editing Calvin’s student

32 VERGE

home

$250,000

in prize money for his/her work. All of this happens

19 days with the help of 800+ volunteers.

in

newspaper, Chimes, gave her the confidence to be a leader—someone who’s not afraid to speak in front of people and give others’ direction.

Now she’s literally giving people directions as they explore Grand Rapids.

“I want people to know why I love this city.”

As she serves during ArtPrize, Beth’s also hoping to learn a thing or two.

“I want to develop a greater appreciation for the city and its inner workings, and I also hope to discover parts of the city I don’t know much about—like the west side.”

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Explore ArtPrize www.artprize.org

Lupe Fiasco Sufjan Stevens Over the Rhine Jeff Tweedy Fleet Foxes My Brightest Diamond Anathallo David Bazan The Mountain Goats

You care about pop culture.

So do we.

Should you reject popular culture or embrace it?

Consider Calvin’s alternative: holy worldliness.

Using the lens of our Christian faith, we help students engage with popular culture to discern its positives and negatives—to be in the world, but not of it. It’s a bold path, but we accept the challenge.

Join the conversation. www.calvin.edu/go/culture

Broken Social Scene The Decemberists Cut Copy Andrew Bird Emmylou Harris Death Cab for Cutie Patty Griffin Gillian Welch Welcome Wagon Wilco Anberlin Joanna Newsom Explosions in the Sky Grizzly Bear Derek Webb Ratatat Switchfoot Sigur Rós Jon Foreman K’NAAN Jars of Clay Youth Lagoon

Cut Copy September 21, 2011

33

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 3201 Burton St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4388 www.calvin.edu

FOLLOW CALVIN facebook.com/calvincollege facebook.com/calvinadmissions

Ben and Cherie Katt are working hard in a north-Seattle neighborhood to make worlds collide. Together with their church, Awake, they run a neighborhood meeting spot that connects the two socioeconomic classes living in their area: highly educated young professionals and urban poor who struggle with things like drug addiction and homelessness.

Through activities like art classes, yoga, community gardening and game nights at the Aurora Commons, Ben and Cherie hope to see people who have nothing in common build the kind of Christcentered community where everyone has something to contribute—and learn.

Experiences in prayer groups and Project Neighborhood at Calvin helped the Katts form their revolutionary vision of what the body of Christ should look like. Ben says it often starts with something very simple: work. Quoting Christian activist Shane Claiborne, he says, “Everyone wants a revolution, but no one wants to do the dishes.”

BEN ’03 AND CHERIE KATT ’03 BEN: SPANISH MAJOR CHERIE: RELIGION/CAS/RECREATION MAJOR