VERGE 3.3

don’t get lost on your fIrst day of classes

VERGE C ALVIN COLLEGE | VOL. 3.3

“One of the benefIts that I received in coming to Calvin to study philosophy is that I ended up studying biology and sociology and literature, too. I basically ended up with a bigger education.” - daniel

HOW TO HAVE FUN IN GR

What’s college 99% really like?

of 2011 grads are employed or in grad school

Find out inside

40+

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES

“DON’T JUDGE (your new roommate)

BY WHAT YOU SEE ON FACEBOOK.” -ABBY

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PROFESSORS

CLASS OF 2017

95%

of FIRST AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS how to cheer on your fellow knights

looking for a mission trip?

WE SQUIRRELS

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SLEEP THROUGH BREAKFAST

Jumping into an icy pond in the middle of February? No problem. Especially when your school pride and the coveted Golden Towel are at stake. This is why more than 500 students jump into Calvin’s infamous Sem Pond each year for the Cold Knight Plunge.

And this year, Calvin’s new president, Michael Le Roy (pictured below), joined the brave jumpers in the icy waters.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Watch the video at www.calvin.edu/go/jump

VERGE Vol. 3.3

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.”

14

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.

24

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: Bart Tocci ’11 Ben Arendt Beth Heinen Bell ’03 Kristy Manion ’03 Molly Monet ’15 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jill DeVries ’08 Lisa Beth Anderson Ryan Prins

2 VERGE

FEATURES 6 12 14 24

YOUR PERFECT EQUATION LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PROFESSORS 26 ATHLETICS

26 MORE 3 4 5

OFF THE BEATEN PATH BEYOND CALVIN THERE'S 4 YEARS' WORTH OF FUN HERE 20 CHAPEL 22 BREAKFAST 23 SPRING BREAK TRIPS 28 MAKING IT WORK

THE BEATEN PATH

REHOBOTH BRIDGE SEMESTER – APPLY TODAY! CULTURAL DISCERNERS

VERVE An entirely student-led worship experience that happens on Saturday evenings throughout the year.

SILENT RETREAT Tune out all the voices—except for God’s—during this weekend retreat held on Lake Michigan.

Listen critically to great music and other forms of pop culture; then go and lead thoughtful discussions with your peers.

CALVIN RUGBY UNION Play the original pigskin game, with teams for both men and women.

Spend your first semester at Calvin in the American Southwest.

GLOBAL BUSINESS BRIGADES Travel to locations around the world to consult with small businesses in developing countries.

BREAK DANCING CLUB

FRIDAY NIGHT SOCCER

Your abs will never be the same!

Play pick-up soccer games, rain, snow or shine!

POETRY JAM

FYRES – APPLY TODAY! Fulfill science core by doing research on Lake Michigan dunes.

Share your love for writing poetry with friends in this chill event at the Fish House.

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BEYOND CALVIN

“

BRADLEY JANSEN ’11 Business communications major; marketing and gender studies minors Current occupation: Owner of Bradley Productions, a creative photography and film production team in Grand Rapids, Mich.

”

MASS MEDIA STUDIES MAJOR; JOURNALISM MINOR

“

Opportunities at Calvin, like my internship through the Chicago Semester, strengthened my resumé for the post-grad job hunt, and offered me invaluable experience working a ‘real job’ in conjunction with my courses.

HISTORY MAJOR John Michael Zwier ’05 CURRENT OCCUPATION: Law clerk for the Hon. Ann D. Montgomery, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota 12 VERGE 4 VERGE

”

Calvin didn’t tell me what to think, but how to think.

In the creative world, this has allowed me to not just be a dreamer, but a doer.

Carolyn Eller ’08 CURRENT OCCUPATION: Director of marketing and public relations at the Erie Art Museum in Erie, Pa.

CIVIL ENGINEERING MAJOR; POLITICAL SCIENCE MINOR Brendan Halloran ’04 CURRENT OCCUPATION: Democracy and governance advisor at the United States Agency for International Development in Guatemala City

NURSING MAJOR; SPANISH MINOR Kristin Wiersma ’11 CURRENT OCCUPATION: Clinic RN (registered nurse) at Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago, Ill.

“

Because of the emphasis that Calvin places on community nursing, it allowed me to see the needs of patients outside of the hospital setting … .

I can impact their health for the better because I have a clearer sense of their daily struggles and needs.

”

THERE’S 4 YEARS’

WORTH OF

FUN HERE

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN WISCONSIN

OHIO ILLINOIS

INDIANA

6 ACCORDING TO OUR STUDENT BLOGGERS:

21 2 3 4 5 6 3 7 8 9 10

2

Attend a Nite Life event! –Matt L. Claim the golden towel at the Sem Pond jump. –Max Take “classy” Steak and Shake floor outings. –Connor Dance…in Dance Guild, Flash Mob or just on your floor! –Sarah Cheer on the Calvin Knights!

–Taylor

8 7

Explore downtown Grand Rapids.

–Yuri Pick apples with new friends!

–Stephanie Battle zombies in the Science Building.

–Connor Take road trips to Chicago!

–Matt M. Go camping with friends.

–Tori

CHECK OUT OUR BLOGS TO READ MORE

www.calvinblogs .com

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CORE

+ MAJOR + YOU CHOOSE* =

YOUR PERFECT

EQUATION

BY ALLISON R. GRAFF AND KRISTY MANION

We say we have 100+ academic options at Calvin but the truth is, we have about as many options as there are students here: 4,000.

That’s because each student considers the majors, minors and pre-professional programs available and creates a combination unique to him or her. Don’t get us wrong—you should work carefully with your advisor to make sure you can fit your multiple programs, internships and study abroad programs into four years of study at Calvin—but there are students here making it work every day.

In the following pages you’ll find some of their stories— stories of students like Susan, who is fitting a Spanish minor into Calvin’s professional nursing program because she wants to work with Spanish-speaking populations. And then there’s Grant, who came to Calvin undecided and then shifted his path from secondary education to English late in the game.

Brian, an engineering major, will illustrate why you might not want to consider a second major or minor if you’re interested in engineering.

IF YOU’RE UNDECIDED If you’re not sure about your major, you’re in good company —about 20 percent of each incoming class is undecided. And even some of those who think they have decided will change their minds once they get here.

Thankfully, there’s time to do a little exploring once you get to college. Calvin’s core curriculum—a set of courses you take to build key skills and develop a broad base of knowledge—will expose you to plenty of majors. Choose to take core courses in your areas of interest and test out whether you really want to go further in them. For example, if you think you might want to major in psychology, choose “Introductory Psychology” in

6 VERGE

the “Persons in Community” core category. Even if you decide psych isn’t for you, you’ll have one core requirement under your belt and you can move on to dabbling in art history or geology instead.

WHY CORE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND There’s more to core than meets the eye. It can help you find (or change) your major. It can make you a better person as it prepares you to be a thoughtful and compassionate member of society. And here’s the real silver lining: it can help you get a job. Believe it or not, taking classes in sociology, literature, biology and communications will give you that extra edge —an ability to think deeply about a broad range of topics— that employers love.

It helped David, a senior economics and Spanish double major, get an internship that later led to a job offer: “Economics with a background in liberal arts allowed me to sell myself as a bit of a Renaissance Man; a little bit of everything, which is exactly what they were looking for.”

To learn more about Calvin’s core curriculum, and how it fits into the rest of your academic program, see page 8.

* YOUR CHOICES: • SECOND MAJOR • MINOR • SECOND MINOR • PRE-PROFESSIONAL COURSES • STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM • ELECTIVES

Becky could have gotten away with having only one academic program—social work—because as a professional program, social work has more requirements (400 hours of field work!) than most majors.

As an ambitious Calvin student, however, she wanted to add more to her academic repertoire.

BUSINESS

+

SOCIAL WORK

BECKY ’13

The complementary combo

She considered a double major in religion, but ultimately chose a business minor because it made more sense for her career goal: to establish her own non-profit organization. As a social work major, she’s fluent in the language of helping people, but she knew it would be wise to speak the language of commerce, too.

“

I wanted to learn how to market my ideas related to social work, and establish a non-profit organization and manage its finances.

”

Becky’s unique combination of social work and business makes it much more likely that she will be able to follow her vision.

Not only does she have the practical skills she needs to start an organization, but she also has the work ethic—and, more importantly, the heart to do so.

FAVORITE CORE COURSE: “Biblical Literature and Theology” from the religion department. “I really appreciate the religion core courses because they give Calvin students a challenge to wrestle with tough questions about faith, the church and God.”

WHY SHE CHOSE HER MAJOR: “I chose social work right when I started at Calvin because I knew I wanted to work with people and help address their needs.”

ADVICE TO INCOMING STUDENTS: “Try to finish all of your core requirements in the first two years of college.”

INTERNSHIP: Medical social worker on an oncology (cancer) floor at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital 7

CORE STRONG Whether it helps you find your major or simply makes you a deeper, more knowledgeable person, let Calvin's core curriculum strengthen your academic life and future career. This infographic gives you a glimpse into the kinds of core classes you'll take here.

In most core categories, you can choose from many options, depending on your interests. And depending on your planned major, you may have a modified version of the core curriculum.

Have you taken AP courses or lots of science and foreign language in high school? You might be able to get core exemptions.

The arts Science Literature Math Religion History Philosophy Society Communications Culture + More

TAKE COURSES IN

TAKE COURSES IN

Take a course in your major to reflect on how your education comes to life in the real world.

Health and fitness Foreign language and culture Writing Speech Technology

Join other first-year students to explore learning from a Reformed Christian perspective.

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YEAR 3–4 FUTURE READY

ENGLISH

+

CONGREGATIONAL AND MINISTRY STUDIES The “I had no idea what to study” major + minor

YEAR 1–4 KNOWLEDGE

SUSAN ’13

YEAR 1–4 SKILLS

YEAR 1 INTRO TO CALVIN WEB EXCLUSIVE To learn more about what core classes you can take, go to www.calvin.edu/go/core.

Grant is the first to admit he had “no clue” what he wanted to study when he started at Calvin. So he did what any self-respecting, undecided student would do: take core classes.

GRANT ’13

The core helped Grant shape how he planned to earn a living and how he wanted to make a life.

He was considering an English education major when one core class, “Church and Society”, made his heart skip a beat. “After taking this class, I fell in love with the church.”

With a new love came a new direction. Grant declared a minor in congregational and ministry studies and completed a church internship through Calvin’s Jubilee Fellows program. And he found that his passion for teaching, originally slated for the classroom, was actually a passion to educate in the church.

Grant loves the connections he’s seen between his English major and CMS minor. “I’ve been able to think deeply about what the church can learn from reading, writing and education, as well as the opposite—what reading, writing and education can learn from the work of the church.”

NURSING

INTERNSHIP: Church ministry internship through Calvin’s Jubilee Fellows program at North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Ga.

+

Coming to Calvin, Susan wasn’t sure if she wanted to study nursing or art. But she liked her options. “I chose Calvin because I knew I could pursue either major, no problem!”

SPANISH

Calvin’s liberal arts foundation launched Susan into her major of choice—nursing—with a broad range of knowledge and skills.

The “I made time for a minor” nursing major

She spent a semester-plus-an-interim in Honduras—completing an OB-GYN practicum, living with a Honduran family and fulfilling core as she learned about international development. “The class encouraged my passion for nursing. I learned to understand justice in a developing country and how that affects the well-being of society, including health needs.”

MAKING CORE WORK: Susan got her art fix by taking “Visual Culture” for her art core requirement. In this course, she learned graphic design skills that came in handy when she created health brochures for her research assistantship with two Calvin nursing professors.

TIPS FOR FUTURE NURSING MAJORS: Study abroad! Fit this in during a January interim, when you can choose from dozens of off-campus programs.

But Susan’s core knowledge and physiological know-how are not the only tools in her nurse’s bag. To her nursing major, Susan added a Spanish minor. The combination of programs allows her to communicate with her Spanish-speaking patients in their primary language.

Susan knows her Calvin education has given her the tools she needs to be a competent nurse. But she also knows it has shaped her heart.

“The semester in Honduras made me a more compassionate and empathetic nurse. I am excited to see how my Spanish minor will tie into my career of nursing in the future.”

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ENGINEERING BRIAN ’13

The “just” engineering major No one can blame Brian for being “just” an engineering major. In fact, the majority of students in the engineering program choose not to add a minor to an already-intense academic repertoire. Why? Calvin’s engineering program is well known for its academic rigor and excellent preparation for the workplace. This reputation is built on a curriculum that consumes most of its students’ academic schedules. While there’s a bit of wiggle room for an elective here or an interim in India there, Brian spends most of his time in engineering and related science courses.

But engineering students aren’t exempt from core classes.

The number of core classes Brian has taken is slightly less than the average student, but you’ll still see him in that lit class or tennis course. In fact, he appreciates the chance to take some classes outside of his normal program.

“Core classes at Calvin have helped me to become a more well-rounded person. Through classes like English, literature, history and economics … I’ve built a wider base of knowledge.”

FAVORITE CORE COURSE: “Introduction to Film and Media” in communication arts and sciences, which fulfills “The Arts” core requirement. “It’s not related to my major, but we got to watch some good movies.”

HOW HE DEALS WITH THE ACADEMIC WORKLOAD: Good time management and taking summer classes to lighten the normal semester load

DO THE MATH:

26

+

32

42

=

engineering major credit hours

+ 10 VERGE

+

semester hours of technical cognates in math, business, chemistry, computer science and physics

credit hours for the mechanical engineering concentration

31

credit hours for core

131 credits

(+ 8 more if you didn’t take two years of foreign language in high school)

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

KARI ’14

+

PSYCHOLOGY The classic Calvin interdisciplinary major Kari was convinced as a high school student that she would pursue a career in medicine. Then a biology class that fulfilled her “Natural World” core requirement changed her life path.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THAT MAJOR? The growing list of potential careers in environmental work includes law, urban planning, land management, international development and more.

This major, which has Kari taking classes in biology, economics, geography and political science, is the “perfect blend” of her interests in the sciences and humanities.

And though the environmental studies program consumes more than 50+ credit hours in Kari’s academic program, she’s still found time for a minor and a semester-long study abroad experience. Thanks to the fact that her off-campus program in Europe fulfills requirements in her major, minor and core, she’ll graduate in four years.

RACHEL ’15

RECREATION

+

PSYCHOLOGY

The career-focused combo Rachel loves helping others feel good in their own skin. And once she found out about Calvin and its versatile academic programs, there was no place else to go to college.

Rachel knew her academic programs would prepare her to coach women on a wide range of wellness issues— physical, mental and spiritual.

She also knows the liberal arts education she’s receiving will come in handy.

“From philosophy to biology, these courses expand my knowledge and will help me advance in my career. I will be able to go deeper into the specific needs of each [client] to help them improve.”

ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS:

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Read the rest of Rachel and Kari’s stories at www.calvin.edu/verge

“Make good connections with important people around you. Your professors, boss or mentors are all great people to look up to.”

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LEADERSHIP

BY BEN ARENDT

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS

End poverty.

EMPOWER WOMEN. Conserve water.

Fight HIV and malaria.

The list of major issues in East Africa is building, and I have only been in Kenya for two days.

The course was “Leadership in Africa,” and I spent Calvin’s January interim in Kenya with 27 students and two other faculty members, exploring the many dimensions and tensions between development and dependency.

What was it like? Overwhelming. Inspiring. Sobering.

Life-changing. And it all happened in one month.

KENYA

12 VERGE

AFRICA

IN

REFLECTIONS ON KENYA Day 4 - I hear a lecture by a leading Kenyan scholar

on land degradation in Africa. Soil fertility is on the decline, and if there is any chance of reducing poverty in the region, the ecosystem must be restored to a point where it can provide adequate services for human well-being.

Day 7 - Today I meet one of the world’s leading

doctors fighting the HIV pandemic. I find a deep sadness welling up in me, but at the same time, I am inspired. I remember that this course is about leadership. About people who are influencing their communities. I am in the room with someone who had a voice in developing the Millennium Development Goals and who is spending his life trying to alleviate and eliminate suffering.

Day 15 -

After a week in the capital city of Nairobi, we travel west to a Maasai village in Kilgoris. Here, water is scarce. Many young girls spend much of the daylight hours walking to water sources and back home. When they walk, they are not in school. Not being in school limits their future, but their families need water … so, day after day, they walk.

Day 28 - Fast

forward two weeks and my time in Kenya is nearly over. It’s late at night, and the students and I are discussing everything we’ve experienced. We wrestle with issues like urban planning, education, public health, missions, micro-finance, sustainability, international relations and poverty.

We go through our journals and notes from lectures. With laughter and many tears we retell stories and highlight the things we’ve learned in this country. We remember meeting women who are operating a business with beehives. We pause as we talk about meeting families living in the Kibera slum. We reflect on what it was like sleeping in a traditional minyata.

“

Then, one of the students flips to a quote she wrote down: “Leaders are the keepers of hope.”

”

In that moment I realize what an amazing opportunity I have had. I met local leaders who are changing their communities for the common good. I saw Kenyans whose lives consist of constant hardship, yet they exhibit great joy. I saw people who were hopeful and hopeless.

And I have been encouraged by a generation of students who believe in a God who is big enough to handle the many challenges they saw.

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MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN It doesn’t have a fancy name, but it probably should be called something like the “magical roommate matcher.”

It’s the system at Calvin that takes you, with your musical tastes and major and sleep preferences, and matches you to another person with complementary preferences and habits.

Kyle Barr pre-physical therapy/ kinesiology major Waukesha, Wis.

Zach Veenstra engineering (mechanical) major Holland, Mich.

The result? Roommates who get along most of the time. And while the goal of the roommate matching system is simply to create a pair that lives well together, some of the matches become friends who live together throughout college.

Students report that the system works “surprisingly well,” but what’s really behind it? Is it really just a sophisticated computer program that spits out pairs of happy roomies?

Yes, but at Calvin, it’s also more than that. The first step in the matching process takes the information you provide on your enrollment forms and uses a program to create a potential match. This is a crucial step that relies on you, says housing coordinator Emily Nagy: “Be really honest on the form so you get the best match. Don’t paint a pretty picture if you’re actually not that worried about neatness, for example,” she says.

Once the system creates potential roommate matches, Calvin residence life staff go through every pair.

“We pray over every single one, and if there is any hesitation, we won’t make the decision at that point,” Emily said.

Residence life staff members address all kinds of complexities in step two of the process, depending on the information you provide in the comments section of your housing application. Do you have a nut allergy?

You’ll be put on a nut-free floor. Do you love outdoor activities? The housing staff will work hard to place you with someone who prefers the outdoors to video games.

Basically, a lot of care is put into making sure your roommate is the right one for you. But once you get here, it's up to you, along with your roommate, to make the match something great. And according to housing staff, this involves three things: communication, cooperation and compromise.

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Abby Wierenga special ed major, esl minor Grand Rapids, Mich.

TIP

Renee Bellis pre-physical therapy/ kinesiology major Copley, Ohio

APPLY EARLY. Submit your housing app by May 1, and

you’ll be part of the priority housing group that gets roommate information as early as the third week in June.

What they were worried about:

Kyle+Zach, Third Schultze

“You just kinda want to make sure they’re normal." -Kyle

Before Calvin: Kyle and Zach emailed brieFly before Passport orientation to arrange an initial meet-up.

Decided Zach would bring the couch because he lives closer to campus.

“They did a pretty good job matching us, actually.

There aren’t a ton of differences.” -Zach

Before Calvin: They Skyped for three hours to decide who would bring what to the dorm room, what colors they would use and how to decorate.

“The more we get to know each other, the more similar we are!” -Renee

What they were worried about:

Abby+Renee, First Veenstra

“I was nervous because I had never shared a room with anyone before.” -Abby “I was worried that we wouldn’t get along.

Scared that she would be weird and different than me.” -Renee 15

Study habits: “If one of us has something major like a midterm the next day, we just study at the desk area underneath our beds.”

-Kyle

At Calvin: Discovered they have similar musical preferences, and both love to play Madden football.

They’re both night owls and TRY TO SCHEDULE classes later in the morning.

Bonding: Kyle and Zach keep a FIsh tank with about 10 fIsh in it (Zach is still warming up to Kyle’s beta fIsh). They also head to Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursday nights with their fLoor.

Advice to new students about getting along with your roommate: “Don’t be too picky,” -Kyle “Don’t take too long in the shower!” -ZACH

Bonding: Renee and Abby both love to make things... with one difference: Abby likes to knit, and Renee likes to crochet. Don’t get them started on which one is better!

At Calvin: Turns out they like the same music (OKAY, Abby doesn’t like country, but she’s getting used to it).

They also go to bed around the same time.

TIP 16 VERGE

Advice to new students: “DON’T JUDGE THEM BY WHAT YOU SEE ON FACEBOOK.” -ABBY

“I can honestly say that we have become best friends.

I mean, we tell each other everything.” -Abby

the things they disagree on?

They put them all out on the table in September and created a roommate agreement to help keep things harmonious. For Renee, having some differences was not a bad thing: “It has helped me be a cleaner person. I have also become more patient, I think.”

YOUR SUITEMATES on the other side of your BATHROOM will likely be sophomores, and are prepared to answer all your questions about the best classes, study hideouts and coffee on campus.

360 of our room

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KEY jogging path

CAFE / DINING HALL

indoor rock wall

$1 films

tennis courts (indoor & outdoor)

art gallery

fitness center

parking

olympic-size swimming pool

CAMPUS SAFety escort service

beach volleyball court

best spot to build a snowman

best slacklining location

oldest tree on campus

dining halls

pres. le roy’s place

great napping spot

cold knight plunge

“the cheese” statue

shopping malls

observatory

pray, sing, worship at daily chapel

great spot to toss a frisbee

THEATER & IMPROV

library

easy commuting on “the rapid” bus line

sledding hill

amazing concerts & shows

computer lab

on-campus hotel

health services

arena

RESIDENCE HALLS BV = BEETS-VEENSTRA BB = BOER-BENNINK BHT = BOLT-HEYNS-TIMMER KHVR = KALSBEEK-HUIZENGA-VANREKEN nvw = NOORDEWIER-VANDERWERP rvd = ROOKS-VANDELLEN se = SCHULTZE-ELDERSVELD 18 VERGE

CAMPUS STATS 7+ ponds 400 acres 3500+ trees 8 mins. = max walking time from dorm to class 2/3 mile = jogging loop around campus

CAMPUS SAFETY

SOCCER FIELD & TRACK

BASEBALL DIAMOND

INDOOR TENNIS & TRACK

KHVR

BB FIELDHOUSE COMPLEX

NVW

ECOSYSTEM PRESERVE

KNOLLCREST

RVD x-country trail

BV BHT SE

ENGINEERING BUILDING

Nature CENTER NORTH HALL EAST BELTLINE FIELD SCIENCE COMPLEX

COMMONS LAWN

FINE ARTS CENTER

HIEMENGA HALL

“calvin Crossing” BRIDGE

LIBRARY

PRINCE CONFERENCE CENTER

DEVOS COMMUNICATION CENTER

SPOELHOF CENTER CHAPEL

KNOLLCREST EAST APARTMENTS

SEMINARY

SEM POND

1.3 MILES

beta

zeta-lambda

Delta kappa

alpha gamma

19 29

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 20 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.

REST

SING

Grab your friends and head to our packed-out Friday Hymnsing. Sing your favorite worship songs, pray for community members in need and rejoice that the weekend is near!

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.

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THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY

BREAKFAST

“

My love of food is a big part of college because meals are highlights of my day. There is one rule to abide by when eating in college: As long as you are in the dining hall, there is no homework. Meals are a time to connect with friends as much as it is to hunt down the choicest eats! –Taylor

”

Read more at www.calvinblogs.com.

BQUIV BQUIV=Breakfast Equivalency While we highly recommend that you eat breakfast each morning in college, you may occasionally miss it to study for a test or sleep in. When this happens, know that you won’t lose the credit in your meal plan. Head to Johnny’s in the evening for a study break and a breakfasty snack with your friends.

22 VERGE

LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE DURING

We don’t call them “mission” trips, but we have something similar.

Each spring break, Calvin’s Service-Learning Center offers more than 10 service-learning trips that allow students to travel across the country and serve others in need. But this is only half of the goal for the trip. The other half—the learning and growing—you do as you explore new places and get to know the people you are serving.

SPRING BREAK?

From disaster relief to urban ministry to environmental work to community building, there’s a trip for you.

Each group travels together with a student leader, a staff mentor and up to 40 students. Together, you’ll laugh, learn, serve and grow in ways unimagined.

Chances are, you’ll come back a different person.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

More info, pictures and sign up at: www.calvin.edu/go/springbreak

CALVIN COLLEGE

PITTSBURGH, PA

CHICAGO, IL

BALTIMORE, MD

THREE RIVERS, MI

KERMIT, W VA ST LOUIS, MO GATLINBURG, TN

REHOBOTH, NM

KNOXVILLE, TN

MENDENHALL, MS AMERICUS, GA MOBILE, AL

THE WHEELS ON THE VAN GO ROUND AND ROUND...

HOUMA, LA

No flying here! All transportation is done by van, which ensures you’ll be best buds with all your fellow trip-takers upon arrival.

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WHAT TO EXPECT FRO Making the transition from high school to college can be a little daunting—especially when you think about the classroom, where much will be expected of you. Thankfully, the professors standing in front of your classes aren’t just talking heads— they’re ready to help you succeed, if you’re willing to ask. Here, two of Calvin’s most respected (and likeable!) professors talk about their roles both in and out of the classroom.

Q

Q

HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE ROLE OF PROFESSOR? CORCORAN: For me, it’s a passion, a calling, a Christian vocation. I want my teaching to serve as an inspiration to students to discover their own passions and callings.

HOLBERG: Our faculty handbook says “teaching is job #1,” and I take that very seriously. Unlike [professors from] some institutions, Calvin professors also do advising— helping to pick out courses, giving advice about careers, etc. But more than that, it’s hosting students for dinner, having social events through my department, or attending performances or sporting events that my students are involved in.

24 VERGE

WHAT SETS CALVIN PROFS APART? HOLBERG: I think we try—as much as we can—to know the “whole” student, not just the academic part. Working with students is part of our calling, and so we want students to flourish. That doesn’t mean our classes are easy—just that we want to help students live fully into their calling, too. I like that we are part of an academic community that believes we learn from each other. I expect my students will teach me something every semester.

CORCORAN: Calvin professors are accessible. They’re accessible both in their offices, and outside their offices in organized professor-student activities, like game nights, movie nights, etc.

JENNIFER HOLBERG

Professor of English CREDENTIALS: PhD in British literature, University of Washington

M YOUR PROFESSORS1 (and what they want from you, too)

Q

WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS? CORCORAN: I would tell first-year students the following: Go to class. Do the work. Get involved in at least one extracurricular activity. Manage your time wisely. Remember the primary reason you are here: to receive the gift that is a Calvin liberal arts education. Exercise. I’m serious. It will keep you healthy and stave off the blues that many fresh-people experience. Get sufficient sleep.

Q

KEVIN CORCORAN

Professor of philosophy CREDENTIALS: PhD in philosophy, Purdue University

Q

WHAT EXPECTATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR STUDENTS? HOLBERG: Come to class and engage with what we’re studying. Try hard. Participate.

Have some ideas about the texts we are reading, even if they are provisional—and maybe even off-base. Take advantage of the privilege of getting to have four years to learn.

HOW DO YOU HELP STUDENTS MANAGE THESE EXPECTATIONS? CORCORAN: I try to create an in-class environment of mutual respect, focus, attentive listening, wonder and acceptance. I try to help them see that I am not that different from them. I’m older, but I’m imperfect, too. I can be distracted, too. But I’m passionate and eager to learn.

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MIDNIGHT MADNESS

BY BART TOCCI

“If you make this shot … we’ll buy your books for next semester.”

Decked out as Batman—a.k.a. The Dark Knight—Prof.

Jim Timmer, men’s athletic director, uttered the challenge, upping the ante on the nearly impossible, half-court challenge in Calvin’s Van Noord Arena.

A few yards behind half court, sophomore Brendan Coallier dribbled the ball. The crowd grew quiet.

This is Midnight Madness, an event planned by Calvin Game Day—a student group responsible for marketing, advertising and hospitality at home sporting events.

26 VERGE

The staff of Game Day plans Midnight Madness as a way to get people really excited (okay, psyched out of their minds) about the Calvin Knights and the winter sports season. At this event, the Game Day group organized mini-games of dodge ball, tug-of-war, musical chairs with basketballs and chuck-a-tennis ball (where the winner, sophomore Abbey Debat, walked away with a 32” HD TV).

It was a huge success. “We had about 1,000 people in attendance,” said Andrew Vermeer, a senior and part of the five-person Game Day staff. He handles the advertising, along with sophomore Luke Berlin and juniors Bethany Zoerhof and Ryan Olthoff, while senior Drew Sikkema oversees the hospitality.

BY THE NUMBERS

Andrew, Bethany, Ryan and Luke are all sports management majors at Calvin. And while Andrew is excited to bring more school spirit to Calvin, he’s also thrilled with the hands-on experience that he can add to his resume. “It’s great because we get internship credit for being a part of this group.”

A native of Lansing, Ill., Andrew chose Calvin and West Michigan for good reasons. “Grand Rapids is smaller than Chicago, but large enough for great business internship experiences.”

[March 15] AS OF

1

st

PLACE

MIAA COMMISSIONER’S CUP STANDINGS

Game Day’s initiatives are working—with the group’s help, there is more student involvement at games, and the crowd cheers are much more entertaining.

Of course, the Knights definitely gave Game Day something to cheer about: with six MIAA titles, they just turned in the most successful fall sports season in Calvin’s history.

Capping off an already amazing season, the Knights are currently holding first place in the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings, which measures the combined success of a school’s athletic programs.

As for Brendan Coallier’s half-court shot that launched Midnight Madness? Nothing but net.

The Game Day staff works to encourage student attendance at all Calvin sporting events by promoting games, organizing events and leading the student section at athletic contests.

THINK ABOUT JOINING GAME DAY IF YOU ARE: • interested in sports management.

• excited about school spirit.

• looking for opportunities to get involved in leadership and on-campus event organization.

www.facebook.com/calvingameday

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MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VOLLEYBALL MEN’S GOLF WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING

IN THE SWEET

16 MEN’S BASKETBALL

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MAKING IT WORK BRIANNA MARSHALL ’15 HOMETOWN: Fairfield, Calif.

MAJOR: geology CAREER GOAL: a master’s and (hopefully!) PhD in volcanology

Brianna Marshall started looking for a college with a simple Google search: “geology + Christian college.”

“That’s when I found out Calvin existed.”

“

When most people look at colleges, the first thing on their mind is finances … . When I ended up getting really, really great scholarships and financial aid at Calvin, I knew I could definitely make this work.

”

For the Fairfield, Calif., native, heading to a Michigan college might have been a stretch. But she loved the fact that Calvin’s website just kept taking her deeper and deeper into a subject that she loved.

“What I love about geology is that there are always new mysteries.

I can discover a new mineral or figure out how mantel convection works, exploring how, inside the earth, new oceanic crust is being generated. At Calvin, I have the opportunity to explore all that.”

Would a geology program alone have been enough to get such a highly motivated student to Calvin? Providentially, she says, her financial aid package made it all come together.

“It’s been like a journey, and I just laugh because really, I can’t even afford to go to this school. But the Lord has met me every step of the way. As I’ve gotten more diligent, more opportunities have opened up. That would be my encouragement to students who want to come to Calvin: Work hard and be diligent, but trust that God will open up doors of opportunity.”

28 VERGE

BRIANNA’S REASONS TO CHOOSE CALVIN:

› › › ›

You’ll get an excellent education. Period.

Amazing professors who will challenge, encourage and support you.

Deep relationships without all the peer pressure of the party scene.

New ideas that will make you a bit uncomfortable and make you grow.

BRIANNA’S “DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY” AT CALVIN: • Living on Calvin’s Creation Care floor, exploring God’s world with like-minded students • Working alongside a professor as a teaching assistant in a geology lab • Taking voice lessons and singing in Gospel Choir, an ethnically diverse vocal ensemble • Studying volcanoes in Hawaii during Calvin’s January interim • Classes like Philosophy 153, a course she dreaded taking, but one that her professor made come alive through discussions about faith and life • Receiving the Bruce Dice Geology Scholarship, a renewable award which includes a paid position as student docent in the on–campus Dice Mineralogical Museum

CHECK OUT A FEW OF THE MINERALS FOUND IN THE MUSEUM:

READY TO

ENROLL? www.calvin.edu/go/enroll CHECKLIST

1

Submit your enrollment deposit

2

Accept your financial aid package

This holds your seat in the incoming class.

It’s due May 1 for U.S. citizens and June 1 for everybody else.

We need a nod from you before we can apply your scholarships, grants and loans to your account.

3 Complete your housing application Tell us about your likes and dislikes (p. 14).

4 Sign up for summer orientation Choose one of three on-campus Passport orientation sessions, or sign up for an experiential program that takes you into the wilderness or the city.

Rhodocrosite, a manganese carbonate

ready for your 5 Get advising appointment Malachite, a copper oxide

Read about the core curriculum (p. 8), so you’ll be ready with ideas and questions.

6 Complete your health forms Beryl, a beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate

www.calvin.edu/admin/health (You may need a doctor’s appointment, so don’t delay!)

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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 Economics, international development

GRADUATE STUDIES Completing his PhD in economics at the University of Washington College almost didn’t make it on Joe Dieleman’s radar when he was a high school senior.

“I was stymied by the college search process. I ended up only applying to Calvin, mostly because I didn’t know where else to apply.”

JOE DIELEMAN ’02

Turns out, Calvin was the perfect place for a guy like Joe. He loved the classes, the guys on his floor and serving in leadership on Calvin’s student-run Social Justice Committee. Inspired by a like-minded professor, Joe spent a semester in Honduras, exploring issues that ended up shaping his future. “[Prof.] Kurt VerBeek stands out as the most inspiring faculty member I have ever met. He lives his work, faith, lessons and passions with amazing vigor and transparency.

During the semester in Honduras I was challenged to think about global poverty by focusing on social, economic and political realities of Honduras.”

Fast forward more than a decade. Today, Joe spends his days tracking government health spending at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, an independent global health research center at the University of Washington.

But the things he learned in Honduras are never far away.

“I still think of the challenges, lessons and experiences from that semester on a weekly basis.”