Forging a New Trajectory
Founded in 1876 as a modest school of ministry with only seven students, 茄子视频 has grown into a world-class Christian liberal arts institution鈥攖hanks to the many individuals who believed in its mission and envisioned a place where students think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly as Christ鈥檚 agents of renewal in the world.
Representing the many who have embraced that mission and become catalysts for change are six individuals who each helped transform 茄子视频鈥攐ne square inch at a time.
JACOB NOORDEWIER (1839鈥1938)
A NOTABLE SOLO SOLICITOR
In 1876, Calvin鈥檚 Theological School occupied two rooms on the second floor of the Christian school operated by First Grand Rapids Christian Reformed Church. By 1889, the burgeoning student body had outgrown the space.
After a parcel of land was identified, Rev. Jacob Noordewier, pastor of First Fremont Christian Reformed Church, was granted permission to fundraise for the purchase of the land and subsequent building project through the summer and fall of 1890.
When it became clear that such part-time efforts would not garner the necessary resources, Noordewier became Calvin鈥檚 first full-time fundraiser. His assignment was to visit families in each of the 99 Christian Reformed congregations stretching from New York to Nebraska鈥攚ithin a single year鈥攖o raise $15,000, on top of the $5,000 he had previously collected.
Although it took an additional year, Noordewier鈥檚 gallant efforts yielded the goal amount, which included a $500 donation of his own. (Noordewier鈥檚 annual salary was $900.) The new facility, which would be used for the next two decades, was completed in 1892.
BERNARD PEKELDER (1922鈥2012)
AN APOSTLE OF FAITH FORMATION
As the university鈥檚 first chaplain, Bernard Pekelder was pivotal in concurrently forming the role of this position and the faith of thousands of Calvin alumni who were students during his tenure.
Pekelder began his foundational work in 1962, at a time when the newly created position was 鈥測et ill-de- fined,鈥 notes a Spark story written for Pekelder鈥檚 retirement in 1985. 鈥淭he introduction of that new office was complicated by the ecclesiastical question of the place of student worship and pastoral services in a college-church setting.鈥
He quickly became integral to Calvin鈥檚 faith foundation, speaking at chapel every week and conducting hundreds of worship services.
鈥淢y heart swells with gratitude to God for how the Lord used this wise Christian gentleman to shape Calvin College and to guide so many within its ranks toward Christian growth and maturity,鈥 said Dale Cooper in 1985, who followed Pekelder as Calvin鈥檚 chaplain.
鈥淚 belong to that multitude of persons whom he influenced,鈥 Cooper said during the interview. 鈥淏oth during my student days and also some years later, when I became his colleague鈥攈is pupil, really. He was my gentle and caring teacher, my wise friend. Whatever I knew about chaplaincy, I learned from Pek.鈥
KAY HAGER TIEMERSMA (1924鈥2018)
A CHAMPION OF WOMEN鈥橲 ATHLETICS
Though never an athlete herself, Kay Hager Tiemersma delighted in the prowess of others and was a driving force for women鈥檚 athletics to become a legitimate part of Calvin鈥檚 educational landscape.
A 1945 graduate and education major, Tiemersma returned to her alma mater in 1946 as an instructor of physical education. John Charles Bult, who represented the entire physical education department at that time, remembered Tiemersma fondly in a 1996 interview, 鈥淚t was a battle to get her鈥攖he school didn鈥檛 believe much in phys ed in those days鈥攂ut she did a good job. She changed some minds about the importance of physical education for women.鈥
In 1947, Tiemersma became Calvin鈥檚 first female coach, heading up the women鈥檚 basketball team, which was undefeated in her first year at the helm. She also founded the Women鈥檚 Athletic Association at Calvin, whose sole purpose was to promote athletic opportunities for all women on campus.
鈥淪he was the main force in getting women organized to participate in activities against other schools,鈥 wrote Dave Tuuk in Maroon and Gold will Bind our Hearts: A History of Calvin Athletics 1915鈥1953. 鈥淪he was a wonderful person for the cause of women鈥檚 athletics.鈥
EDGAR BOEVE虂 (1929鈥2019) AND ERVINA VAN DYKE BOEVE虂 (1924鈥2006)
HEROES OF THE ARTS
When Edgar Boeve虂 first came to teach at Calvin in 1958, he was on a mission to build an art program second to none among Christian liberal arts colleges. His mission would not be an easy one.
鈥淚t was a completely foreign idea to anyone,鈥 said Boeve虂 in a 1995 Spark interview. 鈥淗ow does one in Christian context be an artist?鈥
It鈥檚 a question that Boeve虂, known as the founder of the Calvin art department, focused on daily in his 33 years as a professor.
鈥淓dgar challenged us to understand the significance of what images convey,鈥 said Anna Greidanus, a former colleague of Boeve虂鈥檚. 鈥淢y artistry and teaching, along with many others, was meaningfully shaped by Edgar鈥檚 over many years鈥 (Spark 1995).
Likewise, his wife, Ervina Van Dyke Boeve虂, faced similar obstacles in promoting theater at Calvin upon her arrival in 1954. 鈥淚t was her life鈥檚 work,鈥 said former Calvin theater professor Deb Freeberg. 鈥淲ithout her, there would be no theater at Calvin鈥 (Spark 1995).
Ervina prevailed when the bookstore staff wanted to cover the text for her class to hide the word theater.
Together the pair possessed a professional background combined with the vision and will to face these challenges, using their talents to shape the future of artistry at Calvin.
RHAE-ANN RICHARDSON BOOKER (1967鈥2024)
A TRAILBLAZER FOR CROSS-CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
As a 1991 graduate of 茄子视频, Rhae-Ann Richardson Booker felt compelled to transform her alma mater into a welcoming place for all.
Returning to Calvin in various roles culminating in her position as assistant dean of multicultural affairs, she served for two decades heading up efforts to raise awareness about racial justice and reconciliation. The scope of her work focused on recruitment and retention of students of color.
Her signature program, the Entrada Scholars Program, has helped more than 2,000 students of color, as well as others who are committed to anti-racism and cross-cultural engagement, gain access to a college education over the past 30 years.
鈥淒r. Rhae-Ann Booker left a legacy of advocating for underrepresented students, creating welcoming spaces for students of color, and building relationships with the greater Grand Rapids community,鈥 said Michelle Loyd-Paige, who served as Calvin鈥檚 executive associate to the president for diversity and inclusion.
In tribute, Booker was recognized by Calvin鈥檚 executive leadership in 2023: 鈥淩hae-Ann is a champion and pioneer of excellence in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 茄子视频 is where we are today because of Rhae-Ann and the legacy she has forged.鈥