School of Business

Financial Planning Externship: How Calvin Students Find Career Clarity and Purpose

ag64@calvin.edu — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 19:10:05 +0000

Financial Planning Externship: How Calvin Students Find Career Clarity and Purpose ag64@calvin.edu Tue, 11/25/2025 - 14:10

When Gavin Anderson started his junior year at ��Ƶ’s School of Business, he had questions. Big ones. Was financial planning really the right career? What would it look like day-to-day? And most importantly—could he build a career that honored both his professional ambitions and his faith?

The answers came through an unexpected source: a virtual externship with two financial planners.

The School of Business financial planning externship connects students with practicing advisors for low-barrier, high-impact mentorship. The seven-session format requires just hours of commitment and is accessible even for busy students balancing coursework, jobs, and other commitments. Through conversations, students gain honest insights into what it really means to work in the field. For Gavin, the sessions became a turning point.

"Every advisor has a different path," said Gavin. "I want to learn from as many as possible."

So, he participated twice. First, he worked with Jason Topp of MidCoast Wealth Advisors. Then came Matt Boersen from Straight Path Wealth Management.

Learning from Different Perspectives

Each advisor brought something different to the table. Topp shared personal stories about navigating industry challenges, engaging clients, and building trust through communication and listening. Boersen, a Certified Financial Planning board member, offered technical expertise and brought recent Calvin graduates onto calls to share their experiences.

Both modeled what it looks like to build a faith-centered practice.

"I'm prioritizing firms that align with my faith and values as I start my job search," added Gavin. "That clarity came through these experiences."

Gavin’s realization didn't emerge in isolation. As a Nexus peer financial coach, he had already discovered the power of integrating faith and finance while helping fellow students with biblically-based financial planning education. The externships reinforced what he'd learned: he wanted to work somewhere he could open client meetings with prayer, reference Scripture when discussing stewardship, and build genuine relationships rather than push products.

From Mentorship to Mission: Shaping Financial Planning's Future

For Jason Topp, creating the externship was personal. "I wanted to create something I wish I had when I was first starting out," he said. “It's about shaping the next generation of advisors who will approach financial advising as a way to truly serve people.”

That mission aligns perfectly with Calvin's approach to business education. Through experiences like the externship, combined with programs like Nexus and opportunities to earn professional certifications while still in school, students develop both technical excellence and ethical frameworks. They're not just prepared for jobs—they're prepared for vocations.

Tue, 11/25/2025 - 12:00

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First-gen student discovering purpose and community at Calvin

msk23@calvin.edu — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:18:19 +0000

First-gen student discovering purpose and community at Calvin msk23@calvin.edu Tue, 11/11/2025 - 13:18

Judith Mukamurenzi ‘27 is a junior at ��Ƶ, majoring in finance and marketing and minoring in ministry leadership. As a first-generation college student, she’s aiming to be the first in her immediate family to earn a four-year college degree.

Now in her third year at Calvin, Mukamurenzi reflects back on the barriers she initially faced when she was deciding on which college to attend, the support she’s received along the way, and how she’s not just pursuing a degree at Calvin, but on a journey to discover her God-given purpose.

When you were considering colleges, what was the biggest barrier you faced?

The biggest barrier I faced was financial. My family couldn’t afford to send me to college, but I believed that if I did my part, God would make a way. I worked hard all through high school, giving my best and trusting God to handle the rest, which He did. I saw education as more than just my future, it was a way to create new possibilities for my family, and that’s what kept me going.

Why did you choose to come to Calvin? How did Calvin help you overcome that barrier?

Calvin checked every box I was praying for. I was looking for a school that would support me financially and help me grow spiritually. Calvin provided both. I received a generous financial aid package that made it possible for me to attend, and I found a Christ-centered community that has poured into me in ways I didn’t expect. Calvin didn’t just give me access to higher education; It’s also a place where I am growing in my faith, purpose, and calling.

What's something that's surprised you so far about your Calvin experience?

What’s surprised me most is how much you grow as a person beyond the classroom. Calvin’s liberal arts approach challenges you to think deeply and see life from different perspectives. My professors and peers have encouraged me to ask hard questions, stay grounded in my faith, and see learning as a journey that shapes both the mind and the heart.

How have you been supported during your time at Calvin?

I have been supported in so many ways. TRIO Student Support Services was a big part of my first-year experience. Even though I took dual enrollment courses in high school, being a full-time college student was completely new. TRIO guided me through that transition and helped me believe in myself when things felt unfamiliar. Their mentorship inspired me to become a TRIO ambassador so I could give back to other students who are just beginning their college journey.

How have you gotten involved and found community here?

Community is one of my favorite parts of Calvin. I have had the chance to serve as the community outreach director for the African Student Association, which allowed me to celebrate culture and connect with others who share similar roots. I was also part of the ministry leadership cohort, where I grew in faith and learned what it means to serve with others who love God. My friends and I even started a prayer group where we encourage and uplift one another. And now, as a Nexus financial coach, I get to combine everything I am passionate about: faith, finance, and mentorship, by walking alongside students in their financial and spiritual growth.

Would you recommend Calvin to other first-generation students? Why?

Absolutely. Calvin has an amazing community for first-generation students that feels like family. Through programs like TRIO and Calvin First, I have met people who understand the unique challenges we face and who genuinely want to see us succeed. The support here is real. You are surrounded by people who believe in you, pray for you, and celebrate your wins. As a first-generation student, that means everything. Calvin is not just a place to earn a degree, it is a place to be transformed, to grow in faith, and to discover the purpose God placed within you.

Tue, 11/11/2025 - 12:00

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First-gen student finds support and belonging at Calvin

msk23@calvin.edu — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:47:35 +0000

First-gen student finds support and belonging at Calvin msk23@calvin.edu Wed, 11/05/2025 - 10:47

Elaina El-Khoury ‘27 is studying operations and supply chain management & business analytics at ��Ƶ. El-Khoury, who hails from Lebanon, is a first-generation college student, meaning she’s aiming to be the first in her immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Now in her junior year, El-Khoury reflects back on the challenges she faced as a first-gen student, the support she’s received along the way, and the rewarding journey she’s been on over the past few years.

When you were considering college, what was the biggest barrier you faced?

When I was thinking about college, the hardest part was figuring everything out on my own and making sure it was financially possible. There wasn’t really a clear roadmap for me, so I had to take the time to learn about applications, scholarships, and what options were realistic. It was a lot to manage, but it helped me grow more independent and resourceful.

How did Calvin help you overcome that barrier? Why did you choose Calvin?

Before I became a Calvin student, during my senior year of high school, I visited campus several times and immediately noticed the strong sense of community. Everyone I met was welcoming and genuine, which made Calvin feel like a place where I could truly belong. As a first-generation student, I didn’t always know what to expect from college, but Calvin had a very supportive and welcoming environment (admissions team, financial advisors, mentors) which made the transition feel less overwhelming. They helped me find the resources I needed, answered every question I had concerning finances and transition, which made me feel more prepared and confident to take the big next step.

I also would like to add faith. When I moved from Lebanon to the U.S., I still had a strong faith, but I found it harder to stay consistent with prayer and church. Coming to Calvin helped me reconnect and grow spiritually. Through chapel, Bible studies, and the people I met here, I felt encouraged to live out my faith more openly. Even though I come from a different denomination, I’ve always felt included and supported. Being part of this community has helped me grow closer to God and continually strengthen my faith throughout my journey at Calvin.

What's something that's surprised you so far about your Calvin experience?

One of the things I really appreciate about Calvin is its diversity, not only among students but also in the way different majors and disciplines connect with one another. I find it amazing how everything here feels interconnected. We’re encouraged to learn beyond our own majors, which helps us become more aware, well-rounded, and thoughtful. I love that Calvin continues to grow in this way, and it’s exciting to be part of a community that values both academic connection and personal growth.

How have you been supported during your time at Calvin?

I’ve been supported in so many ways here at Calvin. In the beginning, even though I’ve always been a talkative person, it was hard for me to open up and ask for help, whether it was about navigating classes and assignments or dealing with personal and social challenges. Over time, I realized how strong the community around me is. Through TRIO, the first-gen program, and groups like CISD, I found people who understood what I was going through. Being surrounded by students who shared similar experiences helped me let my guard down and feel comfortable asking for help. It’s made a big difference to know I’m not alone, that there are people who truly listen, support, and guide you rather than just saying, “It’ll get better.”

How have you gotten involved and found community here?

It definitely wasn’t easy to find a community where I felt like I truly fit in. Navigating that part of college was tough, but I kept pushing myself to get involved in different student orgs, clubs, and leadership roles to see where I felt most at ease. For about two years, I was in and out of friend groups and organizations, and honestly, it was a challenging process. But by God’s grace and through a lot of prayer, I’ve finally found where I belong. I’m now surrounded by people who uplift me and make me feel genuinely comfortable. It’s been a journey, but through it all, I’ve learned what’s best for me and where I’m meant to be.

Would you recommend Calvin to other first-gen students? Why?

Definitely yes!!! I didn’t really know what “first-gen” meant before I came to Calvin, but Calvin has shown me how meaningful it is to be one. There’s a strong sense of support and pride in being part of the first-gen community here. Through programs like TRIO and First-Gen Connect, I’ve met people who understand my experiences and genuinely want to see me succeed. Calvin celebrates that part of who we are and provides the resources, mentorship, and encouragement that help first-gen students not just adjust but truly thrive.

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 12:00

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How a Supply Chain Student Turned a Company Tour into a Career Opportunity

ag64@calvin.edu — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:38:46 +0000

How a Supply Chain Student Turned a Company Tour into a Career Opportunity ag64@calvin.edu Mon, 11/03/2025 - 15:38

When operations and supply chain major Jack Bermel walked into Howies Hockey Tape headquarters, he wasn’t sure what to expect. What he found was far more than a company tour. It was an eye-opening experience that reinforced his career direction and opened unexpected doors.

“The trip gave me valuable insight into how supply chain operations work in the real world,” Jack reflected. “Walking through the warehouse and observing daily operations helped me understand how all parts of business connect. Seeing firsthand how sales and customer relationships fit into the bigger picture was really helpful.”

Beyond operations, Jack noticed Howies’ unique workplace culture. The emphasis on team camaraderie, such as their Tuesday morning hockey league, showed that successful businesses prioritize both productivity and people.

“There’s time for business, but also time to get to know your coworkers and have fun,” Jack said.

Networking Turns Visits into Opportunities

Jack didn’t let the visit end with a handshake. He followed up with Cameron Orchard—Human Resource and Business Development Director who organized the tour—to thank him and learn more about internship opportunities. Cameron’s response? A personal invitation for a one-on-one conversation.

Within days, Jack was getting ready: fine-tuning his elevator pitch, showing how he lives out the traits of “humble, hungry, and smart,” and working with a career coach to make the most of the chance. What began as a company tour became a springboard for meaningful connections and future possibilities.

Jack’s proactive approach illustrates a key lesson: success comes from taking initiative and following through. His journey from observer to active candidate shows how employer visits for School of Business students can spark career opportunities, going beyond supplementing classroom learning.

Mon, 11/03/2025 - 12:00

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Four Business Leaders Take On Expanded Roles, Bringing Real-World Expertise to the Classroom

ag64@calvin.edu — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 20:47:05 +0000

Four Business Leaders Take On Expanded Roles, Bringing Real-World Expertise to the Classroom ag64@calvin.edu Wed, 09/24/2025 - 16:47

Calvin business students will now learn from four additional accomplished and respected faculty members in expanded roles, gaining access to more than a century of combined professional and academic expertise. The strategic faculty appointments strengthen the School of Business's integration of academic theory with real-world business application.

April VanPutten, MBA: Advancing Accounting Leadership

Professor April VanPutten moves from visiting lecturer to lecturer, where she will teach accounting and organizational behavior while serving as the Master of Accounting program director.

With industry experience in both for-profit and non-profit sectors, Professor VanPutten brings valuable practical insights into her teaching. She is finishing her dissertation on the impact of leader psychological capital on employee engagement in academic libraries.

Professor VanPutten holds a master of business administration from Grand Valley State University and is completing her PhD in organizational leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Nathan Weflen, MBA: From Industry to Academia

Nathan Weflen has been appointed assistant professor after serving at Calvin since 2021 in various capacities, including leading the Nexus Program and teaching as both an adjunct professor and visiting lecturer.

Professor Weflen brings valuable industry experience from his time at Goldman Sachs, where he worked as a trading operations analyst and alternative investments analyst. His background also includes B2B sales with Shaw Industries, a Berkshire Hathaway company.

Professor Weflen holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Cornerstone University and a master of business administration with a finance concentration from ��Ƶ.

Steve VanderVeen, PhD: Entrepreneurship and Leadership Expert

Professor Steve VanderVeen transitions from adjunct instructor to part-time visiting lecturer, focusing on entrepreneurship and capstone courses. His more than 35 years of experience includes 20 years at Hope College, where he led the development of the Hope Entrepreneurship Initiative and served as Director of the Center for Faithful Leadership.

Professor VanderVeen's extensive background in entrepreneurship education will be invaluable to prepare students to become innovative business leaders.

VanderVeen holds a bachelor's degree in English from ��Ƶ, a master of business administration from Western Michigan University, and a PhD in marketing from the University of Chicago.

Brian Scharp, MBA: Strategic Marketing Executive

Moving from adjunct instructor to part-time visiting lecturer, Professor Brian Scharp will teach both undergraduate and master of business administration courses while advising students. With over 30 years of professional and academic experience, Scharp currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Grey Matter Group, where he helps organizations craft compelling brand stories.

His career includes leadership positions such as Vice President of Marketing at HarperCollins, Marketing Director at Herman Miller, and Senior Vice President at Our Daily Bread Ministries.

Professor Scharp holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Liberty University and a master of business administration from Western Michigan University, with additional doctoral work completed at North Central University.

Tue, 09/23/2025 - 12:00

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Anne Gaertner

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Breaking Barriers: From Calvin Classroom to Goldman Sachs, Students Unite to Learn from Women Leaders

ag64@calvin.edu — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:22:23 +0000

Breaking Barriers: From Calvin Classroom to Goldman Sachs, Students Unite to Learn from Women Leaders ag64@calvin.edu Tue, 07/15/2025 - 16:22

In her final leadership role before graduating, Knight Investment Management (KIM) student leader Delanie Minnema ’25 provided vision and guidance for a first-of-its-kind learning and networking event on Calvin’s campus. Breaking Barriers: Navigating a Career in Corporate Leadership featured a fireside chat with Judy Gawlik Brown, board member at Belden, and a panel discussion with Janina Kreider, vice president of Mercantile Bank of Michigan; Jenna McAbee ’21, a risk associate at JPMorgan Chase; and Anaiah Zainea ’18, a vice president at Goldman Sachs in London, England.

The gathering opened its doors to more than 80 guests including Calvin faculty and students, alumni, community members, and even secondary students from nearby Grand Rapids Christian High School.

Strength in Diversity

KIM faculty advisor Leonard Van Drunen was among the morning’s attendees. He says Minnema’s interest in creating a learning opportunity like Breaking Barriers ties in with a key core value of KIM, a student-led organization that invests about $2.8 million of the university’s endowment.

Founded in 2012, from its earliest years, the organization made a concerted effort to recruit high

ly committed students from a wide range of academic interests and backgrounds. “Many student investors are finance majors, but we also have students who are studying things like philosophy, engineering, political science, and marketing. Anyone can apply to join.”

Minnema, who served on the KIM leadership team during the 2024-25 academic year says she frequently noticed a gender gap in her finance classes. “Often I was the only woman or maybe one of two women in my finance classes. During my first internship at an investment bank in downtown Grand Rapids, I was the only female. I was a little bit surprised—it’s 2025. I wondered if that gender gap existed everywhere.”

Sharing Gained Perspective

During the summer of 2024, Minnema landed a highly competitive internship at Goldman Sachs, a wealth management firm that holds a long-standing relationship with Calvin’s School of Business. Placed on the alternative investment team at the Salt Lake City office, Minnema was delighted to discover the head of the office and all three of her managers were women.

When she returned to Calvin that fall, Minnema had a message to share with her female classmates, one that evolved into a unique opportunity organized and hosted in partnership with Women’s Business Network, another School of Business student organization.

Leadership, Authenticity and Growth

Even the panelists took meaning back to their workplaces. Panelist Anaiah Zainea appreciated Judy Gawlik Brown’s focus on authenticity—something she has recently given more thought to as it applies to her own career development. Early on, Zainea says she felt extra pressure to “show up as my best self every day.” And while she still strives to do that, she also emphasizes the importance of approaching difficult or challenging experiences with curiosity rather than self-condemnation.

“As I’ve looked at past roles and projects I’ve done, I think I’ve developed so much more peace and acceptance of my work. Self-imposed pressure needs to be evaluated. You really need objective perspectives for growth,” Zainea explains.

Minnema, too, gets excited when she recalls the positive feedback she received from presenters and attendees alike. “It was super inspiring to hear from all the panelists and Calvin alumni. And even though this was a female-led event, I really wanted it to be focused on leadership in a way that would be helpful for anyone.”

The morning achieved that goal. “Judy Brown said she had never been at an event that had the underpinning of being female-oriented and was also attended by so many men,” Minnema says.

Looking Back while Stepping Forward

As she reflects on her time at Calvin, Minnema says she is grateful not only for the knowledge she gained from her business and philosophy double major but also for the soft skills she feels Calvin excels at nurturing in its students. “My life experiences have made me a natural leader, but what Calvin taught me is that being a leader is modeling love towards everyone, care towards everyone, tolerance towards everyone. And that’s only possible with a strong sense of your own identity. I think that’s going to be super important for me to remember.”

Minnema also notes the sense of belonging she experienced at Calvin. “That’s a unique thing about Calvin as a smaller school. Calvin students really want to help out other Calvin students. And Calvin alumni building careers at Goldman Sachs want to see more Calvin alumni there.”

In May, Minnema participated in Calvin’s commencement ceremony to receive her bachelor’s degree—but she knew she was leaving with far more than a diploma and a résumé of hands-on experiences as she prepared to return to Salt Lake City.

The newest member of Goldman Sachs’ alternative investments team says, “I feel like my résumé only touches the surface of how each opportunity at Calvin has helped me learn and grow.”

Tue, 07/15/2025 - 12:00

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Left to right: Jenna McAbee ’21, a risk associate at JPMorgan Chase, Janina Kreider, vice president of Mercantile Bank of Michigan and Anaiah Zainea ’18, a vice president at Goldman Sachs in London, England talk with E.B. Sonheim ‘13, director of marketing at Feyen Zylstra at Breaking Barriers: From Calvin Classroom to Goldman Sachs, Students Unite to Learn from Women Leaders.

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Calvin Action Project Prepares Future Business Leaders

ag64@calvin.edu — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:11:31 +0000

Calvin Action Project Prepares Future Business Leaders ag64@calvin.edu Tue, 06/24/2025 - 08:11

Inquiry, research, critical thinking, and problem solving—these are just some of the skills twenty-first century business students need to establish a competitive edge in their fields as they join the workforce. Jack Nielson ’25, a digital marketing specialist at Detroit Continental, says the culminating project of his education at ��Ƶ’s School of Business – his Calvin Action Project (CAP) in Professor Rachel Hammond's class – provided just that.

Experiential learning is a distinctive of a Calvin business education. “A big emphasis of the business school is working in team-oriented, collaborative environments,” says Nielson, who explains many of the skills he took with him to his new marketing role at Continental were gained through hands-on learning experiences.

For his final CAP, Nielson, Josh Bode, Gabi Ballard and Ryan Brown were paired with The Stow Company, a closet storage and organization manufacturer based in Holland, Michigan. Vice president of brand management and Calvin alumnus Michael Wolf ’06 served as the group’s client.

Real World Challenges

At Stow, Wolf’s team leads the product marketing and commercialization activities for the company’s portfolio of brands. “Stow has experienced many years of record growth, and the change in consumer behavior during the pandemic accelerated that even further. We’re now one of the largest manufacturers of closet and home organization products in the United States,” Wolf says. In response to increased product demand, The Stow Company recently built a second manufacturing facility in Nampa, Idaho, giving them nearly a million square feet of manufacturing capacity and a long runway for future growth.

Wolf selected Easy Closets, one of the company’s e-commerce brands, as the CAP team’s focus and asked Nielson and his classmates to research, evaluate, and propose brand partnerships that could open new revenue streams. “I wanted the students to think outside of just our industry and consider the types of companies that might be interested in brand partnerships.”

When Collaboration Pays Off

From a student perspective, Nielson says Wolf “let us take the reins, which allowed us to showcase our skills as a group. It really did feel like a business or consulting simulation. If you take it seriously and have fun with it, the risk is minimal, but the learning potential is great.”

Nielson also learned a lot about himself. “I like being the guy who rallies everyone around a core idea and makes sure we find enjoyment in what we’re doing, approaching the problem with curiosity, and asking, “How can we creatively get this done?”

The team presented a thorough report which included a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis as well as an economic analysis, industry trends, and a Porter’s Five Forces framework before making recommendations for brand partnerships.

“It was obvious that the team listened well during our discovery calls and made sure their deliverables were directly tied to the opportunity statement we crafted at the beginning of the project,” Wolf said. “We walked away with actionable recommendations to bring to our larger team for further evaluation and exploration.”

A Meaningful Partnership

Wolf’s long-term partnership with Calvin’s School of Business stems from his desire to give back to the learning community that set him up for success 20 years ago. “I’m currently working full time, 20 years later, for the client I worked with during my CAP project,” says Wolf, who first found footing at The Stow Company as a Calvin student intern in 2005.

“When I came to Calvin, I really didn’t know what I wanted to study. But then I took Introduction to Marketing with Professor Bob Eames. He had recently left Steelcase and was passionate about getting us real-life experience, connecting us with project-based learning opportunities through his network of former colleagues.”

Wolf worked with The Stow Company on three different projects during his junior and senior years. In May 2006, he was offered a full-time position and has held five roles during his tenure at Stow. He still returns to Calvin’s campus once a semester to speak in Professor Jill Reisner’s class, and Bob Eames remains a close friend.

“I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Bob. He helped me fall in love with marketing, provided valuable mentorship, and opened a lot of doors in the early days of my career, building bridges within his business network and ultimately helping me land my first job that I’m still at today.”

That sense of gratitude continues to motivate Wolf’s desire to give back, and Nielson, for one, is grateful. “Working with Mike and Easy Closets instilled confidence in me in ways I didn't know I needed,” he says. “The transition from student to employee can be difficult, but Calvin's business program and the CAP project gave me imperative, real-world experience that will ultimately aid in helping me build a successful, God-honoring career.”

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 12:00

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Calvin Startup Garage Students Shine at MWest Challenge Competition

ag64@calvin.edu — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 21:07:27 +0000

Calvin Startup Garage Students Shine at MWest Challenge Competition ag64@calvin.edu Thu, 04/17/2025 - 17:07

Calvin Startup Garage entrepreneurs took home several wins at the recent MWest Challenge. The annual pitch event is a student entrepreneurship competition designed to create collaboration between faculty and students that spans several colleges and universities from West Michigan. Entrepreneurially-minded students work individually or in teams, develop new business concepts, and pitch their ideas to the community and a panel of judges.

Naomi Ross brought home second place for her business, Quilt Thrift, in the Innovation Showcase. Quilt Thrift is a consulting and tech solutions company for volunteer-powered thrift stores. The Quilt Thrift app streamlines training, improves efficiency, and enhances pricing decisions to help thrift stores maximize their nonprofit contributions.

Jack Nielson also brought home second place for his boat rental company in the Innovation Showcase. Borrow My Boat connects boat owners with lakeside vacationers to rent a boat for a week of vacation.

Ephraim Dykstra presented Dykstra Design & Printing, a customized 3-D printing service, in the Showcase. Nick Leclair presented Jugum, a microfunding platform for investments, in the Showcase.

Macy Gerig, Zoe Poe, Sven Grimbergen, and Haley Holcomb participated in the final pitch competition with their startup, Performance Through Prehab, an athletic and physical therapy educational program geared toward high school student athletes.

“Calvin student entrepreneurs continue to lead with purpose, passion and bold ideas,” said Zach Booker, Director of the Calvin Startup Garage. “Their creativity and dedication to the entrepreneurial journey is an inspiration to the entire startup community.”

Learn more about Calvin Startup Garage and its portfolio of startups.

Thu, 04/17/2025 - 12:00

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It’s all about the approach: Mayor takes lessons learned at Calvin into new role

msk23@calvin.edu — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:28:17 +0000

It’s all about the approach: Mayor takes lessons learned at Calvin into new role msk23@calvin.edu Wed, 03/26/2025 - 13:28

On January 1, 2025, David LaGrand ’88 was sworn in as the mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan. In doing so, he became the first ��Ƶ graduate to assume this specific role.

A mayor’s role, in essence, is to manage various aspects of a city, everything from preparing and planning a budget to issuing administrative decisions and minor regulations. What a mayor accomplishes during their term is typically what they are remembered for. Addressing the “what”—the city’s needs—is important to LaGrand. But he believes the “how”—the approach to doing so—is what will actually lead to the city’s flourishing.

Providing space for many voices

“If there’s one thing I want to do in the next eight years, it’s actually getting all of us in the habit of thinking government is not something that happens to us, government is something we do together,” said LaGrand.

A way LaGrand is doing that is by hosting Mayor Mondays, an in-person gathering held in various locations around the city that provides a weekly opportunity for the community to have open discussions around the topics that matter most to them.

“I want to be someone who helps all of us frame and envision how to live in a community where we actually listen to and value each other equally, which is really hard,” said LaGrand. “But guess what? I think that that’s the central calling of being a follower of Jesus Christ—to figure out how to absolutely instantiate those kinds of values.”

Prioritizing posture in solving problems together

LaGrand says that housing, justice, infrastructure and neighborhood development are a few of the key issues he’s hoping to work with the community to address in the coming years. But he’s aiming higher than simply trying to make headway in these areas. Again, he says it comes back to the way in which the problems get addressed.

“Our politics right now are defined by a lot of self-righteous dynamics on the left and the right. If you listen to people on both sides, they’re so busy reinforcing their own biases and being so sure they are right and demonizing people who disagree with them because it’s sort of a drug, it can feel good, it can feel self-affirming,” said LaGrand. “But it breaks down on human contact. It’s really hard to hate somebody in person. It’s a lot easier to hate someone in isolation. So, if we can spend more time with each other, I think we can fight that mechanism. But we have to figure out how to do it. Because if we can’t deeply and profoundly disagree with each other about things without imputing malice, we’re done, it’s a necessary precondition for democracy.”

Practicing values learned at Calvin

Figuring out how to do this well is a top priority of LaGrand’s and he’s grateful that his Calvin education was a pivotal training ground equipping him for this very task.

“I always say that I think Calvin is grad school for being a Christian. It’s the place where you get to spend four years thinking about how does being a Christian going to integrate with the work you do for the rest of your life,” said LaGrand, who also earned a juris doctorate after Calvin. “For me, this [my time at Calvin] was easily the most important part of my education. I mean law school is a credential, but Calvin is where I got to spend four years thinking about vocation. And the ability to do that is priceless.”

LaGrand is now hoping that training will pay off for the city he is entrusted with leading.

Seeking renewal here and becoming a model to follow

“Forty percent of this country doesn’t believe anything the government says right now. And I’m not saying we’ll be able to solve this in the United States of America. I’m just hoping we can solve it in Grand Rapids,” said LaGrand. “God puts us into places, and we can try and do things in the places we are. So, we are all in Grand Rapids, so we can figure out how to do this here as a response to a national challenge and maybe that’s a scale we can wrap our brain around.”

Because as LaGrand mentions, while Grand Rapids can’t solve the country or world’s problems, it can provide a model for what participating in government with civil discourse looks like. And that can have ripple effects.

“States watch what other states are doing. So, the stakes for Grand Rapids doing great things are that other cities may copy us,” said LaGrand. “There’s an opportunity for us to have outsized influence, but the way to have outsized influence is just to do better. If we can figure out how to live in a community where we actually value everyone’s voices equally regardless of whether you think they work as hard as you, whether you think they’re as smart as you are, whether you think their lived experience is as important as your lived experience—figure out the list that makes you feel better than other people and try and burn that list—if we can live and model that out in ways that work and make sense, we can be an example.

“If we can make Grand Rapids an important part of the kingdom of God, then we’ll be in a beautiful place.”

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 12:00

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David LaGrand, mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan, gives the keynote address at an Executive Breakfast Series event held at ��Ƶ in February 2025.

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Matthew Kucinski

A New Direction

ag64@calvin.edu — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:41:16 +0000

A New Direction ag64@calvin.edu Tue, 03/18/2025 - 09:41

Francis Sylvester describes himself as “a student who likes to sit in the front row,” someone with an internal drive to work hard in pursuit of his dreams. A junior in his second year at Calvin, Sylvester is majoring in supply chain management. He says figuring out the best academic fit hasn’t been straightforward, but one thing has always held: “I wanted something focused beyond me.”

Sylvester graduated high school from the West Michigan Aviation Academy, located at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, in 2021. He devoted his four years there to meeting the rigorous academic and physical requirements that would earn him a coveted place at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. When he stepped onto the campus of USAFA in the fall of 2021, his path forward felt secure. He would become an Air Force pilot and serve his nation.

On May 13, 2022, everything changed. Sylvester and a group of friends decided to go camping in the mountains while on leave from the Academy. Led off-trail during a hike, he and his fellow cadets found themselves at a cliff edge evaluating the direction they should take. The ground Sylvester stood on suddenly gave way, plunging him 300 feet down the side of the mountain. He sustained multiple injuries, including a brain bleed, broken bones, and a severed artery in his leg. It took first responders eight hours to reach him and bring him to safety.

Sylvester spent six weeks in a coma and eventually needed his leg amputated. The road to recovery took many months, but eventually he was able to move back home to continue therapies and regain his strength.

The injuries that nearly took his life also meant being medically retired from the Air Force, something that dramatically altered the future Sylvester had imagined. But that has not stopped him from dreaming new dreams.

He says he realized he could still seek a vocation oriented toward service. Drawn to Calvin because of its Christ-centered focus and small classes, he saw in it the potential for a new beginning, a way forward.

He first pursued mechanical engineering—accustomed to doing well in school, he didn’t anticipate the challenges. "My whole life, I was never worried about classes or passing; it was always, ‘Am I going to get an A or an A-?’” says Sylvester. “The first semester of engineering I passed everything, but, boy, was that a struggle.” He decided to re-evaluate his options to find a major that still utilized his gift for problem-solving.

“Studying supply chain management, I realized I could use my hands and work with people and customers who come to me with a problem. Maybe they say, ‘Here’s what I’ve got going on, can you design a solution to help me out?’"

Sylvester says as a newcomer to Calvin’s School of Business, he especially relishes Wednesday nights at Startup Garage, a student business incubator advised by entrepreneur and Calvin alumnus Jon Ver Lee. “I didn’t yet want the time commitment and responsibility of starting a business, so I asked, ‘Can I just show up?’” He says he was immediately welcomed. “It’s been incredible to get to know Jon Ver Lee and to see how Startup Garage is opening doors and teaching us all to explore.”

That exploratory attitude keeps Sylvester motivated through the challenges he faces daily. “Losing so much so quickly is hard in the sense of seeing God in all of it. But even if I could take this away, I don’t know if I would. I would love to be back at the Academy and the exciting future I had there, but Calvin has done a phenomenal job picking up that excitement again for me, especially as I transitioned to business. Maybe there’s even a little excitement in the uncertainty, as I figure out God’s calling.”

So far, Sylvester feels well-supported financially, academically, and socially at Calvin. He is the first student to receive the newly established Mephibosheth Scholarship, a named scholarship created by businessman Peter DeKorte awarded to academically motivated students who have disabilities. He says, “It put Calvin back on the table for me at a time when I didn’t think the price tag was feasible.”

Sylvester also appreciates having access to academic support and making connections with peers through the Disability Inclusion Project, a student organization that creates a safe space to share lived experiences and organizes awareness and advocacy events on campus.

He is quick to add, however, that being an amputee and needing more time to complete his studies do not define him. “It’s not my whole life; sometimes it’s hard to distinguish. People try to support and help me, but then I also don’t always want that to be the focus of my interactions with them.”

“I’m still the kind of student who likes to sit in the front row. That hasn’t changed,” Sylvester says, yet he finds himself asking new questions of God as he discerns a different but still meaningful future.

“I don’t think many of us understand what love is, especially in the godly sense. He does love us. Love comes with challenges. Each day I pray, ‘God, gently direct me where I should be going.’”

Tue, 03/18/2025 - 12:00

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