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Alumni Profiles

Calvin claims to "shape minds for intentional participation in the renewal of all things." How does that ring true in the lives of Calvin alumni? This list collects alumni stories from a variety of resources:
   • "Alumni profiles" were written for a general audience.
   • Spark and Mosaic articles originally appeared in magazines published for alumni.
   • "Career Stories" were written by alumni participating in a career networking program to describe their career path and offer advice to current students.
   • Spark Spotlight articles feature alumni who have used their talents and resources to support the college.
Together, these profiles demonstrate many ways that Calvin alumni live out their calling to kingdom service.

Alphabetical List | Reunion Year List
Ajayi, Angela '97 - staff editor (Princeton, N.J.)
Spark, Fall 2005
Andela, James ex'77 and Andela, Cynthia Gelder '80 - engineers (Richfield Springs, N.Y.)
Spark, Fall 2005
Andringa, Jason '99 - business (Pella, Iowa)
Alumni profile, 2005
Andzenge, Dick '79 - criminology professor/conflict resolution (Saint Cloud, Minn.)
Spark, Spring 2005
Baker, Randal '86 - medical director (Ada, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2004

Bandstra, Barb Newman '84 - special education teacher (Grand Haven, Mich.) Spark, Summer 2006

Beerhorst, Rick '85 - artist (New York City, N.Y.)
Spark, Spring 2006
Bolt, Martin '84 - historian of astronomy (South Bend, Ind.)
Spark, Fall 2007
Bosma, John '69 - researcher/consultant (Baltimore, Md.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Bosma, Melvin '60 - immunologist (Southampton, Penn.)
Spark, Summer 2005
Bouma, Gary '63 - professor (Melbourne, Australia)
Spark, Fall 2004
Buikema, Edward '74 - regional director of emergency management (Chicago, Ill.)
Spark, Winter 2006

Buttery, Judy Karsten '77 - bassoonist (Oakdale, Conn.)
Spark, Winter 2004

Bylsma, Kendra '02 - wellness account representative (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Cagle, Mary Terpstra '74 - foster care administration (Miami, Fla.)
Spark, Fall 2006
Choi, Bo-Mi '94 - graduate fellowship in history (Cambridge, Mass.)
Spark, Spring 2005
Dahm, John '61 - prison warden (Lincoln, Neb.)
Spark, Fall 2007
Deppe, Dean '73 - seminary professor (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2004
Deters, Deb '86 - mortgage corp. president (Jenison, Mich.)
Spark Spotlight, Fall 2004

DeVos, Frank '50 - Eastern Floral Owner, Horticulturalist (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Spark, Summer 2006

Diaz, Arelis '95 - school administrator (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2005

Disselkoen, Georgie VanderWerp '74 - businesswoman (Zeeland, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2007
Dungey, Henry '98 - director of Uniserv (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2004
Edewaard, Vern '56 - outdoor programs (Holland, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2007
Ediger, Tracy '95 - refugee soccer team manager (Scottdale, Ga.)
Spark, Summer 2007
Etter, Lisa '02 - coffeeshop owner (Seattle, Wash.)
Spark, Fall 2006

Fernandez, Jorge '70 - Miami attorney (Coconut Grove, Fla)
Spark, Summer 2006

Fileta, Jason '05 - Field Organizer, Micah Challenge USA
Gabrielse, Gerald '73 - physicist (Lexington, Mass.)
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, May 2006
Gage, James '60 - cerebral palsy clinic director (North Oaks, Minn.)
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, May 2004
Garvelink, William '71 - USAID, U.S. Ambassador (Washington, D.C.)
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, May 2007
Gerbens, Larry '69 - art gallery owner; doctor (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2005
Goodrich, Nancy Martin '88 - horse therapy (Hopkins, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2006
Graham, Dorothy Hoekema '67 - softward development trainer (United Kingdom)
Spark, Spring 2008
Haan, Raymond '59 - composer (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2007
Hekman, Sharon Sikkema '68 - Arizona/Kazakhstan partnership (Tucson, Ariz.)
Spark, Spring 2006

Hertel, Linda Dykstra '66- author, marriage and family therapist (Spring Lake, Mich.) Spark, Summer 2006

Heuker, Doug '91 - auctioneer (Marion, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2006
Heynen, Ahleen Dekker '40 - artist (Anchorage, Alaska)
Spark, Spring 2005
Heys, Kim Rinzema '00 - handler/VP, detection canines (Kentwood, Mich.)
Spark, Spring 2006
Hoebeke, Daniel '72 - founder of Adopt-a-Chaplain (San Jose, Calif.)
Spark, Fall 2007
Hoeksema, Todd '78 - solar scientist (Emerald Hills, Calif.)
Spark, Winter 2006
Hoekstra, Dennis '58 and Jeni Plooy '57 - volunteers (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2004
Holstege, Chris '88 - medical toxicologist (Keswick, Virg.)
Spark, Spring 2005
Holtrop, Joel '74 - deputy chief, National Forest System (Washington, DC)
Distinguished Alumni Award 2007
Hoogendam, Jordan '04 - engineer, Enermodal Engineering Ltd. (Kitchener, ON)
Houskamp, Bill '90 - Army doctor (Holland, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Huisman, Sam '98 - geologist (Stavanger, Norway)
Spark, Fall 2006
Huizenga, Kevin - cartoonist (Saint Louis, Mo.)
Spark, Spring 2008
Huyser, Brian '91 - software entrepreneur (Newton, Mass.)
Spark, Winter 2007
Huyser, Kim '03 - sociology graduate student (Austin, Tex.)
Spark, Spring 2006
Jipping, TIm '91 - grip, film production (Chicago, Ill.)
Spark, Summer 2007
Jo, Sunmee '93 - lawyer (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Kamps, Bryan '82 - Army doctor (Gallup, N.M.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Kamps, Ruth Poppen ex'50 - artist (Gallup, NM)
Spark, Winter 2005
Kawar, Amin '86 - postmaster general (Amman, Jordan)
Spark, Summer 2005
Kuiper, Jeff '80 - baseball broadcaster (San Mateo, Calif.)
Spark, Spring 2007
Lagerwey, Peter '75 - pedestrian/bicycle coordinator (Seattle, Wash.)
Spark, Spring 2007
Lanning, George '00 - singer, teacher (Byron Center, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2004
Lew, Deborah '00 - actress (New York, N.Y.)
Spark, Winter 2006
Mackus, David '01 - accountant (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark Spotlight, Spring 2004
Martinez, Todd '89 - chemistry professor (Champaign, Ill.)
Mosaic, Fall 2005, Spark, Summer 2006
McCain, Sue '88 - business owner; knitting pattern designer (Rochester, Vt.)
Spark, Fall 2004
Metzger, Christine '89 - school administrator (Hoboken, N.J.)
Alumni profile, 2006
Mondal, Saikat '95 - writer (Calcutta, India)
Spark, Spring 2007
Mosley, Ed '69 - sports official (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2006
Mouw, Christine Jacobs '88 - curator (Little Rock, Ark.)
Spark, Fall 2005
Nickerson, Jacquelyn Mabin '55 - educator (Lansing, Mich.)
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, May 2001
Olson, Anna '98 - actor (Rathfarnham, Ireland)
Spark, Summer 2005
Olthoff, Kim '82 - liver transplant surgeon (Philadelphia, Penn.)
Spark, Spring 2003

Ottenhoff, Abby '95 - communications director (Chilcago, Ill.)
Spark, Fall 2004

Porter, David '97 - legal counsel (Washington, D.C.)
Spark, Spring 2006
Postma, Edward '36 - artist (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2007
Pruis, Dirk '82 - securities lending firm CEO (New York, N.Y.)
Alumni profile, 2004
Puff, Aaron '02 - stock car racer (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2004
Raap, Lois Ackerman '68 - foster mom; lawyer (Los Gatos, Calif.)
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, May 2004
Reed, Brad '01 - photographer, (Ludington, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2005
Reed, Terri Harris '89 - college administration (Laurel, Md.)
Spark, Winter 2004
Ribbens, Steve '79 - creator of educational programs (Denver, Colo.)
Spark, Fall 2005
Rooks Ross, Jane '77 - orchestra educational director (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2004
Rozema, Caty '01 - software training (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2007
Ruis, Amy Heerspink '94 - business owner (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Spring 2006
Saxton, Heather '96 - translator (Rome, Italy)
Spark, Winter 2004
Schnotala, Jeremy '94 - high school theater director (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Seerveld, Matt '89 - physician's assistant (Grandville, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Smith, Hayden '02 - coffeeshop owner (Seattle, Wash.)
Spark, Fall 2006
Spoelhof, Charles '51 - engineer (Pittsford, N.Y.)
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, May 2006
Stern, Heather Fields '95 - stage manager
Spark, Fall 2005
Stonerock, Kelly Haskins '89 - (Goodrich, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2005
Stoub, Jason '93 & Stoub, Chad '96 - owners, residential trash/recycling business (Hudsonville, Mich.)
Spark, Spring 2005
Strikwerda, Tom '71 - astronautical engineer (Kensington, Md.)
Spark, Spring 2008
Sutton, Mindy Viel '99 - attorney (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Spark, Winter 2005
Tamminga, Mark '81 - ultra runner (Ancaster, Ont.)
Spark, Winter 2007
Tan, Abi '02 - medical student (Jordan / Cleveland, Ohio)
Spark, Spring 2007
Tanis, Norman '51 - librarian (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Spark, Spring 2008
Tawadros, Patty '95 - online dating web developer (Philadelphia, Penn.)
Spark, Fall 2007
Taylor, Ruthanne Reichert '81 - medical attaché (Kathmandu, Nepal)
Spark, Spring 2007
Terpstra, Ken '77 - engineer (San Francisco, Calif.)
Spark, Summer 2007
Tuinstra, Jim '64 - nonprofit organization administrator (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2005
Van Cleave-Cobas, Barbara '03 - cruise activities specialist (Miami, Fla.)
Spark, Winter 2007
VanderGriend, Alvin '58 - prayer ministry coordinator (Lynden, Wash.)
Spark, Spring 2007
van der Griend, Kerry '91 - actor (Vancouver, B.C.)
Spark, Fall 2007
Vandergrift, Larry '69 - language learning research (Ottawa, Ont.)
Spark, Spring 2007
Vander Kolk, Dawn '97 - pediatric hospice nurse (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2006
Vanderlaan, Doug '79 - chemist; community advocate (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Spark, Fall 2004
van der Leek, Kevin '86 - graphic designer (Surrey, B.C.)
Spark, Winter 2006
Vandervelde, Maryanne '60 - author (Mercer Island, Wash.)
Spark, Winter 2004

Vandervelde, Norman '93 and Jeannie Merkel '95 (Fort Collins, Col.) Spark, Summer 2006

van Donkersgoed, Elbert '67 - strategic policy advisor for Ontario farming (Guelph, Ont.)
Spark, Spring 2006
Van Drie, Brian '99 - business owner (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2004
Van Dyke, Cameron ex'89 - furniture maker (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Spring 2008

Van Dyken, Ken '04 - Extol engineer (Hudsonville, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2006

Van Harn, Gordon '57 - Calvin professor emeritus (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Van Woerkom, Michael '95 - engineer (Lone Tree, Colo.)
Spark, Summer 2005
Veldman Rudie, Carol '68 - docent (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Spark, Winter 2007
Veenstra, Jack '83 - software engineer (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Spark, Summer 2007
Verwys, Rachel and Ryan '00 - justice education / youth ministry (Bellflower, Calif.)
Alumni profile, Spring 2005
Vos, Laura Veldink '94 and partners - restaurant founder (Holland, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2005
Vredevoogd, Brent '99 - business owner (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Winter 2004
Vroegop, Todd '86 - physician's assistant (Kentwood, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2004
Wertz, John '01 - biologist (Dewitt, Mich.)
Spark, Summer 2007
Wiering, Vernon '92 - book binding craftsman (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Fall 2004
Willink, Phil '90 - ichthyologist (Chicago, Ill.)
Spark, Fall 2006
Wilson, Karisa '99 - musician (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Spark, Spring 2008
Zandstra, Anita '99 - libraries educator (Bolivia)
Spark, Winter 2007
Zwier, John '05 - campaign communicator (Chicago, Ill.)
Spark, Spring 2008
  Zylstra, Rachel '02 - singer-songwriter (New York City)