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View All by Matt Decker

View All by Matt Decker

We Are Calvin: Melissa Darusz
This summer, Calvin students are keeping us informed on where they are and what they're doing—from working the Google HelpDesk in Seattle to engineering a bridge in Kenya. June 13, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

We Are Calvin: Andrew Mitchell
This summer, Calvin students are keeping us informed on where they are and what they're doing—from working the Google HelpDesk in Seattle to engineering a bridge in Kenya. June 06, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Speech Pathology masters program graduates its first class
Twenty-four students will receive their diplomas on Saturday, May 18, representing the inaugural class of Calvin's new speech pathology and audiology masters program. May 13, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin clinic helps children with Apraxia
Three west Michigan women organized the first-annual Apraxia Awareness Walk/Bike and are giving the proceeds to Calvin College who is providing these children with the affordable care they need. May 10, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin online teacher is first educator to test Google Glass
Andrew Vanden Heuvel ’04 is the first non-Google employee to get his hands on the company’s new prototype for a wearable computer, Google Glass. May 07, 2013 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson

Goldwater tradition continues: Students earn top research award
Since 2008, Calvin College has had more Goldwater Scholars than any other liberal arts college in the nation. April 05, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin remembers Frank Roberts
The Calvin mourns professor emeritus Frank Roberts, who died on Friday, March 29, 2013. April 03, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin named 'StormReady' campus
"There's just a whole higher level of emergency preparedness here at Calvin than there used to be." April 02, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Hekman 5K
Calvin's library is building on the success of its annual Frisbee Golf Tournament. April 01, 2013 | Matt Kucinski , Steven Niedzielski , Myrna Anderson

Calvin receives highest federal recognition for service-learning
Calvin College has been named to the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. March 25, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin named Tree Campus USA
Calvin College was recently named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. March 15, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Too much noise for songbirds
"There has been a growing interest in preserving or increasing the biodiversity of songbirds in urban areas." March 11, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Students of the sky
"After an introduction to variable stars and the modeling that is being done to understand their behavior, students were put in groups with Calvin students and allowed to examine the data with sophisticated software in order to look for trace patterns." February 18, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

uKnight: Sem Pond Jump
Can three alums persuade President Le Roy to take the plunge? February 08, 2013 | Matt Kucinski , Steven Niedzielski , Myrna Anderson

Helping middle schoolers see the sky
"It was usable for everybody. That was part of the reason why I created the software. I am really hoping it instills not only an enjoyment in astronomy but in science in general." January 28, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Computer Science prof recognized by world's largest computing society
Joel Adams is recognized as a 2012 Distinguished Educator by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). January 25, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

Students prep for Faith and International Development Conference
Student-run conference offers opportunities for students interested in international development. January 23, 2013 | Matt Kucinski

In excelsis Deo
In the annual Christmas video, the Calvin community sings "Gloria." December 17, 2012 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson , David Fuentes

Remote sites carry the January Series
"Remote sites are not just listening to the speakers, but they are talking about the ideas being presented." December 12, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Telephone Town Hall
Your chance to have a conversation with Vice President Shirley Hoogstra November 29, 2012 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson

Video: Happy Thanksgiving!
Students reflect on family, friends, food and other blessings. November 15, 2012 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson

Nursing prof has heart for Heartside
"Suzan is a gift to those she serves as well as to those who learn from her what serving can be." Bonnie Mulder with Degage Ministries tells MLIVE about the compassion Calvin nursing professor Suzan Couzens has for the poor of Grand Rapids. November 08, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Finishing near the top
Calvin junior accounting major Jake Mantel took fourth place at the 2012 Regional Idea Pitch competition held on Wednesday, November 7, at Aquinas College's Wege Ballroom. November 08, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin community remembers Margaret Edgell
Business professor Margaret Edgell died on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at her home in Seattle, Wash., after a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. The Calvin community shares their fond memories of their former colleague and friend. October 19, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Enrollment and academic performance on the rise
"We see that as validation ... that the quality of our overall programs is being recognized and sought after by students." September 20, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

U.S. News gives Calvin high marks
U.S. News & World Report gives Calvin high marks for its strong commitment to teaching and service-learning and for the quality of its first-year experience. September 20, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin’s enrollment up; first-year class shows academic strength
Calvin College is seeing a boost in first-year enrollment, a strong academic profile and an increase in international students in its 2012 incoming class. September 20, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

StreetFest's 20th anniversary
"It's an abstract idea until you get into the community. This is consistent with Calvin's mission of being a transformative presence in students' lives." September 12, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

A $375,000 grant to improve Plaster Creek Watershed
Calvin College has received a $375,000 state grant to further research, education and restoration efforts in the Plaster Creek watershed. July 20, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Entrada graduation
"We are all equally excited to see them accomplish so much in such a short amount of time." Calvin associate director of college readiness programs Tasha Paul talks about the 2012 class of Entrada Scholars in an interview with MLIVE. July 16, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Guidance Cycling
Seventeen guidance counselors from 10 U.S. states cycled through campus on Monday, July 2 commencing the 2012 ‘Tour d’Admission,” a nearly annual trip that began in 2002 with Taylor Smith, then a counselor at Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Fla., combining his love for cycling with his day job of visiting colleges during the summer. July 05, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Michael Le Roy's first week
"I know higher education; I've been in higher ed for a long time. But to try and learn about the Calvin culture and the way the Calvin community operates is really my primary focus." July 05, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

A conversation with the Le Roys
New president Michael Le Roy and his wife Andrea recently talked about theology, community life and keeping grace and truth in balance. June 29, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

A final farewell
The Calvin community gathered on Monday, June 25, to express their gratitude to Gaylen and Susan Byker. June 25, 2012 | Myrna Anderson and Matt Kucinski

2012 Commencement Week video
Art shows, engineering projects, senior breakfast, nurse pinning, teacher commissioning, the last handshake. June 12, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Young Women's Business Institute
From Wednesday, July 18 through Friday, July 20, Calvin College’s Center for Innovation in Business will host the Calvin Young Women’s Business Institute. The inaugural three-day event is designed specifically for business-minded women who are entering their senior year of high school during the 2012-2013 academic year. May 30, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Remembering David DeHeer
About a hundred colleagues, friends and family of the late David DeHeer joined together outside DeVries Hall for a short ceremony honoring the longtime Calvin biology professor. May 11, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Talking about faith
“This is a festival made for me. I don’t often get to talk about things like faith.” Luis Alberto Urrea, a Mexican American poet, novelist and essayist talked about his experience as a presenter at the 2012 Festival of Faith and Writing. May 02, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Dancing for Ghana
“Huemanity,” a dance group from Calvin College, took first place at a Global Outreach Show held at Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) on April 7. The group—made up of eight Calvin students—won $500 for their routine to techno and dubstep music. May 02, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

The Nazi Titanic
"British and American bombers [were] coming over day and night, the Stalingrad defeat [was] clear to everybody. So the film just [didn't] look propagandistically good." April 23, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Uptown Kitchen opens
"I don't know in school if I ever thought I would do this so soon." March 30, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Out of the woods emerges a new partnership
April 1 edition - Some of the enrollment management team's lesser known initiatives are making the most significant impact in attracting prospective students. March 30, 2012 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson

Enrollment offers incentives via web, mail
April 1 edition - Some of the enrollment management team's lesser known initiatives are making the most significant impact in attracting prospective students. March 30, 2012 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson , Steve Barkema

'Institutes' on display
As part of the H. Henry Meeter Center’s 30th anniversary, John Calvin’s first edition of the 'Institutes of the Christian Religion' is on display through June 1st. On Loan from The Van Kampen Collection, this rare volume published in 1536 in Basle, Switzerland was Calvin’s first major theological work. March 23, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Astronomy students receive NASA-funded fellowships
Sophomore physics majors are researching asteroids and stars through Michigan Space Grant Consortium undergraduate fellowships. March 20, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Remembering Henrietta Ten Harmsel
A gifted teacher and scholar, Henrietta Ten Harmsel made room for poetry and won honors for her Dutch translations. March 16, 2012 | Matt Kucinski and Myrna Anderson

Calvin community shows heart
Calvin College students led the way in the 2012 Gift of Life Campus Challenge—the largest college-based organ donor drive in the nation. Calvin signed up the most people as a proportion of its student population (5.09%). March 02, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Romney's Michigan roots
"The Romney name is familiar, but Mitt Romney's not really well known." February 20, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin College participates in congressional hearing on religious liberty
The CCCU approached Calvin College about participating in a congressional hearing in Washington D.C. on Thursday, February 16, 2012. Calvin College medical director Laura Champion provided testimony in the hearing "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" February 17, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Quest for the Golden Towel
For some students, jumping in the Sem Pond for four consecutive years is a goal. For three students, it was a mission. February 14, 2012 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson

The best thing about interim
Students who traveled the world and students who stayed on campus talk about the best and most surprising aspects of interim. February 03, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Faith and International Development Conference
Calvin College's seventh-annual, student-run Faith and International Development Conference (FIDC) focuses on dialogue around best practices. January 30, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Wake Up Weekend
"It's good to be reminded not to go into neutral, there is no neutral. Every decision has impact on human life and animal life." January 20, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Second in the state
Calvin College ranks second in the State of Michigan and 90th overall according to StateUniversity.com, which ranks the top 2,000 U.S. colleges and universities. January 01, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

A Christian philosophy
“You really can’t sensibly claim theistic belief is irrational without showing it isn’t true." January 01, 2012 | Matt Kucinski

Merry Christmas from Calvin College
See the sights and sounds of Christmas in the Calvin community. December 20, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Video: Calvin's gridiron classic: Fumblers vs. Jacques
Every October, they meet just once. Traditionally, the old guys win. Watch game highlights with commentary and play-by-play. November 18, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Video: A view of science research
This summer nearly 90 science students researched everything from the human eye to herring gulls. Watch the video. October 14, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Warners gets 300th win
"It is my hope that the impact I would have on them as people is much greater than the impact I've had on them in their victories on the court." Women's volleyball coach Amber Warners talks with the Grand Rapids Press about her milestone 300th win in just her 10th season at Calvin. October 10, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Sustainable (106)
An ArtPrize entry at Calvin College's (106) Gallery and Studio has been honored with the Sustainability Award, one of a handful of juried awards given out by organizers of the international art competition. October 07, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

A new masters program
"It's quite a growing field ... You can graduate with a master's degree and find work." Jill Bates, the clinical director of Calvin's speech pathology and audiology program, talks with the Grand Rapids Press about the opportunities the new five-year bachelor-to-master's program gives students and the community. September 28, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

College ranking guides give Calvin high marks
U.S. News & World Report and other college guides rank Calvin among the best institutions in the nation. September 22, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin mourns David DeHeer
Biology professor David DeHeer passed away Friday, Sept. 16. His colleagues remember him as a leader, mentor and man of science. September 16, 2011 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson

Video: The first week
Watch incoming students move in, get acquainted, serve in the community and bat a few beach balls around. September 08, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Michigan Author Award
Professor of English Gary Schmidt was recently named the winner of the 2011 Michigan Author Award. The Library of Michigan and the Michigan Library Association sponsors the award, which honors Michigan writers for their contributions to literature based on an outstanding published body of work. August 26, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Video: Using electrophysiology to study the brain
A biochemistry major and two professors are using electrophysiology to study brain tissue. July 29, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Video: Covenant Fine Arts Center backstage tour
In this five-minute CFAC tour, check out some of the areas that will likely never be seen by the general public. July 28, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Volleyball booklet awarded "Best in the Nation"
Sports information coordinator Jeff Febus and graphic designer Steve Barkema were awarded a "Best in the Nation" citation by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for the post-season volleyball booklet they produced. The booklet was recognized in the CoSIDA's Special Event Program category and was also awarded "Best Cover." July 20, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

The Tree of Life
"He's not an observer in this film. His camera is a participant, a presence. He really wants his viewer to see through his eyes." July 18, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Men's basketball coach reflects on son's recovery
“I think he really feels that now more than ever — that God has healed him," said Kevin Vande Streek. "Everything has just happened so fast in his recovery. I feel extremely blessed. I think both of us do.” June 23, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Senior design project recognized nationally
A team of five 2011 engineering grads placed seventh nationally at the Supermileage competition, an international competition put on by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE), which challenges students to design fuel-efficient, single-person vehicles. June 23, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Adams named ACM senior member
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recently named Calvin professor of computer science Joel Adams as a senior member. Adams was one of 61 recipients of the international award. June 14, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Engineering majors design motorized stroller
"It was really nice for us to have a real customer. There was a lot of motivation for the whole team to make a 100 percent working product." June 10, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Corwin Smidt - Grand Rapids Press
“No other group of people has access to so many Americans on a sustained basis.” June 07, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Biology major awarded major EPA research fellowship
Calvin biology major Tyler Bleeker was awarded a Greater Research Opportunities Fellowship by the Environmental Protection Agency. The total amount of the award is $48,900. June 03, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Pescadora Film Journey
Go behind the scenes with media production professor Daniel Garcia and 11 of his students as they are on location in Pescadora, Peru beginning the production of a feature-length film. June 03, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

A premiere business plan
Kelly LeCoy, a 2011 Calvin grad, has now won three business plan competitions in three months. On Tuesday, May 31, she won the 5X5, an initiative launched by ArtPrize founder Rick DeVos. She was awarded $5,000 to put toward her idea, "Uptown Kitchen." June 01, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Math competition sweep
Kaylee Kooiman and Ethan Van Andel, both senior mathematics majors, won the Ron Mosier memorial award from the Michigan Section of the Mathematical Association of America. The award is given for the best student presentation(s) at the annual meeting of the section, which happened earlier this month. May 25, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Alyssa Penning qualifies on first try
"The goal was to make nationals, but this was unexpected. During the race we had a lot of teammates watching, and the best thing was to see my teammates at every corner cheering me on. And seeing their excitement kept me going." May 25, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

VIDEO: The annual chem demos
Area middle schoolers enjoy things exploding, foaming over and glowing in the dark at the 21st-annual Chem Demos. May 24, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin mourns the loss of Herb Brinks
On Tuesday, May 16, 2011, Herb Brinks, Calvin history professor emeritus and founder of the Calvin archives, died at his home after a lengthy bout with myeloma. May 19, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Media musical extravaganza
Watch media production students singing and dancing in a promo for this year's Media Showcase. May 13, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Calvin alum "starter" for 5K Spring Classic
"Our life is in God's hands. He takes care of us. (Last year) was a very miraculous event, and it shows that God is with us at all times." April 29, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

A problem-solver and the Putnam
A math and computer science major was a top scorer in a prestigious international math competition. April 21, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

A 'classic' conference
On Friday, April 8, 2011, nearly 500 classicists and archaeologists met at Calvin’s Prince Conference Center to participate in a host of panels on different aspects of Graeco-Roman antiquity. The panels were part of the 107th meeting of The Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS), which took place April 6-9 in Grand Rapids. CAMWS is the second-largest classics association in the country. Calvin College and Grand Valley State University co-sponsored the meeting. April 11, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Prof receives $200K grant
Calvin professor of philosophy Kelly Clark recently received nearly $200,000 to fund a project on religious liberty and tolerance. The project, supported by the John Templeton Foundation, will fund the following: a book on religious liberty and tolerance—including translations of the book into Indonesian, Turkish, Hebrew and Arabic—a conference at Georgetown University during the tenth anniversary of 9/11, and planning for conventions on liberty and tolerance in Indonesia, Turkey and Israel. Clark will work on the project with staff from the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity. April 07, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

History of the King James Bible
"King James was very interested in theological disputes ..." English professor Susan Felch, in an interview with WGVU radio, puts the King James Bible within the context of the events happening in the early 1600's when it was written. March 31, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Venema's white water
Recently Calvin swimmers took to the pool to demonstrate how Venema made them speedy. March 30, 2011 | Matt Kucinski , Myrna Anderson

Hawks raise concern on campus
The growing population of Red-tailed Hawks on Calvin's campus is raising some concerns. March 29, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Celebrating 400th anniversary of the King James Bible
Calvin departments and institutes are celebrating the KJV's quadricentennial. March 17, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Serving in record numbers
A record number of Calvin students are going on service-learning spring break trips this year. March 17, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Online Teacher of the Year
"I believe I was selected as a finalist not because I am the best online teacher, but because of my enthusiasm for online education and its power to transform how we approach teaching and learning in our nation." March 09, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Profs named APS Fellows
Calvin physics professors Stan Haan and David Van Baak were recently named Fellows of the American Physical Society. Previous professors Vernon Ehlers and John Van Zytveld have also received this honor. February 23, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Why I jump ...
Every year, hundreds of Calvin students line up to plunge into the frozen Sem Pond. Why? February 17, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Open for business!
"We determined that if we were going to become what we wanted to become — that is, the best Christian college to study business at, anywhere — we would have to raise the bar on a couple things." February 15, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

A voice for Opera
Fitah Rasendrahasina plays a starring role in Opera Grand Rapids’ production of Giacomo Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The Calvin College junior portrays Edmondo, a young student who is a friend to the story’s hero, Des Grieux. Opera Grand Rapids artistic director Robert Lyall said that it’s uncommon for a college student to play a titled role in a professional production. February 11, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Alumnus of the Year
"I'm honored. I didn't know what it all entailed to be Alumnus of the Year when I heard. I'm kind of a reserved person, but I'm honored." February 07, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Amazing Race: Calvin style
Re-live the final leg of the Amazing Race Interim as five teams of two compete for the top prize. February 01, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Mustard Seed School
Emmy award-winning filmmaker and CAS prof Brian Fuller will be offering an exclusive screening of a documentary he worked on with some of his students during 2010 interim. On Friday, February 11, 2011, “A Shared Space: Learning from the Mustard Seed School,” will be screened at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. January 07, 2011 | Matt Kucinski

Kristi Potter - Previewing the January Series
"The whole idea is that we bring in an eclectic group of speakers ..." January 04, 2011 | Matt Kucinski