Trinity Dedicates New Lab and Athletic Facilities

Submitted by Trinity Christian College

Over the Homecoming 2011 weekend on October 7 and 8, celebrated the dedication of two new facilities: the Trinity Athletics and Recreation Complex (TARC) and the Cynthia Sander Nursing Lab.

New Trinity Athletics and Recreation Complex Dedicated

Jubilation!, Trinity’s annual fund raising event on Friday, October 7, celebrated
the formal dedication of the new Trinity Athletics and Recreation Complex (TARC).

A sold-out crowd of more than 540 alumni and friends of the College began the
evening enjoying tours of the College’s newest facility for students. The TARC includes the DeVos Gymnasium for volleyball and basketball competition, locker room facilities that house three separate team rooms, an updated and expanded training room, and improved laundry and storage areas.

The facility also provides a lobby overlooking the court, a concessions area, classroom space, and a human performance lab. The athletics and physical education staff occupy offices on the upper level that also features a hospitality suite with a view of the court.

The Litany of Dedication was introduced by alumnus Arthur Bishop, director of
the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, and then led by Bishop; Provost Liz Rudenga, Ph.D.; Bill Schepel, interim athletics director; student Rebecca De Haan of Alton, Iowa; and friend of the College Larry Tibstra.

After the presentation of the building’s dedication plaque by President Steve Timmermans, Ph.D., and Provost Rudenga, two of Trinity’s student athletes, soccer player Hannah Gonzales of Visalia, California, and basketball player Matt Buren of Macomb, Illinois, shared how Trinity and its athletics program have served them.

New Nursing Lab Dedicated

Trinity’s newly constructed nursing laboratory was dedicated during Homecoming on Saturday, October 8, and officially named the Cynthia Sander Nursing Lab.

Dr. Sander served as chair of the department from 1993-2005.

The state-of-the art addition contains two lab spaces for junior and senior
students to practice the skills they are learning and two high-tech simulation labs. The simulation laboratories contain standard nursing equipment as well as high-fidelity simulation manikins, which can realistically exhibit nearly any symptom and are able to automatically respond to intervention.

New offices accommodate more nursing faculty members hired to serve the rising number of nursing students.

“The Cynthia Sander Nursing Lab has given new life to the program with the
ability to provide all students with simulation experiences that support their nursing classes throughout the curriculum,” said Dr. Laurel Quinn, chair of the nursing department. “Students can practice nursing from basic to advanced clinical levels and spend the time needed to develop their critical thinking skills in a safe environment.”

Guests attending the dedication ceremony included Sander, former and current
faculty and administration, alumni, current students, and community members supportive of Trinity’s nursing program.

A highlight of the event was the ribbon cutting ceremony led by Sander; President Steve Timmermans, Ph.D.; and Nursing Student Organization President Dana Bush, a senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan.