Defender Days is the biggest event on campus as students, alumni, and parents celebrate Dordt and reunite on campus for home sporting events, concerts, the fall theatre production, and much more. Defender Days will be held on October 11-12, 2019.
Thursday
3-5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . Early-bird registration, Campus Center lobby.
6 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Engineering Society dinner, West Commons.
7:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Fall Theatre production: Known But to God, written by Minnesotan theatre professor and playwright Anne Byrd, is set during the Civil War and follows the story of two siblings, Robert and Grant, as they enlist and fight on the side of the North. It is appropriate for audience members high school and older. Tickets may be purchased online at: dordttickets.com. Te Paske Theatre
10 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . Praise and Worship, Science and Technology Center atrium.
Friday
6:45 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . Business Connections Breakfast, De Yager Student Activity Center. Complimentary but online RSVP required. Speaker: Dave Rozenboom, president of First PREMIER Bank, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
8 a.m.-7 p.m. . . . . . . . Registration, Campus Center lobby. Pick up nametags (free passes into some events) and an updated schedule.
8 a.m.-3 p.m. . . . . . . . Visit classes. Professors are expecting you, so just walk in.
9:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . Campus tour, leaves from the registration table, Campus Center.
11 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapel, B.J. Haan Auditorium.
2 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Campus tour, leaves from the registration table, Campus Center.
3 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4th Ave. Jazz concert featuring 4th Ave. Singers and 4th Ave. Band. B.J. Haan Auditorium, freewill offering
5:15 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . Defender Nation Dinner, De Yager Student Activity Center. Join us to celebrate and learn how Defender Nation is serving the kingdom around the world. Featured speakers are the Alumni Award winner, Michelle Adams, and the Horizon Award winner, Monique Lieuwen. Dress is business casual. Ticket purchase and online RSVP necessary. Tickets are $15
7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall Music Festival featuring Wind Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, Campus-Community Band, Concert Choir, Chorale, and Bella Voce. B.J. Haan Auditorium, freewill offering
7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men's volleyball scrimmage, De Witt Gymnasium.
10 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Late Night with the Defenders. De Witt Gymnasium. Men's and Women's basketball scrimmage and more! $1 admission with proceeds going toward outreach opportunities
Saturday
8 a.m.-noon. . . . . . . . . Registration, Campus Center lobby
9 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni golf, The Ridge Golf Course. There is a $50 green fee and cart fee payable to The Ridge when you arrive. Preregister online to guarantee participation.
9 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni baseball game, Open Space Park.
8:45-10:15 a.m. . . . . . President's Brunch, Recreation Center. Complimentary, but online RSVP necessary. This sit-down meal is for alumni, parents, grandparnts, and adult friends and relatives. It's a great place to meet people and includes a welcome and campus update from President Erik and Dr. Barb Hoekstra. This is not a come and go event.
8:45-10:15 a.m. . . . . . Sibling's Brunch, Game Room. Complimentary but online RSVP required. This activity is designed for preschool to middle school children who are weekend guests. Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the lower level of the Campus Center. The group will walk together to the Commons for breakfast and then participate in age-appropriate activities (crafts and Game Room). Please pick up your children by 10:30 a.m. at the Campus Center.
10 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cross country home meet, Dordt Prairie.
10:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . New theatre building dedication/tours.
10:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . Organ Prelude to the Hymn Festival featuring Christiaan Teeuwsen
11 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hymn Festival led by Alumni Martin Tel, Christiaan Teeuwsen, and Carrie Groenewold
11:15 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . New nursing building dedication/tours.
Noon-1 p.m. . . . . . . . . . PLIA tailgate, Football field. Free will donation at the event. RSVP online.
1 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women's soccer vs. Briar Cliff
1 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football vs. Northwestern College
1 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni women's volleyball, De Witt Gymnasium. Preregister online to guarantee participation.
2 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall Theatre Production, Known But to God, Te Paske Theatre. Tickets may be purchased online at: dordttickets.com
3:15 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . Men's soccer vs. Briar Cliff
5:45-7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . 25th Reunion (from 1994-97), Founder's Room (located in the President's home). Complimentary to class members and one guest. RSVP is required. Enjoy a light meal and reconnect with old friends at a standing reception hosted by President Erik and Dr. Barb Hoekstra.
5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women's volleyball vs. Dakota Weslyan, De Witt Gymnasium.
6:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni soccer, Open Space Stadium. Preregister online to guarantee participation.
7:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni women's basketball, De Witt Gymnasium. Preregister online to guarantee participation.
7:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall Theatre Production, Known But to God, Te Paske Theatre. Tickets may be purchased online at: dordttickets.com
8:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni men's basketball, De Witt Gymnasium. Preregister online to guarantee participation.
8:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni lacrosse, Open Space Stadium. Preregister online to guarantee participation.
9-10:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . Ice Cream Social, Commons. Complimentary. Here's a final opportunity to visit with parents, grandparents, alumni and friends.
Speakers
Business Connections Breakfast Speaker
Dave Rozenboom is the president of First PREMIER Bank based in Sioux Falls and has enjoyed a 34-year banking career in South Dakota. Dave currently serves in a variety of community leadership roles including chairman of the Forward Sioux Falls 2016-21 campaign, immediate and past chairman of the South Dakota Banker’s Association, vice chair of the Avera Health System Investment Committee. He has served on Dordt University’s Leadership Advisory Council and Finance Committee. Dave received his B.A. in Business Administration from Dordt in 1985.
2019 Horizon Award Recipient
Monique Lieuwen (‘10) of Abbotsford, British Columbia, is the recipient of this year’s Horizon Award. This award identifies young alumni who are community-minded and entrepreneurial – who are using their knowledge, gifts, and talents to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world. Monique graduated with a degree in civil engineering and worked for the City of Abbotsford for six years. Monique now serves as the project manager in relief and development for Global Aid Network. She organizes volunteers and projects to bring supplies and relief to hurting and displaced people in many different countries. Her nominator shared, “She demonstrates in a practical, hands-on manner, what it means to love your neighbor and care for God’s creation and is inspiring others to do the same.”
2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
This year’s distinguished alumna is Michelle J. Adams (’03), from Managua, Nicaragua, who is serving as the director of Tesoros de Dios, a tuition-free Christian education and therapy center. After earning her degree, Michelle developed a program for children with special needs at Nicaragua Christian Academy. When she realized that Nicaraguan children with special needs were “hidden children” staying in their homes because schools were inaccessible to them, she started Tesoros de Dios. Today, that ministry has grown to a staff of over 30 serving 130 students and providing outreach to schools, churches and communities around Nicaragua. Michelle has been instrumental in interacting with educational leaders across Nicaragua to improve education and acceptance for persons with disabilities.