--- title: "Dordt in the News: October 11 - 31" date: 2023-11-01T09:12:00-05:00 author: Sarah Moss canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-in-the-news-october-11-31" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [News](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=news) Nov 1, 2023 # Dordt in the News: October 11 - 31 Here's where Dordt University was mentioned in the media and by news sources during October 11 - 31. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2022-23/News/2023-10-28_000753.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=66&h=57&f=webp&c=2fb10794&v=95e7376e5f8b2442bdba1d8f713d5834458e734277ef98fb6905078a32c7320c) ![]()***October 30*** - [Dordt University broke ground on new dining hall and B.J. Haan Auditorium expansion](https://www.ktiv.com/2023/10/31/dordt-university-broke-ground-new-dining-hall-bj-haan-auditorium-expansion/)(KTIV, October 30) - [Dordt University breaks ground on new dining commons](https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/dordt-university-breaks-ground-on-new-dining-commons/) (KCAU / Siouxland Proud, October 30) "Dordt University has broken ground on a new dining commons and expansion to the B.J. Haan Auditorium. The new dining commons will connect the campus center and the auditorium. It will be located more centrally on the university grounds and have an outdoor patio space. The commons will also be open more hours of the day to students than the current facility allows. University officials say the commons will hold about 400 people for meal service at a time. It’s expected to be completed in 2025." ***October 25*** - [Dordt University to hold groundbreaking for new dining commons, auditorium expansion](https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/education/dordt-auditorium-dining-groundbreaking/article_3d12c5fc-7353-11ee-bfd2-67e1ec424ad5.html)(Sioux City Journal, October 25) "On Saturday, October 28 at 11 a.m., Dordt University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the institution’s new dining commons and the B.J. Haan Auditorium expansion. The event will take place between the B.J. Haan Auditorium and the Campus Center. The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking." ***October 23*** - [Dishwashing dads aid Christian school](https://www.nwestiowa.com/scnews/dishwashing-dads-aid-christian-school/article_afdffa02-71da-11ee-9ce1-bfeeec960893.html) (Sioux Center News, October 23) "Almost every lunch tray set down at Sioux Center Christian School’s lunchroom return window during lunchtime Thursday, Oct. 19. brought smiles to the men behind the wall. That day Dordt University physics and engineering professor Jason Wyenberg, Dordt’s director of purchasing and campus support services James Rylaarsdam and Dordt’s vice president of enrollment and marketing Brandon Huisman donned plastic aprons over their regular work attire as they pre-rinsed ketchup off trays, put trays and silverware through the dishwasher, stacked clean items and washed lunchroom tables for about two hours." ***October 19*** - [Regional enrollment and credits increase](https://www.nwestiowa.com/news/regional-enrollment-and-credits-increase/article_74c809d8-6478-11ee-88ba-cfc75a3cb503.html) (Northwest Iowa Review, October 19) "There are 1,911 students enrolled at Dordt to begin the academic year compared to its previous record of 1,858 students in 2022-23." ***October 17*** - [Dordt University professor part of $687,000 grant from NASA for exoplanet research](https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/dordt-university-professor-part-of-687k-grant-from-nasa-for-exoplanet-research/)(KCAU, October 17) - [Dordt science professor part of team awarded nearly $700,000 from NASA grant](https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/dordt-nasa-grant/article_a4091d16-6d1c-11ee-86bd-aff52ef09a49.html)(Sioux City Journal, October 17) "A professor at Dordt University is part of a team that has been awarded a substantial grant by NASA’s Exoplanets Research Program (XRP). According to a [release](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-university-professor-is-part-of-687-182-grant-from-nasas-exoplanets-research-program) from Dordt University, Professor of Chemistry and Planetary Sciences Dr. Channon Visscher’s team has been awarded $687,182 called 'A Theoretical and Laboratory Study of Refractory Cloud Formation in Exoplanet and Brown Dwarf Atmospheres.'" ***October 12*** - [Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team students selected for participation](https://www.iowacorn.org/leadership-programs/collegiate-advisory-team/) (Iowa Corn, October 12) Freshman Stephen Leinen was one of 23 students selected to participate in Iowa Corn's Collegiate Advisory Team for the 2023-24 academic year. - [How hectic former urbanite Luke Hawley found contentment as a Ruralist](https://siouxcityjournal.com/weekender/music/luke-hawley-dordt-ruralist/article_0e302982-66d3-11ee-9d9a-9fe0de3a0fcc.html) (Sioux City Journal, October 12) "By profession, Luke Hawley is a Dordt University professor." ***October 11*** - [Is there a Dordt pupil onboard?](https://www.nwestiowa.com/news/is-there-a-dordt-pupil-onboard/article_23f1754a-63e6-11ee-9ebf-8f90f0e2aac9.html) (Northwest Iowa Review, October 11) "Austin Van Donge had his degree put to the test over the summer — before he’s even graduated from Dordt University in Sioux Center." --- [Previous Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2022-23/News/2021-04-20_001025.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=fefdbc53&v=fd4fdfcb7af0c15e5e802ab84821f79a6fe0c4290b641c5afd567825ad453336) Events Music Nov 03, 2023 ## Dordt Concert Choir and music professor to perform lecture recital on Psalm settings Assistant Professor of Music Ryan Smit and the Dordt University Concert Choir will present a lecture recital at 7:30 p.m. on November 11 in the B.J. Haan Auditorium. This event will feature a 30-minute lecture on the topic “20th Century Dutch Composers: An Analysis of Selected Psalm Settings” followed by a 30-minute concert featuring choral performances of several Psalm settings. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-concert-choir-music-professor-to-perform-lecture-recital-on-psalm-settings) [Next Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2022-23/News/Kayla.jpg?mode=crop&pos=0.5212-0.2783&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=83fc68f3&v=bd35779f7204ed9b79ad3c6848f9e7147dc2495b53bafc35659161aa0e40950e) Music Oct 31, 2023 ## Kayla Vande Zande to perform flute and piccolo recital at Dordt University The community is invited to the flute and piccolo recital of Dordt University senior Kayla Vande Zande. The free recital will be held on Friday, November 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the B.J. Haan Auditorium. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/kayla-vande-zande-to-perform-flute-and-piccolo-recital-at-dordt-university) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Aug 19 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-19) Aug 20 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-20) Aug 20 Athletics Men's Soccer #### [8/20 8:00 PM Dordt University Men's Soccer at Carroll - Nelson Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-22-100-pm-dordt-university-mens-soccer-at-carroll) ![A picture of campus behind yellow prairie flowers](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2021-22/Buildings-and-Campus/2021-09-23_001574-1.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=50&f=webp&c=3d670641&v=d2bdb7cbdc83e5be46d3a10afe8a1214a0e770536697eb0ddbe29e017d2e9577) <![CDATA[YII-BLOCK-BODY-END]]>