--- title: Dordt University celebrates opening of Rozenboom Family Athletic Center date: 2026-10-22T08:20:00-05:00 author: Jennifer Vermeer canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-university-celebrates-opening-of-rozenboom-family-athletic-center" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [Notable](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=notable) Oct 22, 2026 # Dordt University celebrates opening of Rozenboom Family Athletic Center During Defender Days, Dordt University held a dedication ceremony to mark the opening of the newly remodeled Rozenboom Family Athletic Center. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/i-78pjJWq-X2.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=66&h=57&f=webp&c=429dc182&v=52fd3561f09c6d5e29d3775241d798f3285233605f5de3e793e71bdc7c324f42) ![]()During Defender Days, Dordt University hosted a dedication ceremony marking the opening of the newly remodeled Rozenboom Family Athletic Center. The event—held in the Vos Family Gymnasium—recognized several newly named spaces, the generosity of donors, and ultimately, God’s continued faithfulness to Dordt over many years. The gathering brought together generations—from former coaches to current athletes, young future Defenders to a member of Dordt’s first graduating class. Attendees heard testimonies of the Lord’s hand at work through Dordt’s mission, athletics, and the broader community from Director of Athletics Dr. Darin Keizer, Dordt President Dr. Erik Hoekstra, Dave Rozenboom, Brian Vos, and Director of Athletic Communications Mike Byker. The spaces formally recognized during the event included: - Rozenboom Family Athletic Center - Vos Family Gymnasium - Coaches Court - De Vries Fan Zone - Holwerda Family Indoor Track - Mulder Family Hospitality Room - Peoples Bank Concessions - Van Tol Lobby Along with expressing gratitude for donors in his speech, Hoekstra recognized the role of [WDS](https://wdsconstruction.net/) and [ISG](https://www.isginc.com/) in bringing the vision of these spaces to life. “Visions like this require companies and people with God given gifts,” he said. “Those two firms really led this project in a special way. The design professionals and craftsmen all displayed God's gifts to them in their work, and we celebrate that together today, too.” ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/i-4W8FvGt-X2.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=28&c=42321fea&v=788a1ed3a303c3571eaa0aefe3cb848cd32d44432018cdc0f01158b1d505f9af) ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/i-Hzv292r-X2.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=28&c=b5b35c04&v=767c9b97369465e661176afaea4f7f3c80260e4534cf049415e7aec1a937dce6) ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/i-vg6CdhN-X2.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=28&c=5d04c652&v=c09ec62b14085bd9270c03949e947123efc2d4c85fffbc226acfe07e878e62dc) ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/i-XqjCwds-X2.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=28&c=e77facca&v=8da52f3cc5cd9a41356487d5fa6fd1ebb1fff0b405f1c948c03b9d7e5fdf989e) ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/i-HttH9kq-X2.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=28&c=d3b256b5&v=4323d6d8a223b79ba73d289da7c5761ecd8a02f21662b1eda620b5e60aa52d75) With Dordt roots that stretch back to its first graduating class, the Rozenboom family has a rich history of connection to the university. For Dave and Tammy Rozenboom, supporting this project was a way to give back to the place and community that has helped shape their family across generations. “Our family has a tremendous sense of gratitude for Dordt,” Dave remarked. “We wanted the same experience for our children, grandchildren, and the generations to come.” For Brian and Lynette Vos, the renovations reflect Dordt’s ongoing commitment to enriching the student experience on campus and equipping them to work toward Christ-centered renewal in the world. They expressed gratitude for Dordt’s leadership and athletic department for faithfully stewarding its resources and mission while extending its vision to build something greater for the glory of God. “Our prayer for this gymnasium is simple: that it would be a place of hard work and good sportsmanship, of victories celebrated with humility and defeats met with grace. That every player who steps onto this floor, coach who leads from this sideline, and fan who cheers from these stands would be reminded why we compete here in the first place — not for our own name, but Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone be the glory,” said Brian. > "In addition to classrooms and residence halls, the Founders were also speaking about gymnasiums, courts, and an athletic center—places where young men and women could compete, learn to lead, learn to lose well sometimes, and learn to serve teammates above themselves.” Ultimately, Hoekstra hopes that these spaces will serve as a tangible reminder of the Founders Vision—“a vision for all aspects of the student experience to be permeated with the spirit and teaching of Christianity”—and the [Defender Way](https://www.dordt.edu/athletics). “In addition to classrooms and residence halls, the Founders were also speaking about gymnasiums, courts, and an athletic center—places where young men and women could compete, learn to lead, learn to lose well sometimes, and learn to serve teammates above themselves,” says Hoekstra. “Dordt athletics is also about coaches who pour themselves into students, not just as athletes but as image bearers of the Lord, and it’s about a community that gathers to cheer and to belong to something together.” The ceremony concluded with a prayer and singing of the Doxology by student musicians and joined by all attendees, followed by an alumni event as part of the larger Defender Days schedule. --- **About Dordt University** As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt offers undergraduate and graduate programs that help students live their faith in every area of life. Through rigorous learning, meaningful relationships, and whole-person formation, students gain the practical wisdom to serve God and neighbor through their work and in their communities. Dordt has been named among the nation's leading Christian universities by *U.S. News & World Report*, *Niche*, and other national publications. --- [Next Article ![Brick and concrete sign of "Dordt University" is surrounded by prairie grass](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/front-entrance.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=460ee147&v=05c18acb8bf730fe9d56406fcd2b3f749f7c7b670e0e649e654cbe0f65b606bb) Events Theatre Arts Oct 22, 2026 ## Student-produced performance, Hotel Proznia, coming to Fourth Avenue Theatre Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/student-produced-performance-hotel-proznia-coming-to-fourth-avenue-theatre) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Oct 22 General #### [Praise & Worship ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/praise-worship-2026-10-22) Oct 23 Campus Visit Days #### [Campus Visit Days ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/campus-visit-days-2026-10-23) Oct 23 Music #### [Masterclass With Marie Rubis Bauer & Michael Bauer ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/masterclass-with-marie-rubis-bauer-michael-bauer-2026-10-23) ![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]]>