What stands out about the Dordt University class of 2023?

Spring semester classes have come to an end, and students are starting to work on finals. Commencement—where more than 430 graduates will walk across the B.J. Haan Auditorium stage and accept their diplomas—is only days away. It’s a good time to ask, what did the class of 2023 contribute to Dordt culture? And what’s next for some in the class of 2023?

The Covid-19 pandemic may seem like a distant memory at this point, but for those graduating with a bachelor’s degree as part of the class of 2023, it was a core part of their college experience, as the pandemic interrupted their introductory year of college.

“While this was frustrating and anxiety-producing, I believe it has contributed to the resiliency that I see in this particular class,” says Amy Westra, director of career development. “As a class, and as individuals, they have faced challenges head-on. They forged a way through the isolation of quarantine and have contributed a depth of relationships and the same sense of community and engagement that has always characterized Dordt University.”

Derek Buteyn, associate dean of students and director of residence life, remembers those early days when Covid-19 interrupted the school year. “In a time when we were told to keep our distance and minimize our socialization, they carried over a vibrant culture and set the tone for new students coming in – guiding the student body by participating in and investing in campus life,” he says.

Academically, many in the class of 2023 have thrived. There are numerous examples of this, including Dallas Johnson, a senior theology and social work major from Milford, Iowa, who received a Trustee Scholarship which will pay for 75% of his tuition to Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Senior Lindsay Kuiper, an English education major from Orange City, Iowa, earned a Recognition of Original Composition award at a national theatre competition. Annabelle Vanderkooi, a senior art major from Abbotsford, British Columbia, had her art “Mosaic Masterpiece” installed in the Campus Center. Many others have been accepted into graduate school and found employment prior to graduation.

Dr. John MacInnis, professor of music, remembers how campus singers and instrumentalists used God’s gift of music to foster community and meaningful human connection.

“Also, I’ll always remember how the Concert Choir, which includes many seniors, was able to minister directly to a community in need when Dordt student [Emma Nibbelink] passed away tragically, while Concert Choir was on tour and visiting her home church,” he says.

From an athletics standpoint, Director of Athletic Communications Mike Byker says that the class of 2023 included many solid individuals who set a high standard for themselves and teammates around them. “They are a group that was highly involved in campus life and had interests and aspirations beyond their athletic careers,” he says.

Class of 2023 student-athletes saw many successes, including a 2022 team national championship in men’s cross country, multiple team GPAC titles in cross country men and women, four straight seven-plus win seasons in football, first men’s volleyball team to be ranked and have a winning record, softball team’s high win total since 2002, and more.

“I hope they are able to exhibit the joy that I have watched them have in being part of a team and show that same passion and joy in their faith, families and jobs,” says Byker. “I have no doubt they will lead well as the leave campus.”

“This class has shown themselves to be resilient,” says Buteyn, “and I think that’s something they’ll carry with them as they go out to work in the world. My hope for them is that as they encounter life’s challenges, they’ll approach them with that same resilience, and a confidence that God’s using them to make all things new.”

Westra says that, in a world full of brokenness, the class of 2023 and the dreams, plans, hopes, goals, and skills that live inside of them give her great hope for our future. “My deep hope for the class of 2023 is that they will allow the truth of God’s Word to root deeply inside of them. As those roots grow deep and wide beneath the surface, I pray the fruit that is produced truly feeds a hungry world—a world that hungers for the very truth they carry.”