Equipped to Lead, Ready to Serve
When Tate Hansen began looking for a university, he had three things on his list: faith, community, and soccer. Dordt offered something more to him. “Dordt checked all three of those boxes, and felt most like home,” says Hansen.
One reason Hansen was interested in a smaller university was the ability to engage meaningfully in campus life. During his time at Dordt, he has been a part of the soccer team, interned with Campus Ministries, and led a mission trip.
Hansen has felt supported by the campus community both in and out of the classroom, even in the midst of significant challenges. “My freshman year, I had some health issues,” Hansen recalls. “With help from my mom and services Dordt provides, I have been able to overcome those challenges.”
“It was extremely formational in my faith and made me seek the Lord,” adds Hansen.
While Hansen found himself leaning on support from Campus Ministries, his time as an intern has also been formative. Meaningful conversations with Dr. Bailey, Dr. Westfall, Angie Van Essen, and other members of the theology department and Campus Ministries staff have shaped how he engages with the Bible and God. “They’ve displayed a love for Christ and for His Word, and they’ve shaped my faith and invested in me,” Hansen says.
Not only did Hansen’s involvement in Campus Ministries deepen his faith, but it also inspired him to pursue other leadership opportunities around campus. During his sophomore year, Hansen co-led a team of students to Rolling Forks, Mississippi on a Putting Love Into Action (PLIA) mission trip over spring break. “Rolling Fork was hit with a tornado that devasted this small community in 2023,” explains Hansen. “Our role on the trip was getting to work alongside World Renew Disaster Response Services to help rebuild this community.”
Hansen has also found ways to lead the soccer team. While his first years on the team showed him how to put himself under authority, as an upperclassman, going out on the field requires a different type of responsibility.
“Now I get to invest in the younger players on the team and show them what it means to live out a vibrant faith,” Hansen says. “I can do my best to humbly show them what it means to glorify the Lord in the way that we train and in the way that we play games.”
Additionally, Hansen has been involved in a Bible study with the soccer team, which has strengthened their team bond. “Our team has grown to be a brotherhood that supports each other, that holds each other accountable in classes and in life. In my time here we’ve just become more and more like a family,” says Hansen.
In addition to forming meaningful relationships with teammates, Hansen has appreciated the opportunity to also grow and strive for excellence on the field. “In my freshman year,” Hansen says, “We went to Concordia in the playoffs, and beat them 3-0. It was a huge upset, and just an electric moment. The moments on the field after a goal, or in the vans after a win. Those moments of pure joy—I’ll definitely remember those.”
Hansen has kept a full schedule during his time at Dordt. Not only is he engaged with campus community, but he is also pursuing a double major in accounting and finance, as well as a minor in theology. Although his schedule is full, Hansen has been able to streamline his college timeline, allowing him to complete all three programs in four years.
Ultimately, Hansen is grateful for the way Dordt has blessed him with meaningful relationships and formative experiences. “Dordt and the broader community have taught me to be a Christ follower and equipped me to live for His glory and the sake of the gospel,” Hansen says. “Coming to Dordt has been one of the best decisions of my life because I’ve encountered Christ and seen faith lived out.”