Student & Alumni Stories
Dordt students and alumni are living their faith in every area of life, in engineering, education, healthcare, ministry, and more. Read real stories of joyful faith, whole-person formation, and purposeful community at a distinctly Christian university.
Adapting Plans, Growing in Faith
Julia VerhageJulia Verhage came to Dordt for a two-year degree and stayed for four — because God had a bigger plan. Read how faith, community, and a mission trip to Nicaragua shaped her calling.
Julia Verhage
Read More About Julia Verhage
In Awe of Creation
Ada SmiesAda Smies became a Noyce Scholar and future STEM teacher at Dordt — helping others live with awe at God's creation.
Ada Smies
Read More About Ada Smies
Equipped to Lead, Ready to Serve
Tate HansenTate Hansen came to Dordt for faith, soccer, and community. A health crisis and team brotherhood prepared him to lead and serve.
Tate Hansen
Read More About Tate Hansen
Finding Voice and Calling
Zach BivensZach Bivens came as a CS major, fell in love with choir, and added a second degree. Dordt's community helped him become who God made him.
Zach Bivens
Read More About Zach Bivens
Leading with Curiosity and Grit
Erica RothErica Roth leads with curiosity and joy. She credits Dordt's practical wisdom for the faith-rooted perspective she brings to work.
Erica Roth
Read More About Erica Roth
Walking Alongside Others
Andrew GeleynseAndrew Geleynse walks alongside people in their hardest moments as the hands and feet of Jesus — doing all God created him to do.
Andrew Geleynse
Read More About Andrew Geleynse
Hope for the Hurting
Erin De JongErin De Jong switched from nursing to social work and found her calling. Dordt's online MSW helped her become who God created her to be.
Erin De Jong
Read More About Erin De Jong
Blooming in Agriculture
Jade HubersJade Hubers lives her faith in every area of life — including the greenhouse. At Dordt, she found a vision for ag as beautiful and purposeful.
Jade Hubers
Read More About Jade Hubers
Coming Full Circle: A Calling Realized
Kelly LapadulaA Dordt Chicago Semester internship led Kelly Lapadula to Easterseals — and back nine years later as Digital Marketing Manager.
Kelly Lapadula
Read More About Kelly Lapadula
Learning and Leading in Liberia
Darric DennisDarric Dennis earned his M.Ed. online from Dordt while in Liberia — now he leads national school principals across West Africa.
Darric Dennis
Read More About Darric Dennis
Soaring Ambitions: A Path to Air Force Service
Benjamin EerkesBenjamin Eerkes set his sights on the Air Force. Dordt gave him the foundation, character, and joyful faith to serve with purpose.
Benjamin Eerkes
Read More About Benjamin Eerkes
A Direct Path to Purpose
Megan Van MaanenMegan Van Maanen found her path to purpose at Dordt — joyful faith, purposeful community, and practical wisdom pointing the way.
Megan Van Maanen
Read More About Megan Van Maanen
Through the Lens of Faith
Parker FreemanParker Freeman learned to see all of life through the lens of faith at Dordt — doing all God created him to do through creativity and calling.
Parker Freeman
Read More About Parker Freeman
Called to the Classroom
Austin FaberAustin Faber always wanted to teach. Dordt gave him the why — joyful faith and practical wisdom turned a career choice into a true calling.
Austin Faber
Read More About Austin Faber
A Fresh Start
Athan De JongAthan De Jong came to Dordt for a fresh start. Purposeful community helped him become who God created him to be and live his faith fully.
Athan De Jong
Read More About Athan De Jong
Expanding Knowledge
Matt HakenMatt Haken came to Dordt curious. Dordt's core program helped him thrive intellectually, professionally, and spiritually.
Matt Haken
Read More About Matt Haken
Dialing Up Connections
Julia StobJulia Stob didn't expect class to feel like worship. At Dordt, faith and psychology connected — helping her live her calling in a new way.
Julia Stob
Read More About Julia Stob
A Sense of Belonging
Abigail MaldonadoAbigail Maldonado connected to purposeful community at Dordt — a place where she belonged, was seen, and was shaped to live her faith.
Abigail Maldonado
Read More About Abigail Maldonado
Leading by Serving
Timothy BuckholtzTimothy Buckholtz visited Dordt and was stunned by the friendships. He enrolled wanting them — and learned that serving others is how you lead.
Timothy Buckholtz
Read More About Timothy Buckholtz
Steps to Service
Lucy ZylstraLucy Zylstra's time at Dordt was shaped by joyful faith and purposeful community — connecting with others to do all God created her to do.
Lucy Zylstra
Read More About Lucy Zylstra
Stewarding God's Creation
Robert LundRobert Lund came to Dordt with a love for the land. A Reformed vision of stewardship taught him to live his faith in every area of life.
Robert Lund
Read More About Robert Lund
The Power of Policy
Daniel ZekveldDaniel Zekveld learned at Dordt that practical wisdom shapes society — doing all God created him to do through policy and public service.
Daniel Zekveld
Read More About Daniel Zekveld
Building a New Beginning
Enock RopEnock Rop is grateful God sent him to a Christian college. At Dordt, he connected to community and found opportunities he never imagined.
Enock Rop
Read More About Enock Rop
Guided by Compassion
Brenna BrouwerBrenna Brouwer's calling is rooted in compassion. Dordt's community helped her become who God created her to be — serving with joyful purpose.
Brenna Brouwer
Read More About Brenna Brouwer
Bridging Global Gaps in Healthcare
Sharon IgeSharon Ige is doing all God created her to do — bridging global healthcare gaps. Dordt gave her practical wisdom and faith to serve across borders.
Sharon Ige
Read More About Sharon Ige
Cultivating Confident Leadership
Melanie SharpMelanie Sharp didn't arrive at Dordt as a leader. Whole-person formation helped her become who God created her to be — confident and purposeful.
Melanie Sharp
Read More About Melanie Sharp
Leading With Vision
Pamela SzmyrkoPamela Szmyrko came to Dordt with ambition and left with direction. Biblical truth shaped her to lead with vision and do all God created her to do.
Pamela Szmyrko
Read More About Pamela Szmyrko
Fast-Track to Calling
Lily D'AmourLily D'Amour didn't waste time at Dordt. Purposeful community and practical wisdom helped her become who God created her to be — fast.
Lily D'Amour
Read More About Lily D'Amour
Faithful Advocacy
Nia BoentoroNia Boentoro found her voice at Dordt and used it faithfully — showing what it looks like to live your faith through advocacy and justice.
Nia Boentoro
Read More About Nia Boentoro
Deputized to Lead
Alex PruismannDordt's MPA gave Alex Pruismann practical wisdom to lead from multiple angles and serve God and neighbor — doing all God created him to do.
Alex Pruismann
Read More About Alex Pruismann
Resilience through Fire and Ice
Charlie LangCharlie Lang's path through Dordt was anything but smooth. Each challenge helped him become who God created him to be — resilient and faithful.
Charlie Lang
Read More About Charlie Lang
Harmonizing Worship Arts and Design
Nicole MahoneyNicole Mahoney connects through worship and design — doing life and faith together at Dordt. Her story is about living your faith in every area.
Nicole Mahoney
Read More About Nicole Mahoney
From Patella Injury to Physical Therapy School
Alexa KopaskaA knee injury at 13 sparked Alexa Kopaska's PT calling. At Dordt, she's already accepted to PT school as a junior — with rare cadaver lab experience.
Alexa Kopaska
Read More About Alexa Kopaska
Connecting through Finance
Sam ZylstraSam Zylstra wanted to connect deeply — not just earn a degree. Dordt's purposeful community gave him the platform to do all God created him to do.
Sam Zylstra
Read More About Sam Zylstra
Finding a Faith-Focused Education and So Much More
Grace BruinGrace Bruin wanted faith woven into education — not tacked on. At Dordt, professors live joyful faith and equip students to do the same.
Grace Bruin
Read More About Grace Bruin
Drawn to Wonder
Emma NydamEmma Nydam paints birds to memorize them — living her faith where art meets science. At Dordt, she became who God created her to be.
Emma Nydam
Read More About Emma Nydam
Embracing Perseverance and Accountability
Jacob SchmollJacob Schmoll's faith became fully his own at Dordt. Community and accountability shaped him into who God created him to be — step by step.
Jacob Schmoll
Read More About Jacob Schmoll
Embracing Mess, Creating Beauty
Megan VeurinkMegan Veurink discovered art therapy at Dordt — a dream career she didn't know existed. Now she creates beauty in life's hardest moments.
Megan Veurink
Read More About Megan Veurink
Finding a Future in Ministry
Kira OuwingaKira Ouwinga has always wanted others to experience the joy of Christ. At Dordt, she found a community that made that passion a calling.
Kira Ouwinga
Read More About Kira Ouwinga
Chasing Community
Craig BeckerCraig Becker chased community — and found it at Dordt. The purposeful connections he made on the field and in faith shape how he lives today.
Craig Becker
Read More About Craig BeckerSee what Dordt students and alumni have been up to in Sioux Center and around the globe. Have a new story idea? Send us a message — we'd love to hear it.