Calvin Alumni Association

Welcome home, Paul. Calvin has appointed Paul Nagelkirk ’94 as our next dean of the School of Health. “The search team was impressed with Paul’s clear focus on building the relationships – ‘leadership through partnership,’ to use his phrase – with faculty, staff, students, and external partners that are crucial to the success of a school,” said Kevin den Dulk, interim provost. “He is someone who clearly understands that strategic thinking and relationship-building must go hand-in-hand.”

What doesn’t show up on the resume but is most clear to Nagelkirk is God’s providence in his academic journey. “The bulk of my career focused on being a scientist and I greatly enjoyed that time, but it became clear God had something else in mind and [...] he called me into academic leadership a few years ago,” said Nagelkirk. “That calling has made it possible for me to feel prepared to step into this dean’s role. I’m amazed how God has led me to this point."

https://calvin.edu/stories/calvin-appoints-paul-nagelkirk-dean-school-health

From making stroopwafels, cruising canals, and riding bicyles to visiting the Rijksmuseum, Kröller-Müller Museum, and Corrie ten Boom House, our Calvin Alumni Association and Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning friends had a delightful time exploring the Netherlands! Thanks to Witte Travel & Tours for refining the itinerary and executing all the tour logistics.

Congrats to Alyssa Penning McElheny ‘13, 2026 HYROX World Champion! A Calvin steeplechase runner and recent U.S. Olympic marathon trials qualifier, McElheny took up HYROX in 2025 and has competed her way to the top of the elite athlete leaderboard, culminating in yesterday’s world championship in Stockholm.

Care, calling, and impact ❤️💛

At Calvin, Alyssa Scholten ’18 discovered how her passion for helping people could become a vocation. Today, she serves children and families in pediatric care—bringing skill, compassion, and hope to some of life’s most vulnerable moments.

Read more:
https://calvin.edu/stories/encouraged-excel-how-calvin-shaped-alyssa-scholten-leader-pediatric-care

From creekside curiosity to national impact 🌿💧

Calvin alum Andrea Lubberts ’98 is helping restore Plaster Creek and inspire community-wide environmental care—earning national recognition along the way.

Read her story:
https://calvin.edu/stories/clear-path-outdoor-passion-environmental-impact

From Calvin’s court to the NBA Finals 🏀
Alum and former Calvin basketball player Jordan Brink ’15 is helping guide the New York Knicks—playing a key behind-the-scenes role in crucial game-time decisions.
Read his story:
https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/sports/how-little-known-assistant-saved-knicks-from-crushing-collapse/

How little-known assistant coach saved Knicks from crushing collapse: ‘Master at this’ The MVP of the Knicks’ franchise-record 13th straight victory may have been an assistant coach.

✨ Alumni Event Alert: Last Chance for Gatsby! ✨
Old sport… tickets are going fast! There are still a few seats left for our Calvin alumni outing to The Great Gatsby with Broadway Grand Rapids — but not for long.

📍 DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids
📅 Thursday, July 23, 2026
🕢 7:30–9:45 p.m.

Step into the Roaring Twenties with this Tony Award®-winning musical, described as a “Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy.”

Join fellow Calvin alumni and friends for an unforgettable night of jazz, glamour, and storytelling brought to life on stage. Whether you're a longtime theater fan or just looking for a fun summer night out, this is one you won’t want to miss.

👉 Grab your tickets before they’re gone: https://calvin.edu/events/great-gatsby-broadway-grand-rapids-1784849400

🌍 Did you know? It’s World Environment Day—and Calvin alumni have a hands‑on way to celebrate! 🌱

Calvin University offers private volunteer workdays at the Ecosystem Preserve for community, corporate, or alumni groups. Gather 8 or more volunteers and build your team while caring for God’s creation.

Volunteer activities may include seed collection, invasive species removal, transplanting native plants, trail work, native garden maintenance, and other special projects.

🗓️ Weekday or weekend options
⏰ Preferred times: 9 a.m.–noon and/or 1–4 p.m.
Interested in hosting a workday?
📧 Email [email protected] to learn more and schedule your group.

Throwback Thursday: A Makeshift Residence Hall in 1946

Like many colleges across the country, Calvin experienced a dramatic surge in enrollment following the end of World War II. Student numbers jumped from 503 in the fall of 1945 to 1,245 just one year later.

At the time, on-campus housing was available for some women, while remaining women—and all men—lived in college‑approved private homes. By the fall of 1946, however, there simply weren’t enough homes to accommodate the influx of male students. In response, the college leased eight rooms and a basement in the Alexander School, located about half a mile from the Franklin campus. The building had already been condemned for classroom use, but it became a temporary solution—and quickly earned the nickname “Alexander Lodge.”

For $2.50 per week, men slept on army surplus bunks, fitting up to 15 students per classroom. Conditions were spartan: food was not permitted in the building, and hot water didn’t flow until mid‑October.

📸 Pictured here on September 16, 1946, are Kenneth Slager ’50 at the desk, Maurice Couwenhoven ’50 in the top bunk, and Harry Arnold ’50—making the most of college life during an extraordinary moment in Calvin’s history.

Reunion in a Box! 🖤💛

Can’t make it back to campus? We’ll bring Calvin to you!

Gather four or more Calvin alumni—roommates, teammates, or friends—and host your own mini‑reunion. Sign up for a Reunion in a Box and we’ll send you free Calvin swag, including alumni t‑shirts, stickers, and a Calvin trivia game.

https://calvin.edu/go/reunion-box