Fun, Fellowship & Campus Traditions: Get Involved!
Kuyper College recognizes that no college education is complete without a good amount of fun and fellowship, so there's always a special event waiting in the wings. All students - on-campus, off-campus, and non-traditional - are invited to take part in campus events.
A variety of groups are responsible for planning and organizing many of the campus events. These groups include the Student Activities Club, the Spiritual Life Committee, members of Student Senate, the Intramurals Committee, HANDS (Helping and Nurturing During Service), the Residence Life staff, Side-by-Side, Yearbook, B.L.O.C., Youth Ministry Club, Pre-Sem Club, Prayer Teams, and the Harambe Committee.
Some events are longtime campus traditions, while some are fairly new but on their way to becoming traditions. And, there's always room for new and creative activities every year. One of the great things about Kuyper College is that students are encouraged to come up with new ways to have fun. If you've got an idea for an event or activity, chances are you'll be given the green light to organize it.
Campus Traditions
Fun Fest
This event takes place at the beginning of the fall semester. It's a competition between Schaal and Timmer Residence Halls and a team combining Holt Apartment residents and Off-Campus students. Teams compete in a variety of messy games and activities that kick-off the new school year. The winning team gets the coveted spot on the nameplate of the Fun Fest Trophy.
The O-Show!
This event happens during Fall Orientation and is a humorous look at the traditions and happenings of Kuyper College.
All-Campus Retreat
Very early in the fall semester, students get away to enjoy a variety of activities during a retreat at destinations such as Spring Hill, Timber Wolf Lake, and Camp Geneva. It's a great chance to get to know your classmates better and be challenged in your walk with Christ.
The Bird House Party
Typically held in the fall or spring, The Bird House Party is an event that takes place right on campus in a house lovingly known by students and staff as "The Bird House." It's a fun night of snacks and drinks, dancing, yard games, the limbo and more!
Christmas Banquet
The Christmas Banquet is a tradition that's been around for more than 60 years. This formal night includes a great meal, entertainment, and dancing.
Midnight Bowling
Every spring semester, the College rents a bowling alley, and students vie for prizes as the best-and worst-bowlers.
Super Bowl Party
Come to the party and cheer on your team, eat some great food and hang out with other students, faculty and staff.
Siblings Weekend
Have your younger brother, sister or family friend come and see what Kuyper College life is all about! Siblings will get to attend a basketball game, watch movies, hang out on campus, spend a night in the dorms and experience cafeteria food. It's an experience they won't want to miss!
Variety Show
Students enjoy showcasing their God-given talents in the Variety Show each spring, competing for various prizes. This is an event you won't want to miss!
The End of Year Bash
Students, faculty and staff enjoy dinner, live music and lawn games in the backyard as they celebrate the completion of the school year.
Other events and activities that Kuyper College students have enjoyed:
Getting Involved
Several campus organizations provide opportunities for personal and spiritual growth and to guide campus policies-or to just have fun.
Bible Studies
Weekly Bible studies are held on each Residence Hall floor. There are also Bible study opportunities for students living off campus. For more information about on-campus student Bible Studies, contact your RA. For more information about off-campus student Bible Studies, contact studentlife@kuyper.edu.
B.L.O.C
Giving Kuyper students the opportunity to utilize the leadership skills gained through the Kuyper experience, this group works with Mustard Seed Ministries in the local community to employ the leadership skills of students to care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our neighbors. For more information, contact ellietower@students.kuyper.edu.
HANDS (Helping and Nurturing During Service)
HANDS is a student group with a passion to change the world. Anyone with this passion is invited to join HANDS as they reach out and try to understand social justice issues with a holistic view. For more information contact Amy LaDuke at hands@kuyper.edu.
Harambe Committee
This committee is a group of students focused on engaging students in a range of activities that recognize diversity and celebrate cultural differences. For more information, contact harambe@kuyper.edu.
Intramurals Committee
The Intramurals Committee is very active in organizing athletic opportunities for the Kuyper College community. The committee is responsible for organizing tournaments, activities, and outings to promote active lifestyles and good sportsmanship. Tournaments are held in basketball, flag football, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, indoor and outdoor soccer, and table tennis. The Intramurals Committee also plans activities such as dodgeball, softball games, and nighttime games. For more information, contact Christine Moran at cmoran@kuyper.edu or at (616) 988-3691.
Mission Trips
During Spring Break, Christmas Break, and summer sessions, Kuyper College offers several mission-trip opportunities. These trips have taken students to Russia, the Dominican Republic, Romania, Texas, Florida, New York City and a variety of other places.
Prayer Teams
This group recognizes that we need to be intentional about the time we spend in prayer. The purpose of prayer teams is to see God work in our Kuyper family and to enhance our urgency to pray for each other and ourselves. This group facilitates a way for students, staff and faculty to meet and pray in small groups as well as gathering as a large body. For more information, contact Marcus DeBoer at marcusdeboer@students.kuyper.edu.
Pre-Sem Club
Recognizing their unique path in ministry, Kuyper's Pre-Seminary students meet to encourage one another and to listen to various speakers in order to answer questions and prepare themselves for seminary and the years of ministry that lie ahead.
Side-by-Side
Affiliated with Camp Tall Turf, this group is a tutoring ministry that focuses on academic excellence for children, modeling Christ's love for high school leaders-in-training, and getting kids involved in Tall Turf's mentoring and Saturday activity programs. For more information, contact Bryan Bartell at bryanbartell@students.kuyper.edu.
Spiritual Life Committee
The Spiritual Life Committee oversees chapel services, organizes the All-Campus Retreat, helps facilitate a program of Bible study and prayer groups, and makes recommendations aimed at increasing the overall spiritual vitality on campus. For more information about this committee or to be involved in a Chapel service, contact Chelsea Axford at spil@kuyper.edu or call (616) 988-3696.
Student Activities Club
Members of the Student Activities Club plan and organize all kinds of campus events. The committee sponsors an event once a month and aims to provide opportunities for social events that will build community at Kuyper College. For more information, contact Andrea Smith, Student Activities Club advisor at asmith@kuyper.edu or at (616) 988-3654.
Student Senate
Each year, a group of students is elected and appointed to serve as advocates for the student body as members of Student Senate. These representatives voice the concerns of students and address issues of vital importance to the entire college community. The result is often positive change and a better Kuyper College for everyone.
Members of Student Senate play an active role on a number of college committees in addition to taking on projects as a group. Representatives are elected and appointed from among all year levels (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) and from multicultural, off-campus, and international students.
To be eligible to serve on Student Senate, students must be full-time, plan to attend the College for the full year of their term, and be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.5 or higher). Students are eligible to serve as Chair of Student Senate only if they've previously served as a member of Student Senate for at least one year.
To learn more about becoming a campus leader through Student Senate, contact Cisco Gonzalez, Director of Student Life, at cgonzalez@kuyper.edu or at (616) 988-3702.
Yearbook Staff
Put your skills to work creating and publishing a book that will provide a wealth of memories to Kuyper College students. For more information, contact Andrea Smith at asmith@kuyper.edu or at (616) 988-3650.
Youth Ministry Club
Each month this group gathers together to encourage each other, learn something about youth ministry in the West Michigan area and have lots of fun doing it. Open to all youth ministry majors, minors, and volunteers! For more information, contact Professor Brian Telzerow at btelzerow@kuyper.edu.