Admissions

Finding the right college for you is more than meeting your Admissions counselor, or requesting information online. Kuyper College is the place to be for students who are interested in a well-rounded and comprehensive biblical and academic college experience. Moreover, it's the place to be for the kind of energizing, inspiring education that prepares the whole person-spirit, heart, and intellect-for the challenges of daily living and for service as an ambassador of Christ no matter what career path a student travels.

Kuyper provides TheKee—The Kuyper Education Experience —made up of seven foundational elements that help students to better understand themselves, the wider world, and the world's need for Christian leaders. TheKee starts with our commitment to encouraging students' spiritual formation and understanding and applying the richness of a biblical worldview. It adds a wide variety of professional majors that integrate academic instruction with biblical knowledge.  It is experienced in small classes taught  by a nationally known faculty with a 1:15 faculty to student ratio. It enhances the richness of that learning with outstanding and varied field-education and internship opportunities that are not only life-changing, they're world-changing. It also promotes diversity on our campus, and finally, it makes it all very affordable through our Cost Reduction Program.

We encourage students to draw strength from relationship with God, each other, their professors, and the entire staff and faculty. That Kuyper community provides a fundamentally unique touchstone for students as they discover their gifts and a sense of purpose. The staff of the Admissions Office is pleased to play in important role in creating a fulfilling educational experience that's as individual as each student.

If you're considering attending Kuyper College, get to know one of our Admissions counselors. They'll gladly answer your questions, help you through the application process, connect you with professors or staff members in other departments, and even serve as personal coaches once you enroll.

Meet the Admissions Team

Our Admissions counselors are ready to help all students applying to Kuyper. When you inform the College of your interest, a counselor will be assigned to assist you with all aspects of the application process. He or she will get to know your unique situation and treat you as an individual, not a number.

Larissa Lighthiser
Vice President for Enrollment
B.A., Political Science, Dordt College, 1996
(616) 988-3695
llighthiser@kuyper.edu 

Larissa joined the staff of Kuyper College in 2004, bringing with her years of experience as an admissions counselor and associate director at Dordt College. After several years experience in retail management, Larissa found that her passion for higher education called her back to her first love, working in the college admissions arena.  As VP for Enrollment, she encourages and empowers her staff to develop and implement successful and relational recruitment strategies for the college. 

"Every day at Kuyper College, both in and out of the classroom, we are challenged to engage the culture in ways that meet people where they are in life while making an impact as a reflection of Christ.  In my career it has been my passion to give students a vision of what God desires for their lives and careers in carrying out this mission."  

In the summertime, Larissa can often be found at the beach enjoying the sunshine and a good book, but the fall in West Michigan is her favorite time of year.  She is active in her church, Madison Square, on the praise team and with efforts for racial reconciliation. 

Ann Essenburg
Admissions Counselor/Campus Visit Coordinator
B.S., Communication Arts, Kuyper College, 2006
(616) 988-3631
aessenburg@kuyper.edu 

Ann joined the Admissions Office at Kuyper College as an admissions counselor in August of 2004. Prior to that time, while a student at the College, she worked in the Admissions Office for two years. Ann helps students by guiding them through the college selection and application process. As the Campus Visit coordinator, Ann oversees the planning and execution of all scheduled campus visits. While a student at Kuyper, Ann was actively involved in the Student Activities Committee and with Student Life.

In speaking about her position, Ann says "I love talking with future students and helping them to discern God's will for their lives. We are excited about the many wonderful things that God is doing on our campus and I encourage students to come check us out and see what being part of the Kuyper College family is like."

Ann grew up in Grand Rapids and still lives in the city with her husband, Curt, who is also a graduate of Kuyper College. In her spare time Ann enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Kate Klemp
Admissions Counselor
B.A., Public Relations, Western Michigan University, 1999
(616) 988-3684
kklemp@kuyper.edu  

One of the main reasons Kate Klemp joined the Kuyper College admissions staff is because of her commitment to helping in the development of students for leadership positions and directing young people into ministry. Kate has her own history of student leadership and development, as a result of her previous experience as the Youth Ministry Director and Neighborhood Liaison for Trinity Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During her six years in youth and community development, Kate also was an integral part of the Synod of the Great Lakes Youth Ministry Team for the Reformed Church in America and TASC Mission Director for the Synod. As director of the TASC Mission program, Klemp developed two sites in Brooklyn, New York and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in addition to the existing program in Neon, Kentucky for training high school and middle school age students in mission, ministry and church leadership.

"When I look at the next generation, I am hopeful for the fufillment of God's kingdom here on earth. It is these students that God will use to make it happen. By connecting with God's call on their lives, these students are the  thread that holds heaven and earth, the now and the not yet, together. It is a privilege to be part of their discernment process."

Kate Klemp is a native of Grand Rapids and lives on the Westside of town. In her free time, she enjoys nature and tries to get outside to play as much as possible. If there is a way to combine the outdoors with reading, she's up for that as well. But most days she relaxes, practices her yoga and cooks for herself and her best friend Mat.

Wesley Morgan
Admissions Counselor
B.A., Movement Science/Elementary Education, Grand Valley State University, 2004
(616) 988-3645
wmorgan@kuyper.edu 

Wesley joined Kuyper College in May of 2006. His main focus is to provide students with advice while helping them understand all the issues associated with choosing a college. He is also a motivational speaker who gives insight on life both naturally and spiritually.  One of his passions in life is to help teens to build assets that they need to live productive, healthy and independent lives, which hopefully may lead them to a college education at Kuyper.

"My life mission is to be a believer after God's own heart and deposit a seed into every soul that I come in contact with. God has blessed me with a job where I can help young adults make wise decisions while furthering their education while encouraging them to see God through their actions. Allowing God to use me to guide students to Kuyper College is a blessing for which I am truly grateful."

Wesley's hobbies include playing the drums, basketball and traveling. With his wife Artina he attends Grace for the Nations church in Grand Rapids, where he serves as a Youth Team Leader, Attendant and Minister in Training.

Paulette Cancler
Admissions Assistant
Certificate in Secretarial Science Apprenticeship, Integrated Benefit Strategies, 1994
Cosmetology, Jordan College, 1988
(616) 988-3621
pcancler@kuyper.edu 

Paulette joined the staff at Kuyper College in May 2001.  She is responsible for the day-to-day operations in the Admissions Department. She is actively engaged in the database and reporting systems as well as working with prospective students.  Before Paulette entered the world of Administration, she worked for many years as a Cosmetologist. She began her professional administrative career by working with several Grand Rapids ministries including Project Rehab, Madison Square Church and the Guiding Light Mission.

Paulette has a passion for being a prayer warrior and a bridge builder, and through that God has enabled her to show others how to freely embrace our cultural differences in a positive way.  "I have no doubt in my mind that Kuyper College is where I am called to be. My job here goes well beyond admissions.  God continues to use my understanding of cultural diversity as a bridge building tool that helps students, faculty, staff, and prospective students be a stronger community."

Paulette is married and has three children and three grandchildren. She has been a member of Madison Square Church for 17 years. Outside of the world of admissions, Paulette enjoys spending time with her family.  She often invites Kuyper students from different cultural backgrounds to her home for ethnic cookouts so they can grow and learn from each other.