Kuyper Celebrates 85 Years at Spring Gala
Dr. Anthony Bradley presented a seemingly simple statement to students, staff, faculty and friends of Kuyper College gathered at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in mid-April for the 2024 Spring Celebration Gala.
Looking around the room, he said: “What if I told you there was a college that wasn’t merely giving lip service to its Christian mission but was actually living it, day in and day out.”
The College, of course, is Kuyper, and Bradley, keynote speaker for the night and Kuyper’s Research Professor of Interdisciplinary and Theological Studies, knows that full well.
As he nears the end of his first year at the College, Bradley told those gathered to celebrate that Kuyper has an 85-year track record of living out its mission in deep and tangible ways.
Indeed, the theme for the 2023-24 academic year, “A Life of Service,” sums up the College’s history and that theme also was woven throughout the events of the 2024 gala.
The evening began with many familiar Kuyper faces, including President Patricia Harris; Nathan Slauer, Manager of the Annual Fund and Alumni Relations; and Jim Steenbergen, Chief Advancement Officer, all ready to greet guests with a smile on an unseasonably warm spring night.
Before dinner, guests had the opportunity to experience an exclusive viewing of the breathtaking Butterflies are Blooming exhibit, while former students and faculty reconnected over hors d’oeuvres at the Alumni Reception, and friends gathered at the Sponsor Reception.
After finding their seats, attendees enjoyed words of welcome and an address from President Harris, Dr. Bradley’s keynote speech and a financial update from Steenbergen as they shared lively conversations and a delicious meal.
“This is the most splendid night I can remember that we’ve ever had for our Spring Celebration Gala,” President Harris said with a smile. “We are here to celebrate 85 years of God’s faithfulness.”
Another important piece of the Gala’s events was the presentation of the Kuyper Service Award, which is given each year to a recipient or recipients who have exhibited the spirit and work of the College’s mission statement through lifelong service.
Whether those honored are faculty, alumni or friends of the College, they all have demonstrated a dedicated vision and commitment to sharing the love, hope and Word of Christ throughout His creation.
“By accepting this award, the recipients set an example of dedication and humility in service that encourages all of us within the Kuyper College community,” remarked President Harris, who conferred the award that night.
This year, the Kuyper Service Award was presented to Dr. Nicolas and Rev. Gloria Kroeze who, during Dr. Kroeze’s 22 years as President of Kuyper College and beyond, have truly lived lives of faithful service.
“We receive this award, not so much as an affirmation of anything we have done, but as an additional prayer reminder for us to embrace even more strongly the mission and people of Kuyper College, that God may bless her and strengthen her toward the future,” Dr. Kroeze said, smiling.
“I, along with Nick, thank you for the honor of this award. I have had the great privilege of doing this life journey with him, and it’s been amazing,” Rev. Kroeze added. “It has entailed living in different places, growing a family and always being surprised by what’s happening next. I feel blessed.”
Finally, Steenbergen thanked guests for attending the Gala and for the generosity of any gifts made to the College that night, before the events closed with a beautiful rendition of the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision.”
