A scholarship to Kuyper College can change your life, says Jordyn Carlson.
“I think I always knew that I was called to ministry,” the senior Ministry Leadership student told students, staff and friends of the College gathered in the Walters Dining Room in late October for Kuyper’s annual Scholarship Dinner. “But I tried to push that out of my mind for a long time.” And that calling was further derailed when, after graduating high school in 2020 and enrolling in community college, life handed her a series of distractions that included her mother being hospitalized with kidney failure.
“Something had to give and, unfortunately, that was my grades,” she said. After overcoming an academic suspension and finishing her associate degree, Carlson revisited the calling to ministry that had been tugging on her heart all the while, and she enrolled at Kuyper.
“The only barrier left was tuition. I prayed and I prayed, and I asked God to provide. Through scholarships from donors like you all, I have been able to attend Kuyper, so thank you,” she told the audience, her voice tinged with emotion.
A beautiful, unseasonably warm fall night was the perfect setting for the annual event, which gives the Kuyper community the opportunity to thank the kind individuals who help make it possible for many students to attend.
It is a time for scholarship recipients and donors, as well as Kuyper staff and board members, to share both a delicious meal and stories of God at work through Kuyper scholarships.
Dr. Patricia Harris, President of Kuyper College, was the first to welcome and thank attendees. “Students and guests, those of you who represent these illustrious scholarships, tonight is about you,” she said. “We’re so glad that you are here, because this is such a good way for you to connect with each other.”
After President Harris’ address and plenty of good conversation over dinner, attendees heard a financial update from Chief Advancement Officer Jim Steenbergen before Carlson and her fellow students Zamire Jackson and Corey Pritchett took to the microphone to share their stories.
Both Jackson and Pritchett echoed Carlson’s sentiments.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the scholarship donors and community members who have made it possible for students like me to pursue our dreams,” said Jackson. “Your generosity and support are truly appreciated.”
“Being here at Kuyper has blessed my life in ways I couldn’t have expected. Thank you for making this journey possible for me,” Pritchett added.
Throughout the night’s events, the sense that Kuyper is growing and helping students to build their lives on Christ’s firm foundation – thanks to the generous donations of those gathered in the room – was palpable.
Dr. Tim Howerzyl, assistant professor of theological studies and Graduate Program director, closed the evening with an appropriate prayer: “We thank You that You are doing a marvelous work in the lives of our students through the Holy Spirit, and we pray that you will bless Kuyper College this year and in the years to come.”
