Reunions / Events | Alumni Directory | DCAA Minutes | Alumni Gallery
Alumni Headline News
"The Denver Christian Alumni Association supports the mission of Denver Christian Schools and strengthens the sense of community among Denver Christian alumni” and has been quite active over the past 18 months. We have organized activities where alumni have been honored (Homecoming '08 and '09 as well as the First Annual Alumni Appreciation Night at a basketball game in January '09), established a system to recognize the contributions of alumni through the Distinguished Alumni Committee*, are coordinating the efforts of reunion committees, promoting the Denver Christian Foundation and assisting with the gathering data on alumni to better communicate with you.
*Distinguished Award recipients are recognized as having made significant contributions to their community, which may include professional achievement as well as church or community service activities which demonstrate their Christian faith commitment.”
Upcoming Events
Business Networking EventDo you belong to a Chamber of Commerce or some other Business Networking Group, and often wondered why Denver Christian doesn’t have a Business Networking Group? Wouldn’t you like to do business with someone you know or someone with like interests?
Looking to increase the visibility of your company? Got a new logo? Looking for a job? Looking for a plumber? Looking to redo your kitchen? Look no farther, your answer could be at the networking event. And, this event is FREE.
Well, it’s here!!!! The Denver Christian Alumni Committee is proud to announce the coming of the all new and exciting DC Alumni Business Networking Events to be held quarterly.
Bring your business cards, and a lot of them, and join us on Thursday, June 10, 2010, 4 pm – 7 pm. There will be food, beverages, and a lot of chatting going on.
If you are interested in hosting/sponsoring the next business networking event at your place of business, your home, or somewhere else please contact Kara Plender at kplender@wackenhut.g4s.com or 303-502-7104.
Act now as sponsorships are limited and will go fast! As an added bonus, each business will be given 15 minutes to pitch their company (presentation support will be made available)
Reunion Information
If you are a member of the Classes of 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 or 2000 and you have not received any information about your upcoming reunion, please contact Jerry Anema. If you are a member of the Classes of 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991 or 2001 and wish to be part of the reunion organizing committee for your class, please contact Jerry Anema. Jerry's e-mail address is jerrya@denver-christian.org
If you are on Facebook, please join the Denver Christian High School (DCHS) Alumni group.
JOB SEMINAR RECAP
January 19, 2010
On Tuesday, January 19, a Job Searching Seminar was sponsored by the Denver Christian Alumni Association and led by Steve Ribbens (Recruiter with Cooper Associates) and George Harris (Executive Director of Corporate Responsibility, GE Johnson Construction). 27 people attended and received tips on the job searching process as well as a perspective on what employers are looking for and ways to get positively noticed by employers. Ideas on improving resumes were given and a number of participants had their resumes individually critiqued. Specific recommendations about interviewing and networking were also shared.
“I just wanted to let you know that I attended the Job Search Seminar last night at Denver Christian HS. Steve Ribbens and George Harris are very experienced individuals in their field and provided a lot of good information and advice. It is nice that these men are believers and showed their faith and provided bible verses to look to as we go through this tough time. Thanks for extending the invitation!”
“Thank you very much for the information and opportunity tonight. I felt the session was timely, effective and beneficial.”
To get more involved with DC Alumni events like these sign up for the Alumni e-mail subscription HERE
or
Check out our facebook page HERE
Homecoming Week Recap - Fall 2009
All alumni that registered received free admission to the games and each winner received $20 dollar gift certificates compliments of Jimmy John's and the Mark & Julie Ham family.
The winners were: Emilie Wiersma '53, Don Lammers '80, Keaton DeNooy '08, Jim Pasterkamp '77,
Jill Newcombe '85, Julie McAskill-Bryant '88, Chris VandenBroeke '61, Cindy Hayes '87,
Rick Sjaardema '80, Molly Kurtz '01.
Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form Now Available
Graduates of Denver Christian have served the Lord in many ways since they graduated from high school, many going on to experience great success. A committee has been established to recognize and promote those Distinguished Alumni and are seeking nominations.
Click HERE to view/print a nomination form.
Coach Swalley Retirement Celebrations Scheduled
Mark Swalley has completed his football coaching career of 35 years (8 as an assistant and 27 as Head Coach) this past fall. We want to celebrate his career and thank him via public and private gatherings, the establishment of a scholarship in his name and a gift. Click HERE for details.
Join us in congratulating Mark!
2nd Sierra Leone Team Leaves to Continue Work
Did you know that DC graduate Darryl Velgerskyk ('76) and his son-in-law, Eric Cadman (married to Joy Velgersdyk('98)) left for Sierra Leone February 24? They plan to supervise the construction of the new water system planned by the December 2008 team. Please pray for safe travels and a successful misson as we continue to restore hope!
Click to visit the Sierra Leone Team page.
1st Annual Alumni Appreciation Night Success
On Tuesday, January 27th, Denver Christian Schools held it's first annual Alumni Apprectiation Night during the basketball games against Clear Creek. The evening offered free admission for all DCS alumni, DC logo gifts and a chance to participate in the free throw contest during halftime of the boy's varsity game. The evening provided a chance to reconnect with fellow alumni and teachers (past and present). It was also an opportunity to roam the halls and take in all the changes and improvements made to enrich student life at Denver Christian.
A wide range of classes were represented by the 36 alumni that signed the DCS Alumni Registration Form. Mr. Meindert Bosch '35 and Mrs. Terril Koops '55 were recognized as representing the two earliest classes in attendance. Tammy (Vaughn) LeFebre '84, Cindy (Baukema) Hayes '87, Jeff Lenderink '86, and Ian VanKooten '95 were all recognized as winners in the free throw contest and were awarded a DC logo baseball cap.
All that attended left with a renewed sense of pride and community.
Congratulations to Kris Payne (Class of 1994)
Congratulations to Kris Payne (’94) who has been selected fall semester outstanding graduate student in Metropolitan State University ‘s College of Arts and Sciences, Minneapolis, MN. Kris Payne will graduate December 16 with her master's degree in Technical Communication. Kris is currently a teaching and learning technologist at Luther Seminary, a Saint Paul higher-education institution offering masters and doctorate degrees in theology and Christian education. Previously, she was program coordinator for Luther Seminary’s graduate programs, and served as marketing manager for academic publishers. She graduated in 1998 from Luther College , Decorah , Iowa , where she majored in English, earned academic honors and was active in music and a literary arts publication.
Jon Van Gorp Named (Class of 1987) to Chicago's "40 Under 40" List
November 3, 2008 - Jon Van Gorp, a Finance partner in the Chicago office of the law firm, Mayer Brown LLP, has been named to the prestigious Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” list, which annually honors emerging leaders in Chicago’s business community, including President-elect Barak Obama as a past honoree. The list appeared in the November 3, 2008 issue of Crain’s Chicago Business.
Mr. Van Gorp concentrates his practice at Mayer Brown on structured finance transactions. He has experience financing virtually every type of financial asset. He is also highly experienced in the structuring and documentation of synthetic securitization and asset-backed derivative transactions. He holds several firm management and governance responsibilities, including coordinator of the firm’s Global Capital Markets Group, co-Chairman of the firm’s Chicago Recruiting Committee and co-Chairman of the firm’s Global Financial Markets Initiative.
“Mr. Van Gorp operates like an executive, moving beyond legal questions and offering strategic and tactical insight rare for a lawyer of his vintage,” the article states.
“Jon epitomizes the next generation of lawyers who represent the future of Mayer Brown,” said Chairman James D. Holzhauer. “We congratulate him on this well deserved honor.”
Mr. Van Gorp recently co-edited and authored a book titled “Credit Market & Subprime Distress: Responding to Legal Issues,” that will be published by the Practising Law Institute in mid November. The book provides authoritative insight into the legal, regulatory and procedural issues, challenges and reforms at the heart of the global financial market crisis.
“It is a privilege to be recognized alongside so many impressive and accomplished professionals,” Mr. Van Gorp said.
To view the full article, please click here.
For addition information on Mr. Van Gorp’s career, visit Mayer Brown's website.
(News Release courtesy of Mayer Brown).
The Crusader Connection Alumni Sign-Up Back!
If you have signed up already, you should have received an email with your DCS Website Alumni username and password. If you haven't signed up, please go to the Alumni Sign-up and join the Crusader Connection!
Class of 1998 Celebrates 10 Year Reunion
On Saturday, September 20, 2008, the class of 1998 reunited after ten years. Seventy-five classmates/spouses/children/significant others enjoyed a casual potluck and volleyball on a beautiful afternoon in Washington Park. They met again that evening at Forest Room Five restaurant for a more formal gathering. Classmates flew in from a variety of states including California, Washington, Arizona, and Georgia. Many still reside in Colorado or moved away and have returned. The class of 92 graduates hopes to impact society through the following careers they now represent: doctor, biologist, veterinarian, teacher, engineer, coach, city planner, nurse practitioner, waitress, mother, father, dentist, realtor, banker, electrician, nurse, and business owner.
DCHS Class of 1990 planning Reunion in 2010
It will be here before you know it! Contact Tracy (Vaughn) Schroder for more information or to help plan the reunion activities! Don't forget to sign-up on the Crusader Connection ALUMNI SIGN-UP page too!
Class of 1988 Celebrates 20 Years
This past August, the Denver Christian class of 1988 gathered for 20-year reunion celebration weekend. Thirty-seven members of our class from seven states and abroad, gathered during August 8, 9 and 10 with their spouses, friends and children for an absolutely amazing reunion! Our reunion began with a casual evening at the Copper Fox Pub. We had so much fun reconnecting, telling stories and laughing. We were blessed to be joined by Roger and Beth Posthumus and to enjoy reminiscing about the social studies, history and life lessons Mr. Posthumus taught us and continues to teach.
We regrouped at Mattie’s House of Mirrors in LoDo Saturday night for dinner and a silent auction featuring items donated by classmates that were meaningful to them over the past 20 years. Some of the items donated represented the entrepreneurial spirit of classmates that have started their own businesses. Other items reflected our various careers and interests (teaching, coaching, gardening, water sports, wine tasting, reading, music and more). Patrik Stridh, one of our two favorite Swedish foreign exchange students, assembled a collection of Swedish delicacies and Chris Meyer donated photography from his travels to
The evening was highlighted by the presence of just some of the amazing teachers and coaches we were fortunate to have during our years at Denver Christian. It was a joy to share memories with Burt Huiting, Coach “Van” (Ray Van Heukelem) and Coach Boer (Barb Landhuis). We were treated to an amazing DVD presentation prepared by Jim Howey featuring “then and now” photos and tricky trivia as well as some fantastic music assembled by Paula Rosales (Bean). The evening ended in laughter with Patrik Stridh sharing a very personal story about his assimilation into Western culture.
The kids, and even some of our parents, joined us to wrap up the weekend with a family picnic on Sunday. Susie Snow provided additional memories (and laughter) by digging out our elementary class pictures, middle school yearbooks and other memorabilia. It was fun to meet all of the kids and for our kids to meet each other. Many of us are still amazed at how the children of our class twins (Stephanie and Sandy Vane Lune) could also look so much alike!
Our class has been blessed and has witnessed the faithfulness of God in our lives since graduating from Denver Christian 20 years ago. This was an amazing reunion marked by true joy and absolute gratitude for the opportunity to be together as friends.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best.” Phillipians 1:9-10