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is not yet present. The // classes are added to so styling immediately reflects the current // toolbar state. The classes are removed after the toolbar completes // initialization. const classesToAdd = ['toolbar-loading', 'toolbar-anti-flicker']; if (toolbarState) { const { orientation, hasActiveTab, isFixed, activeTray, activeTabId, isOriented, userButtonMinWidth } = toolbarState; classesToAdd.push( orientation ? `toolbar-` + orientation + `` : 'toolbar-horizontal', ); if (hasActiveTab !== false) { classesToAdd.push('toolbar-tray-open'); } if (isFixed) { classesToAdd.push('toolbar-fixed'); } if (isOriented) { classesToAdd.push('toolbar-oriented'); } if (activeTray) { // These styles are added so the active tab/tray styles are present // immediately instead of "flickering" on as the toolbar initializes. In // instances where a tray is lazy loaded, these styles facilitate the // lazy loaded tray appearing gracefully and without reflow. const styleContent = ` .toolbar-loading #` + activeTabId + ` { background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) 20%, transparent 200%); } .toolbar-loading #` + activeTabId + `-tray { display: block; box-shadow: -1px 0 5px 2px rgb(0 0 0 / 33%); border-right: 1px solid #aaa; background-color: #f5f5f5; z-index: 0; } .toolbar-loading.toolbar-vertical.toolbar-tray-open #` + activeTabId + `-tray { width: 15rem; height: 100vh; } .toolbar-loading.toolbar-horizontal :not(#` + activeTray + `) > .toolbar-lining {opacity: 0}`; const style = document.createElement('style'); style.textContent = styleContent; style.setAttribute('data-toolbar-anti-flicker-loading', true); document.querySelector('head').appendChild(style); if (userButtonMinWidth) { const userButtonStyle = document.createElement('style'); userButtonStyle.textContent = `#toolbar-item-user {min-width: ` + userButtonMinWidth +`px;}` document.querySelector('head').appendChild(userButtonStyle); } } } document.querySelector('html').classList.add(...classesToAdd); })(); Vibrant Community - News & Stories | Â鶹Çø

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Spark

Vibrant Community

Wed, Apr 16, 2025
academics
Group of students in the Calvin Prison Initiative program with President Elzinga

A few months ago, many of us gathered in person or online to witness the inauguration of Calvin President Greg Elzinga. 

I had the privilege to work alongside Greg in the advancement division for seven years, and I can tell you firsthand how blessed the Calvin community is to have a leader like Greg serving our institution in this important way.

During the ceremony and in the weeks leading up to the event, it struck me again how vast and wide the Calvin community is. The week before the ceremony on our Knollcrest Campus, I was honored to attend a joint Commencement and inauguration ceremony with Calvin students at our Handlon Campus. Then on January 24, I sat in the Covenant Fine Arts Center with Greg’s family, longtime colleagues, students, and friends of Calvin to celebrate and support an esteemed coworker starting his new role. The array of people painted a beautiful picture of the many ways Calvin intersects with so many different communities.

I trust many share the notion that being in community is generally a good thing. I believe God created us, in part, to need one another. As alumni, our time at Calvin helped shape our picture of what it means to be in community. Participating in traditions like Chaos Night (or Day), jumping in the Sem Pond, Rivalry games, and musical and stage performances crafted core memories and lifelong bonds. If you’re like me, student life at Calvin made a profound impact.

Yet our community experiences are more than fond memories; they are still dynamic and alive today. In this edition of Spark, you’ll learn how professors and students from our kinesiology department interact with kids from the Grand Rapids community at summer Health Camp and with Grand Rapids fire fighters during injury prevention clinics. Calvin’s 53-year partnership with the local community of Umm Al-Jimal has culminated in the archaeological site’s new designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our Calvin community will soon gather to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025 as they officially become Calvin alumni and to reminisce with the Class of 1975 who, 50 years ago, celebrated their own Commencement.

We also look forward to formally launching Calvin’s 150th anniversary celebration this summer. Throughout the 2025–26 academic year, we invite you to join with our global community in celebrating God’s incredible blessings over a century and a half.

Wherever you are and whatever community God has called you to serve, I pray that you may join with those around you this Easter to celebrate the glory of our resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, and the assurance that brings.

Authors:

Mr. Jeff Haverdink
Executive Director of Alumni & Family Engagement
526-6142

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