In 1876, a seed was planted—small, hopeful, and rooted in a bold vision: to equip students to be beacons of Christ’s promise to renew all things. From that beginning, Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary have grown into thriving institutions that have shaped generations of leaders for service in every sector and sphere of life.
As Calvin celebrates its sesquicentennial, the milestone marks more than the passage of time. It commemorates a legacy of faith, formation, and far-reaching impact.
From Junior College to Global Influence
It began with one small institution—De Theologische School—a theological training school in Grand Rapids, Mich., that would take an initial seven students through six years of curriculum that incorporated literacy and theological training. This was the forebear of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary.
In 1884, the school expanded to admit aspiring teachers in addition to pastors in training. It expanded again in 1900 with the addition of pre-professional courses. By 1906, the literary department, which provided four years of preparatory classes and two years of college work, became known officially as the John Calvin Junior College, a separate entity from Calvin Theological Seminary. And in 1931, Calvin College (now University) was officially launched as a four-year college.
Today, more than 60,000 Calvin alumni serve as ambassadors of reconciliation and renewal around the world—from classrooms to courtrooms, sanctuaries to scientific labs, local communities to global mission fields.
This expansive impact stems from a deeply rooted, Christ-centered community. It’s a place where faith and learning are inseparable, where professors know their students by name, and where relationships are the crucible for transformation.
“Our staff and faculty love Jesus, and out of the overflow of their hearts, their lives, and their mouths speak,” said Rev. Mary Hulst, Calvin class of 1991 and university pastor. “They could go anywhere, and some have standing job offers from other big places, but they say, ‘I couldn’t do there what I get to do here.’”
The Power of Relationships
The Calvin story is one of community—of lives changed by intentional mentoring, faith conversations, and transformational relationships. Hulst’s story intertwines with the stories of those she now mentors, just as she was once mentored.
Levi Carr, a 2024 graduate, recalls being a skeptical Christian when he first came to Calvin. He found in Hulst a trusted guide through his questions.
“At the beginning of my Calvin education, I was kind of a doubtful or skeptical Christian,” Carr said. “And so that’s when I came to Pastor Mary as a mentor or as a teacher, someone who could answer some of the really tough questions I had.”
That mentorship became a regular conversation grounded in deep inquiry and faith formation. “We started meeting his sophomore year, reading Mere Christianity, and discussing big questions,” said Hulst. “That was a transformative time in his life—and mine.”
These kinds of relationships are the heart of Calvin. They ripple across generations and roles, continuing long after graduation.
Mentors Who Make a Difference
Hulst reflects on those who shaped her own journey at Calvin: Nancy Meyer, her swimming coach and the only female professor she had during her time as a student; Dale Cooper, her chaplain and professor who encouraged her to teach a class as a sophomore; and Ken Bratt, a Classics professor whose infectious curiosity helped redirect her academic path.
“Nancy was a professional, an educator, and a coach, and I got to see how she did life,” Hulst said. “Later, she was in my parish church, and I became her pastor. Now we’re neighbors. That relationship started in 1987 and has lasted a lifetime.”
For Meyer, the relationship was mutual. “I remember meeting Mary at the coffee shop when she started asking me pastoral questions,” Meyer said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘I’m the coach, you’re the student,’ but that wasn’t true anymore.”
For Bratt, Hulst’s journey from student to chaplain was a joy to witness. “She was brilliant and fun-loving as a student,” he said. “And I was delighted to share the last 20 years of my career with her as our chaplain.”
These bonds are a part of what makes Calvin unique: a culture of deep care rooted in the love of Christ, passed from mentor to student, and repeated again and again.
A Legacy Passed Down
That legacy of mentoring has always been part of Calvin’s fabric. Bratt remembers the moment a professor changed his life. “Robert Otten pulled me aside and said, ‘I think you should consider college teaching.’ That one conversation changed everything for me.”
Meyer echoes that experience: “Lori Hageman was my softball coach in our first varsity season. She didn’t know much about softball, but she knew how to build community. I modeled her example when I was hired at age 23 to coach swimming and tennis. I didn’t know those sports either—but I knew how to build a team.”
From coach to student, professor to chaplain, questions of faith to vocational clarity—this is the way of Calvin.
More Than a Milestone
As Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary reflect on 150 years of Christian education, the celebration is not only about historic milestones—it’s about enduring mission.
That mission is alive in every classroom and chapel, every lab and dorm room, every alumni story and student journey. It’s in the ways students are invited to think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal.
“I’ve had a front-row seat in an educational community that takes its faith seriously and takes its people seriously,” said Cooper. “Some of my best teachers weren’t paid to teach—but they shaped me. And this community has shaped me.”
A Future Rooted in Faith
As Calvin looks to the future, the commitment remains the same: to form hearts and minds that are equipped not just with knowledge, but with wisdom; not just for success, but for service.
Because 150 years later, Calvin still believes what it always has: that God is always up to something and that the best thing we can do is bear witness, together.
Happy 150th, Calvin. Here's to the generations shaped, the stories written, and the renewal still to come.
Join the Celebration
Check the calvin.edu/150 website for details on many events going on at Calvin throughout the anniversary year including:
- Calvin on the Road events: We’re bringing the celebration to you! Throughout the anniversary year, Calvin will be visiting 30 cities across the USA and Canada. We’d love to see you! For a full list of locations and dates, visit calvin.edu/150.
- Anniversary Worship Celebration: Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 29, 2026, and join us at the Calvin University Covenant Fine Arts Center, or via livestream, for community worship.
- 150th Anniversary Hymn Text Contest: In celebration of Calvin University and Seminary’s 150th Anniversary, the worship service planning committee invites hymnwriters to submit a hymn text to be sung at the worship service. The winner of this contest will receive a $1,500 award. Submissions must be sent via email by Nov. 1, 2025. Find all the rules at calvin.edu/150.
About the Author
Matt Kucinski is media relations manager at Calvin University.