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How a Bank of America Internship Changed the Way Pauline Lu Thinks About Technology

ag64@calvin.edu — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:28:00 +0000

How a Bank of America Internship Changed the Way Pauline Lu Thinks About Technology ag64@calvin.edu Thu, 08/20/2026 - 16:28

As a Business Analyst Intern at Bank of America, Pauline Lu spends her days helping one of the world's largest financial institutions navigate the complex relationship between people, processes, and technology. It is work that requires both analytical rigor and human understanding. For Pauline, those two strengths have become inseparable.

When she first arrived at 51��, she was looking for an education that would allow her to connect seemingly different interests. Drawn to computer science, entrepreneurship, and philosophy, she wanted to understand not only how technology works but also how it shapes organizations and influences the people who use it.

Today, she is applying that interdisciplinary perspective in a professional setting.

Technology Starts with Trust

Like many students interested in technology, Pauline entered the role expecting innovation to be primarily about building products and creating new solutions. Instead, she discovered something deeper.

"People have to trust a tool or product before they'll actually rely on it," she explains. "It's not just about adoption. It's about user confidence."

That realization completely changed how she thinks about technology. Rather than measuring success solely by functionality, she began paying attention to the systems that surround a product: how users interact with it, how teams support it, and whether the solution can scale effectively over time. The experience pushed her toward systems thinking, helping her see how individual decisions ripple across an organization.

Seeing the Bigger System

Many of the lessons she encountered during her internship connected with ideas she had already been exploring in the classroom. Classes in design thinking, entrepreneurship, finance, and software engineering gave Pauline opportunities to approach problems from different angles and work across both technical and business contexts.

More importantly, they taught her how to translate ideas between different groups of people, bridging conversations among stakeholders, developers, and end users.

Pauline was also struck by the scale of a global financial institution. The complexity of the teams, processes, and systems revealed just how important communication can be in a large organization. Yet one of the biggest surprises was how often success depended on asking thoughtful questions.

"So much of the work came down to requirements gathering," Pauline says. "You have to ask the right questions to stakeholders to figure out what they actually need."

She started to understand that problem-solving begins long before a solution is proposed. Effective business analysts uncover the real challenges beneath the surface and consider multiple perspectives before determining a path forward.

Technology with a Purpose

The approach also connects with how Pauline views her calling and purpose. Studying philosophy alongside technical and business disciplines has encouraged her to think critically about the broader impact of technology while remaining committed to serving others. Her faith has reinforced the importance of empathy, stewardship, and seeking solutions that genuinely benefit people rather than simply advancing innovation for its own sake.

As she looks toward graduation, Pauline is focused on a career where she can use technology to solve problems that matter. Her internship reinforced a belief that has shaped her college experience: technology is most effective when it begins with an understanding of the people it is meant to serve.

Thursday, August 20, 2026 - 12:00

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From Classroom to Career: Business Students Put Learning to Work

ag64@calvin.edu — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:59:22 +0000

From Classroom to Career: Business Students Put Learning to Work ag64@calvin.edu Fri, 07/24/2026 - 11:59

This National Intern Day, 51�� School of Business is celebrating students who are putting their classroom learning to work in real-world settings. Through their internships, they are solving problems, working alongside professionals, and seeing what professional work looks like day to day.

An internship is often the first time classroom learning comes to life. A business analytics project becomes a dashboard used by decision-makers. A classroom discussion about leadership becomes a conversation with a supervisor.

Employers recognize the value of those experiences, too. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), internship experience consistently ranks among the most important qualifications employers consider when evaluating candidates.

The following four stories offer a glimpse of how 51�� business students are putting their learning to work this summer in project management, human resources, banking, and digital operations.

Reeja Nyachhyon: Managing the moving pieces

Reeja Nyachhyon ’27 is working as a project management intern at Vervint. In her role, she serves as the day-to-day project manager on internal and client engagements. She is also building PMO reporting and dashboards in Power BI and Azure DevOps, contributing to live client work, and supporting cross-functional projects.

The internship has shown her that project management is not only about a well-built plan. It is about momentum, follow-through, and people.

“Projects don’t move because the plan is good; they move because everybody is doing the work every day,” Nyachhyon said.

Vanessa Ortega Tierrablanca: Seeing Human Resource Management from the Inside

Vanessa Ortega Tierrablanca ’26 is a human resource business partner operations intern at Haworth. She supports employee relations, answers attendance and policy questions, helps coordinate employee events and volunteer initiatives, and works on HR projects tied to manufacturing operations.

Her biggest takeaway so far has been the importance of communication. In HR, she has learned, there is no single script that fits every situation.

“One of the most valuable things I’ve learned is how important communication is in HR,” Ortega Tierrablanca said. “Every situation is different, and I’ve learned how to communicate professionally while still being approachable and supportive.”

Drew Wood: Learning the Reach of Human Resources

Human resource management and Spanish major Drew Wood ’27 is gaining broad human resource management experience at Mercantile Bank. His work includes employee benefits, interviews, orientation, and other projects that touch many parts of the employee experience.

Wood has been surprised by the amount of trust placed in him and by how much his work can matter to people across the company. The lesson that keeps surfacing is the importance of communication.

“Everything I’ve worked on can in some way have a positive impact on someone else if I just communicate what I’m doing,” Wood said.

Eli Westra: Understanding Banking as a Team Effort

Finance major Eli Westra ’27 is a digital payments and operations intern at Mercantile Bank. His work includes online banking services such as wire transfers, ACH processing, customer online bill pay, and related digital banking operations.

The internship has helped him understand how many departments contribute to a customer’s banking experience.

“Without good collaboration between departments, customers will not experience the best banking they can,” Westra said.

Classroom Learning to Workplace Application

For these students, internships are not a pause from learning. They are where classroom concepts become real work, giving students a clearer sense of how their skills can serve people, teams and organizations.

Thursday, July 30, 2026 - 12:00

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Where Marketing Meets Public Health: Mesa Tsurho’s Unconventional Path

ag64@calvin.edu — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:34:37 +0000

Where Marketing Meets Public Health: Mesa Tsurho’s Unconventional Path ag64@calvin.edu Thu, 05/14/2026 - 12:34

Mesa Tsurho didn’t arrive at 51�� planning to unite marketing and public health. But once the connection emerged, it made perfect sense.

In a strategic management class with Professor Peter Snyder, Mesa found herself drawing on psychological concepts from her public health coursework to strengthen a business project. Two interests that once seemed separate began to feel like parts of the same calling. Marketing offered the tools of strategy and communication; public health supplied the human focus. Together, they opened up a vision for how organizations can serve people more effectively and help build healthier communities.

That sense of integration wasn’t limited to the classroom. For Mesa, it also shaped her experience of 51��’s community.

“I noticed that a lot of the professors are very integrated into the 51�� community,” Mesa said. “Advisors, on-campus supervisors, and professors always attended Dance Guild and Rangeela performances. The 51�� community shows up for its students.”

That kind of support gave Mesa room to grow, not only as a student, but as a communicator and emerging professional.

Learning the Work by Doing the Work

Mesa began working with 51��’s marketing team through simple TikTok projects and social media ambassador assignments. Before long, her role expanded into something more substantial. She helped build content calendars, volunteered at major events like Homecoming, and saw firsthand how storytelling, timing, and audience awareness come together in institutional marketing.

As her experience deepened, so did her responsibilities. She contributed to 51��’s social media presence and eventually managed the Instagram account for Knight4Life, the student alumni association. What she gained wasn’t only technical experience. She also learned how organizations speak to different audiences, how messaging supports larger goals, and how strong communication can turn abstract strategy into something people actually feel and remember.

A Broader Sense of Calling

Mesa’s interest in health care has deep roots. Her parents worked in mission hospitals, giving her an early glimpse of both compassionate care and the practical systems needed to sustain it. That dual awareness, service on one hand and organizational thinking on the other, would later echo in her own academic path.

At 51��, that vision was sharpened by mentors who treated vocation as something more than a slogan. Mesa saw it in professors who invested in students beyond class time and paid attention to the interests taking shape in their lives.

“The professors are motivated by vocation and a sense of calling,” Mesa said.

For her, that wasn’t an abstract idea. It showed up in tangible ways: faculty attending performances, encouraging students’ interests, and helping turn possibility into action through introductions, affirmation, and practical next steps.

The Next Chapter

Now, just after graduation, Mesa is already carrying that momentum forward. She has accepted a position at Massachusetts General Hospital as a clinical research coordinator and plans to pursue graduate study in both business administration and health administration.

It’s a fitting next step for someone whose college experience was defined by connection: between disciplines, between strategy and service, and between personal ambition and a larger sense of purpose. What once seemed like an unlikely pairing now feels like the foundation of a meaningful career.

Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 12:00

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Honoring the Class of 2026: Excellent, Engaged, and Faithful

ag64@calvin.edu — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:50:56 +0000

Honoring the Class of 2026: Excellent, Engaged, and Faithful ag64@calvin.edu Fri, 05/08/2026 - 09:50

Honoring the Class of 2026: Excellent, Engaged, and Faithful

It’s celebration time! Last night, the School of Business honored its senior class at the annual Senior Salute. Over a casual dinner, students and professors shared conversation, expressed gratitude, and marked one final evening together before commencement on Saturday.

During the event, we presented the 2026 Excellent, Engaged, and Faithful Awards. These awards honor graduating business seniors whose academic achievement, wholehearted involvement, and faith-informed character will leave a lasting impression well beyond graduation.

The Excellent Award recognizes top academic achievement within each business major, determined by cumulative GPA.

Accounting

Gavin Anderson
Joel Hoekwater
Michael Morris
Hans Pruis
Carter Sacks
Megan Vanderwal

Business Analytics

Seth Buit

Entrepreneurship

Ellie Batts
Melissa Scholten

Finance

Hans Pruis
Carter Sacks
Josh Stob

Financial Planning

Gavin Anderson
Peter DeKruyter

Human Resource Management

Oyintariebi Gbeworo
Hannah Williams

Marketing

Ellie Batts
Janae DeLong
Melissa Scholten

Operations & Supply Chain Management
Samuel Cho
Damon Haveman

The Engaged Award honors students who invest deeply in learning through teamwork, leadership, student organizations, internships, and service in the community and church.

Ellie Batts
Keegan Hall
Melissa Scholten
Peter DeKruyter

The Faithful Award recognizes students known for integrity, dependability, and a desire to model Christ in their lives and work.

Joel Hoekwater
Anton Gill
Jeremiah Joseph
Hannah Williams

Friday, May 8, 2026 - 12:00

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Vermeer Corporation and the Andringa Family Earn 51��’s Prestigious Business Partner Awards

ag64@calvin.edu — Tue, 05 May 2026 20:48:46 +0000

Vermeer Corporation and the Andringa Family Earn 51��’s Prestigious Business Partner Awards ag64@calvin.edu Tue, 05/05/2026 - 16:48

The 2026 51�� Business Partners Awards Luncheon was an event of gratitude and celebration as we recognized Vermeer Corporation as our Corporate Partner of the Year, and Mary and Dale Andringa as our Business Partners of the Year.

“All top-tier business schools have business partners, but few have partners as transformative as Vermeer and the Andringa family” said School of Business Dean Jim Ludema. “They helped fund our new state-of-the-art building, and they support multiple scholarships, speak in our classes, mentor our students, host capstone projects and internships, and hire our graduates. The Vermeer Scholarship in Global Supply Chain Management supports our Global Supply Chain Practicum, an international experience that allows students to engage firsthand the complex dynamics of the global supply chain. The practicum also introduces students to Vermeer’s expansive global operations and their remarkable company culture based on Christian principles. Vermeer and the Andringas are highly deserving of these awards.”

About Vermeer

The Vermeer Corporation is headquartered in Pella, IA, and was founded in 1948 by Gary Vermeer, Mary Andringa’s father. It has since grown into a leading manufacturer of industrial and agricultural equipment with operations in dozens of countries around the world. It manufactures equipment for underground utility installation, tree care, landscaping, recycling and environmental, surface mining, and agriculture.

Vermeer is a family-owned business with a strong culture of innovation and excellence built on its 4P philosophy (principles, people, product, profit), principles that are tightly connected to the family’s Christian faith.

Currently, Vermeer is led by CEO Jason Andringa and Vice President of Operations, Mindi VandenBosch, both third-generation family members and Mary and Dale’s son and daughter. Dale, Mary, Jason, and Mindi are all 51�� alumni, as are many other leaders at Vermeer.

With Jason and Mindi travelling internationally, the Corporate Partner of the Year Award was received by Danny and Mia Andringa, who are both current 51�� students and are Jason and Carrie Andringa’s son and daughter.

About Mary and Dale

Mary and Dale Andringa were selected as 51�� Business Partners of the Year for their longstanding commitment to 51�� through philanthropy, student engagement, and steady guidance as the 51�� School of Business has grown over the past five years. Their support of the operations and supply chain management program has helped it grow from the ground up to 150 students in just three years.

Mary is widely recognized for her leadership in the manufacturing sector, helping guide the Vermeer Corporation through third- and fourth-generation family ownership while opening doors for women in the industry. She was the first woman to chair the National Association of Manufacturers and was inducted into the IndustryWeek and the Equipment Manufacturers Halls of Fame.

Dale is a retired physician who held key leadership roles in physician organizations, health systems, and the health insurance industry for more than 40 years. He continues to serve through nonprofit board involvement and brings a deep commitment to principled leadership and community flourishing.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - 12:00

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From Breakfast to Breakouts: David Terpstra Steps into the Industry Conversation

ag64@calvin.edu — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:53:37 +0000

From Breakfast to Breakouts: David Terpstra Steps into the Industry Conversation ag64@calvin.edu Mon, 05/04/2026 - 12:53

Monday, May 4, 2026 - 12:00

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From Breakfast to Breakouts: David Terpstra Steps into the Industry Conversation

By 8 a.m., senior David Terpstra was already in line for breakfast, surrounded by other 51�� business students and gearing up for his first supply chain management conference. The day unfolded in a steady rhythm: a keynote, breaks to visit company displays, and breakout sessions where attendees chose which room to head to next.

Terpstra didn’t arrive at 51�� planning to major in supply chain. He started in finance, moved to marketing, and added supply chain when he realized he could still graduate on time. “I’ve actually just fallen in love with the supply chain program,” he said, pointing to discussion-driven classes that push students to think on their feet.

Seeing the tools shaping the field

The keynote speaker tackled artificial intelligence. Terpstra expected the usual warnings, but the message was more nuanced: AI is less a replacement than an addition, much like computers were a generation ago. The proof was practical. The presenter’s slides, images included, had been made with AI the day before.

From concept to factory floor: on one screen

During breaks, Terpstra and classmates stopped at displays from a range of companies. One idea he returned to was the “digital twin,” a way to map an entire process from the earliest concept through manufacturing. In his words, it lets you zoom into each stage and then “fall backwards” to see the whole system end-to-end. He’d heard of the concept before, but at the conference he saw how organizations use it to train employees faster and build more efficient operations.

The learning continued during breaks

Terpstra joined a breakout session with Steelcase on environmentally friendly processes and the company’s push toward zero carbon emissions. It was one example of how supply chain decisions connect to long-term stewardship. He also found value in the conversations during breaks. “It was a full day,” he said. Still, it kept paying off in small ways. Talking with a classmate about jobs, life, and their shared class project, he said, made them more comfortable working together and set their team up for success back on campus.

A people-centered view of supply chain

The conference left him with confidence about the industry he’s entering, especially after hearing how companies are approaching new technology, sustainability, and end-to-end systems thinking. “We’re in it together,” he said. “Every person adds some kind of value to the supply chain process… we need each other to move forward in the economy that we live in.”

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From Pitch to Prize: 51�� Startup Garage Shines at MWest Challenge

ag64@calvin.edu — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:27:06 +0000

From Pitch to Prize: 51�� Startup Garage Shines at MWest Challenge ag64@calvin.edu Fri, 04/17/2026 - 15:27

From Pitch to Prize: 51�� Startup Garage Shines at MWest Challenge

51�� Startup Garage entrepreneurs took home several wins in the 2026 MWest Challenge. The annual pitch event is a student entrepreneurship competition including several colleges and universities from West Michigan. Entrepreneurially-minded students work individually or in teams, develop new business concepts, and pitch their ideas to the community and a panel of judges.

Ose Aisuodione-Shadrach and Rue Getahun built Poros, an AI-powered app that researches job opportunities and streamlines the application process. They placed third in the final round and won $1,500.

Jayden Bylsma created Stillmate, a purpose-built tool that deep-cleans window sills, tracks, and grooves in seconds. He placed first in his group and won $1,000.

Addison Deppe created Adaptive Strength, an online platform that delivers customized workout videos for any body, ability, or mobility level.

Emeka Anayo-Ezikeoha and Paul Kumswa built Way_BACK!, a campus app that manages lost-and-found inventory and monetizes unclaimed items. The team placed third and won $500.

Daniel Rua and Sarah Bradley pitched Jobs Arena, a temp agency concept that connects workers and employers for flexible, short micro-shifts.

51�� Startup Garage is a 2-credit practicum open to any 51�� student with a business idea they’re ready to bring to life. Throughout the semester, students receive hands-on support through weekly speakers, workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and access to the broader Startup Garage entrepreneurial community. Each student also receives funding to help cover early startup costs.

Friday, April 17, 2026 - 12:00

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Five Years In: 51�� School of Business Builds Leaders Grounded in Christian Liberal Arts

ag64@calvin.edu — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:09:14 +0000

Five Years In: 51�� School of Business Builds Leaders Grounded in Christian Liberal Arts ag64@calvin.edu Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:09

This month marks five years since 51�� broke ground on a state-of-the-art facility built to equip business leaders and entrepreneurs as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. In the years since, the 51�� School of Business (CUSB) has translated that vision into measurable momentum—growing student demand, expanding programs, and deepening outcomes that extend well beyond bricks and mortar.

Since 2022, enrollment has grown 64 percent, from 532 to 870 students—growth that stands out at a time when many colleges and universities are seeing steep declines. That growth reflects both student interest and the school’s commitment to building clear pathways from classroom learning to real-world impact.

Academic programs
Five new academic programs have been launched or redesigned to meet student and market demand, complementing existing strengths in Accounting, Finance, Financial Planning, Human Resources Management, and Marketing.

New majors: Operations and Supply Chain Management; Business Analytics; Entrepreneurship.
Graduate program: A redesigned MBA focused on leadership and innovation.
Curriculum: New courses in AI and business.

Co-curricular programs
Five new co-curricular programs were launched to help students start businesses, develop leadership skills, network with the business community, and prepare for fulfilling careers. These programs complement existing student organizations like the HR Club, Knight Investment Management (KIM), the Marketing Club, Nexus Peer Financial Coaching, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and the Women’s Business Network.

Entrepreneurship: 51�� Startup Garage, which helps students start and scale thriving redemptive businesses.
Professional community: The Accounting Club; the Supply Chain Management Association; International Business Student Club.
Career readiness: The Student Professional Development Program.
Student leadership: The Student Leadership Council, which partners with the dean, department chairs, and faculty to support the long-term health and vitality of the CUSB.

Donors and 51�� alumni have been tremendously supportive, contributing more than $4.5 million and establishing five new named or endowed scholarships to help make a CUSB education accessible and affordable. In total, business students are now supported by 122 named or endowed scholarships with a value of nearly $445,000 annually.

The school has added or replaced nine faculty members with significant business experience and strong academic training, bringing more than 100 years of experience across fields like investment banking and supply chain management. That expertise shapes what students learn and how they tackle real business problems, while faculty scholarship continues to gain momentum through increased quality and quantity of publications along with initiatives including the Award for Scholarship and Christianity in Business and the Faith in Business author series.

“The numbers are exciting, but they only tell a fraction of the story,” said School of Business Dean Jim Ludema. “People love hiring 51�� business grads because, at 51��, they receive a world-class business education combined with the Christian liberal arts like religion, history, philosophy, English, and the natural sciences. This powerful combination broadens their perspective and makes them more creative, visionary, proactive, kind, compassionate, and collaborative. Our graduates know how to solve real business problems and think deeply about their role and the role of business in the world.”

The investments are translating into strong outcomes for graduates. In recent years, CUSB reports that 100 percent of business graduates have been employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.

“We're not just training business professionals,” added Ludema. “We're developing leaders who understand that business is about serving others. If the past five years are a preview of what’s to come, we believe God is calling us to continue to find new and creative ways to glorify him through the world of business.”

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 - 12:00

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From Passion to Scalable Purpose: How 51�� Startup Garage Is Fueling Macy Gerig’s Next Chapter

ag64@calvin.edu — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:25:12 +0000

From Passion to Scalable Purpose: How 51�� Startup Garage Is Fueling Macy Gerig’s Next Chapter ag64@calvin.edu Mon, 03/30/2026 - 09:25

When Macy Gerig launched her virtual fitness and coaching business, Worship & Workout, in May 2023, she was not starting from ground zero. She already had clients, clear values, and a vision for what her business could become. What she needed was guidance on how to grow.

That support came through a 51�� School of Business student organization.

“51�� Startup Garage helped me stop working in my business and start working on it,” said Gerig.”

When Growth Stalls, Strategy Matters

While the business was healthy, growth stalled. 51�� Startup Garage helped her step back and think strategically. Through mentorship, structured accountability, and one-on-one coaching, she started reshaping her business with the future in mind.

Gerig clarified her niche, rebuilt her website, and redesigned how clients move through her programs. She developed income goals, strengthened her sales funnel, and began planning for digital advertising and long-term expansion. The process turned intuition into strategy and helped her focus on sustainability.

“I didn’t need another idea,” added Gerig. “I needed help scaling. 51�� Startup Garage helped me see what it takes to build something sustainable and trust that I can do this full-time.”

From Operator to Founder

One of the most significant shifts was learning to step out of daily operations and think like a founder rather than just a personal trainer. That change in perspective opened the door to hiring staff, partnerships, and a business model that can grow beyond her individual capacity.

As she prepares for graduation in May, Gerig is moving forward with focus and confidence. With consistent revenue, a growing client base, and a clear plan for scaling, Worship & Workout is steadily growing toward her long-term goal: turning the business into her full-time work.

“I’m graduating with more than a degree,” she said. “I’m graduating with momentum, clarity, and a real plan for what’s next.”

Monday, March 30, 2026 - 12:00

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