Dordt College - Signet Yearbook (Sioux Center, IA)

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vi Vw. bf if . Ja sb- of Q I, f- - , ' 'qu-'GN lr - 7? .,,v . 1' 1 5 , . f , A. IT' 5' 'cr ,- 4' Q? . . , rg ir, 1 t -5. .- 4. if ' 2,1 .1 V I A , .. u 11, - xi, x- I -F di. 1: Wa. 51' if .- 4.-i7 F 1- . ., X 3, sf, ' I Y, Ay, Y f '35 fl -1 . r ' - -ff xl l' k Lf :A'- 1 F' .- Q? U 1- - , . . 1, ,- af K- a - 1 a 1 ,.. f '1' ' 1 Y , l , A 1 y Y 5 I, . , nl It LI 'A x . , . - L it I, I I il 1 ,u Q '-Y.: ' f 1 ' - Property purchased for college campus. One of the major questions which faced the Central Board of the Junior College Society was the problem of location. Various suggestions were offered and considered. A fter a thorough study had been made, the Central Board decided to erect the building at Sioux Center, Iowa. In Sioux Center itself, several sites were proposed. The choice of the Central Board fell upon the present property which lies in a beautiful residential section in the eastern part of the village. Seven acres of land were purchased, and the few buildings which were on the property were sold and removed Clearing the site. I4

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i . I . 5 , , . . , ' 1 5 I Q ' 4 5 I 3 . f N -I ,ff Executive Board during the planning stage. Lobbes, Rev. G. Vander Plaats. THIRD L. to R., FIRST ROW: E. Fikse, J. Bon- ROW: S. Van Vliet, Rev. B. Haan, A. nema, Rev. M. Zylstra, E. Meyer. SECOND Christians, J. Geels, R. Dykstra. ROW: Rev. C. Van Schouwen, L. Haan, J. The founding of a college entails much time and effort. Many hours are spent first in studying and then in implementing plans. Thanks be to God, there are people who are willing to do this work and devote the necessary time for it. Although several classes of the churches and later the Western Alliance of Christian Schools had given considerable thought to the matter of having a jun- ior college in the Midwest, it was not until I an- uary 30, 1953, that a formal society was organized. The organization of this society took place in Rock Sponsor: SIOUX BODY SHOP Sioux Center, Iowa Auto body and front end work. Clarence Ver Hoef, Prop. Valley, Iowa, at a meeting of approximately six hundred men, representing Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Besides forming a society at this meeting, the group adopted a provisional constitution. Ac- cording to this constitution a Central Board and an Executive Board were to be elected. The Central Board was to meet twice a year, and the Executive Board would meet regularly each month in order to make preparations for the opening of the college. Sponsor: VAN'S RADIO and APPLIANCE SERVICE Sioux Center, Iowa. John G. and Richard G. Van Voorst, Props. 13 lb-J

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'L s 1 X f I 1' X . , I lr 'ai' ' . Board President Amold Christians presiding at ground-breaking ceremonies. Not only was there the question of location, but there were also other matters that needed attention. Through its Executive Board and its Central Board the Society kept moving forward with its plan for the establishment of the college. Decisions had to be made as to the type and number of courses to be offered. Faculty members had to be appointed. Blueprints for a building had to be approved. A financial drive had to be launched to raise funds for building. It was a busy time for all. To coordinate the efforts of the various committees which had been appointed and to promote the work of the Junior College Society, the Central Board asked the Rev. C. Van Schouwen of Lansing, Illinois, to become Promotional Secretary and to head the Bible department when the school opened. Rev. Van Schouwen's interest in the junior college movement was well known. He accepted the position and with consecrated devotion ap- plied himself to the work. Two years had now passed since the formal organiza- tion of the Society at the Rock Valley meeting. They were years full of activity. The time had come for the breaking of ground for the college building, and this was done on March 12, 1955. f'I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I fiyzgpl I I I I digg I X - ,I jf! A -,Z f I. X 0 f , , '2 --n--'!CemHc UML 15 4