Page 18 - Spring 2017 Magazine

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providencecc.edu
graduation 2017
On MAy 6, 2017, Kyle Kortenhoeven of Denver, Colorado, and 20 of his classmates walked
across the stage to receive their diplomas
from Providence Christian College. Graduating from Providence was especially meaningful for Kortenhoeven and his family, as his dad, Dr. Steve Kortenhoeven, was the rst Dean of Students
for the college when it started in 2006. Making this event even more special for the family, Dr. Kortenhoeven delivered the commencement address “Whatever you do, work”.
However, it wasn’t always the new alumnus’s dream to attend or graduate from Providence. Living in California from an early age, Kortenhoeven attended Calvin Christian in Escondido. In 2006, when his father took the position at Providence, the family moved
to Ontario, California, where Kortenhoeven attended Ontario Christian High School. In 2012, they moved to Denver, and his father became
the principal at Denver Christian High School. Although Providence was on his college list when he graduated from high school, Kortenhoeven chose to attend a di erent Christian college, one in the Midwest.
After his rst year, Kortenhoeven felt as though the location didn’t o er him the opportunities
he was seeking, and a lack of healthy friendships made him realize that the school wasn’t the right t. He transferred to Providence and immediately fell in love with it. Over the past three years, he has grown dramatically in his faith, his friendships, and his leadership capacities.
“Sophomore year was a signi cant year in terms of growing up and maturing and desiring to learn,” says Kortenhoeven. “I came to a place where learning for the sake of learning was encouraged and the people I was around were stronger and more impactful than my freshman year.”
Kyle Kortenhoeven, shown at left with his family