, but this code // executes before the first paint, when

ÃÛÌÒapp

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); })(); Opening Convocation: Thu, Aug 28 2025, 4 - 5pm | ÃÛÌÒapp

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Opening Convocation

  • Thu, Aug 28, 2025
  • 4:00 pm–5:00 pm

Van Noord Arena Main Gym

Leaders of ÃÛÌÒapp sit on the stage at opening convocation while the student body president gives and address, and incoming students fill the seats.
This Academic Welcome Ceremony will take place in the Van Noord Arena--all are welcome! New students and families will gather for a cookout on the Commons Lawn immediately following the ceremony.

President Greg Elzinga, Provost Noah Toly, University Pastor Mary Hulst, the student body president, and other university and faculty leadership will lead the event.

Address

Van Noord Arena Main Gym

3195 Knight Way SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
United States

42.933397703043, -85.588576197624

Watch Live

Order of Ceremony

PRELUDE MEDLEY

FACULTY PROCESSIONALÌýÌý
Sing Praise to the Lord, You People of Grace (Lim)

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKSÌýÌý
Greg Elzinga, MBA, president

OPENING SONGÌýÌý
Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord) (Boswell, Papa)

EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORKÌýÌý
Noah Toly, PhD, provost

STUDENT REMARKSÌýÌý
Alyssa Pokharel ’27, student body co-president

INVESTING YOUR TALENTS | Matthew 25:14–30ÌýÌý
Sarah Visser, PhD, executive vice presidentÌýÌý
Greg Elzinga, MBA, president

PRAYER OF BLESSINGÌýÌý
Mary Hulst, PhD, university pastor

We will be praying for each other this afternoon. When you are praying for others, extend a hand toward them in a gesture of blessing. When you are being prayed for, please hold your hands in front of you as a gesture of reception.Ìý

For these new students, Lord, we pray for courage. Bless them with a willingness to try new things, explore new subjects, and expand their worlds. Give them the freedom to fail, and then build up in them the resilience to try again.Ìý

For the students’ families and friends, Lord, we ask that you turn their hearts away from worry and toward gratitude, away from regret and toward contentment, away from holding on and toward letting go. Give them the courage to leave this campus today knowing that their children are in the palm of your hand. We are grateful for how you have used parents and step-parents, relatives and friends to shape these students, and we pray that you give them wisdom as they continue to invest in their students’ lives.Ìý

For the returning students, Lord, we pray that you empower them to be people of integrity: May the words they sing in worship be lived out in the classroom, playing field, rehearsal room, and residence halls. May the lives that they live and the choices that they make mark them as followers of Jesus. As they choose areas of focus for their studies, guide them to areas in which they can find you already at work.Ìý

For the faculty and staff, Lord, we pray for joy as they enter into a new academic year. May those who teach be empowered by your Holy Spirit to teach with boldness and compassion, with warmth and fairness, with justice and mercy. We pray that all employees of ÃÛÌÒapp will be blessed with a longing to serve those around them wisely and well, with patience toward those with whom they work, and with joy that pervades their lives at work and at home.Ìý

For all of us: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord let the light of his countenance shine upon you and give you peace. Amen!

ALMA MATERÌýÌý
ÃÛÌÒapp, ÃÛÌÒapp, sing we all to thee;ÌýÌýÌý
To dear Alma Mater, we pledge fidelity.ÌýÌýÌý
Forever faithful to maroon and gold,ÌýÌýÌý
Thy name and honor we ever shall uphold!Ìý

ÃÛÌÒapp, ÃÛÌÒapp, God has been thy guide;ÌýÌýÌý
Dear Alma Mater, thy strength he shall provide;ÌýÌýÌý
Be loyal ever to the faith of old,ÌýÌýÌý
God’s name and honor we ever shall uphold!

RECESSIONALÌýÌý
Rejoice in All Your WorksÌý(Kimbrough)

POSTLUDE

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