When Luke, Madeline, and Kate Witvliet were making their college decisions, the triplets’ top choices were rival schools. Their mom worked at Hope, their dad at ����app and both for a quarter century. ��
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“We grew up going to events on both campuses,” said Madeline.��
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So their decisions were complicated, but all three soon discovered their own unique path. Each of those paths led to the same destination.��
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On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the triplets will be among the 900 graduates of the ����app Class of 2025.��
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“Whatever direction God leads us post-graduation, we’ll have had so many awesome experiences shared through our lives and in different spaces at ����app, but through a shared community. I think that’s pretty cool,” said Luke.

Deciding on their own

The Witvliets say they weren’t swayed by each other’s college decision. They each had their own unique reason for becoming a Knight.��
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“I had a deep resonance with ����app’s mission and values on particularly the questions I was asking about justice and how our theology shapes our sense of calling in the world. So that did it for me,” said Kate, who is graduating with degrees in history and political science. ��

“I was drawn to ����app’s English department because the faculty are exceptional and being in the Artist Collaborative cohort also sounded like a fantastic chance to be in community with other arts-minded people,” said Madeline, who is graduating with an English degree and writing concentration. “I was also thrilled about the opportunities in the choral department at ����app. I’m glad to say that all three of these things have been highlights of my ����app career.”��

“There are a lot of schools in the U.S. that are Christian, a lot of schools that have good athletic departments, and plenty of good schools with pre-med programs,” said Luke, who is a pre-med student graduating with a biochemistry degree. “But it’s rare to find a school that hits all three and then wraps them all together in a strong, supportive, tight-knit community.”

Finding a common denominator

It's that tight-knit community that sealed the deal for all three. Now four years later, they have experienced how being a part of this community has shaped them.��

“Being involved in the history and political science departments has given me the opportunity to connect with students and faculty who care deeply, who want to understand the world and who approach hard questions from different perspectives,” said Kate. “I think having the space to engage deeply across lines of disagreement under this broader unity and sense of calling to be agents of justice in the world is ultimately what ����app is about for me.”��
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“����app provides a lot of opportunities and invitations into worship and into faith engagement as it intersects with whatever you are studying. As a pre-medicine student, I had a lot of classes and experiences that ����app facilitated that made this connection clear,” said Luke. “I did my profession of faith the summer after my freshmen year, and I think that is evidence that ����app was a place of growth for me over that first year and it’s continued to be ever since.”

Discovering a world of opportunity

All three were blown away by how a school just 20 minutes from their hometown of Grandville, Michigan, would open them up to a world of opportunity, including leadership roles in music and athletics, in campus ministries and service-learning, and study abroad adventures in Italy and Nepal, Honduras and Ghana.��

“If I had dreamed of life four years ago, of all that college could be or ����app could be, I would have totally shorted it,” said Luke, “because there’s so much more in the people and the opportunities than I could have predicted.”

Making deeper connections

And each of the Witvliets, though having different experiences at ����app, has found a way to stay connected too.��

“It’s been such a wonderful experience to be in a space where we are all able to invest in our different corners of campus and yet remain connected and invested in each other. We get to show up for one another, whether that’s going to Luke’s races or to our choir concerts,” said Madeline. “We’ve really been intentional.”��

“Throughout our time in college, we’ve been intentional with scheduling sibling lunches,” said Madeline. “About once a week,” added Luke.��

As the triplets close this chapter on Saturday, they are reminded of where they were four years ago and have some advice for those still making their college decision that have ����app on their list.��
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“����app has created a space for all of us to grow as individuals,” said Kate. “You’ll get connected with faculty and staff who will pour into you and challenge you and who want to see you thrive. And you will be in a community of peers and classmates and friends who will do the same for you.”