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��ɬֱ�� alumni Michael ’95 and Wendi VanWoerkom ’96 have made a significant gift to support the long-term growth of ��ɬֱ��’s new aerospace engineering concentration, positioning the university to become a national leader in aerospace education within Christian higher education.

The gift will fund advanced laboratory equipment, create the VanWoerkom Aerospace Lab, and establish the VanWoerkom Endowed Professorship dedicated to space systems, hands-on student projects, and external research funding. The aerospace concentration officially joined Calvin’s ABET-accredited engineering program in Fall 2025, with full lab implementation targeted by FY 2027. 

“This extraordinary gift reflects the very best of Calvin - alumni who are deeply grateful for their education and eager to invest in the next generation,” said Greg Elzinga, ��ɬֱ�� president. “Michael and Wendi’s vision will allow our students to pursue cutting-edge aerospace engineering while being formed by a Christ-centered education that emphasizes purpose, responsibility, and service.”

A Gift Rooted in Gratitude and Vision

Both Calvin graduates, the VanWoerkoms credit their Calvin education with laying the foundation for their professional success. Michael went on to earn an advanced degree from the University of Michigan and later founded the aerospace company ExoTerra. Wendi, who also earned her engineering degree from Calvin, currently works for Muller Engineering Company in Lakewood, Colorado. The couple met as students in Calvin’s engineering program, and their connection to the university remains deeply personal: their oldest son, Ethan, graduated from Calvin in 2024, and their middle son, Drew, is currently a junior. 

“Calvin prepared us exceptionally well - for our careers, for leadership, and for life,” said the VanWoerkoms. Michael will play an active advisory role in the program, mentoring students, supporting senior design projects, and assisting with industry connections, job placement, and graduate school pathways.

Planting the Future of Aerospace at Calvin

The VanWoerkom gift will support three foundational elements of the program’s growth: 

• The Seed: Immediate funding for lab equipment and faculty support. 
• The Soil: Infrastructure for a CubeSat satellite program and aerospace laboratories. 
• The Gardener: An endowed professorship to lead space-focused coursework, mentor hands-on projects, and pursue competitive grants, including NASA funding. 

The new VanWoerkom Aerospace Lab will occupy renovated space within Calvin’s engineering building and will be recognized with exterior signage and an interior plaque honoring the VanWoerkom family’s leadership gift.

A Program Designed for Impact

Calvin engineering students graduate with the technical skills expected of graduates from much larger programs and the critical thinking and communication skills you’d expect from a top Christian liberal arts university. The aerospace concentration prepares students for challenging careers in a variety of fields including aircraft and spacecraft design, aerospace manufacturing, underwater vehicles, orbital systems, and ground vehicle design. Students graduate in four years with real-world experience through internships, research opportunities, study abroad, and optional international or sustainability designations. 

Just as important, the program reflects Calvin’s mission to educate students who seek to serve Christ and contribute to the flourishing of God’s world, all within a Reformed Christian environment. “At Calvin, our faith and ethics perspectives are not simply ‘add-ons’,” Ken Visser, professor of aerospace engineering points out, “They shape our teaching strategies, and guide our students to think about their responsibility to the profession and how their choices impact God’s creation. This gift from the VanWoerkoms will provide tremendous opportunities for our students and enriches our ability to train them to become both technically excellent and deeply grounded engineers.”

Launching a New Chapter

With strong alumni leadership, experienced faculty, and a clear vision for growth, ��ɬֱ��’s aerospace engineering program is poised to become a distinctive presence in Christian higher education - one rooted in innovation, faith, and service. For more information on ��ɬֱ��’s aerospace engineering concentration follow this link: /majors-programs/aerospace-engineering-bse