James and Dolly Strikwerda

James and Hildred (Dolly) Strikwerda were raised to value the importance of a Christian education, and they have passed on this belief to their own family. Dolly grew up on a farm in Alberta, Canada, where Christian schooling wasn’t available at that time. Her parents, however, impressed upon their children the significance of a Christian education, and both of Dolly’s brothers were seminary graduates and her sister a nurse. Dolly graduated from Calvin College and taught at Oakdale Christian School in Grand Rapids, MI.

James and his three siblings were raised in the Grand Rapids Christian School system and graduated from Calvin College, where later two of them were employed. James also graduated from the University of Michigan Dental School.

James and Dolly met on a blind date and married in 1955, shortly after James returned from serving in the Korean war. They settled in Holland and began a dental practice that today includes their son, Richard, and daughter-in-law, Susan. James and Dolly’s three children graduated from Holland Christian and Calvin College, where their daughters pursued the teaching profession. Now eleven grandchildren attend Christian Schools and Calvin. James and Dolly are so pleased to see the willingness of their children and grandchildren to express their faith, something they feel is encouraged not only at home but also nurtured through their Christian education.

The Strikwerdas established this scholarship to give other students the education and spiritual opportunities that are so important to them. “We feel that a Christian education is something everyone needs, to help them grow spiritually and to fit them for service in God’s world. We realize what an influence institutions of learning have upon children, since so many hours of their lives are spent in that environment. We hope and pray that this scholarship will help students in need to be blessed with a Christian education. We trust that this is a gift that will keep on giving!”