Roger D. Griffioen Physics and Astronomy Scholarship

Dr. Roger Griffioen has dedicated his professional career to Calvin College. His leadership has been central in bringing the Department of Physics and Astronomy from infancy to its present status as a leading undergraduate program. He oversaw the hiring of most faculty members in the department, and he has served as adviser and mentor to many of them as their careers developed.

As a teacher Dr. Griffioen has always striven for excellence in his teaching and in all areas of his life. In the classroom, he has consistently been willing to try new ideas and techniques, always with the goal of serving students paramount. He has been a positive influence on the lives of both students and colleagues, setting high but realistic standards for them to achieve, and he willingly gave of himself to assist others.

Dr. Griffioen has been on Calvin’s staff since 1961, which will give him 38 years of service by the time he retires in 1999. He has served 19 years as chairman of the department as well as 7 years as Academic Dean for the Natural Sciences and Contextual Disciplines.