Dordt University students Beatrice Shackelford and Elias Obbink received the 2025 Lambertus Verberg Prize for Excellence in Kuyperian Scholarship, one of the university’s most significant academic awards.
Dordt University students Beatrice Shackelford and Elias Obbink have been named recipients of the 2025 Lambertus Verberg Prize for Excellence in Kuyperian Scholarship, one of the university’s most significant academic awards.
Shackelford, a junior environmental studies major from Bay Village, Ohio, received first prize. Obbink, a physics and mathematics double-major from Sioux Center, received runner-up honors.
The students will present their prize-winning papers at CL 1144 at 11:10 a.m. on Friday, April 25. The community is invited to attend.
The Lambertus Verberg Prize, established through a gift from Rimmer and Ruth de Vries in memory of Rimmer’s great-grandfather who settled in Sioux Center in the 1890s, recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional engagement with the Reformed tradition—particularly the work of theologian Abraham Kuyper—while applying this tradition to contemporary issues in innovative and faithful ways.
For both recipients, the award is more than academic recognition—it’s a practical gift that opens new doors.
“This is such a huge blessing,” says Shackelford. “Over the last three years, I’ve struggled to juggle school, work, and extracurriculars. Being able to prioritize school and take opportunities without the pressure of finances is an incredible gift. I also feel really grateful for the process of writing this essay. It has pushed me to grow in my faith and hope in God's sovereignty.”
Obbink echoed that sentiment, sharing how the award will support his academic journey beyond Dordt. “I am excited about the financial award because it will give me flexibility as I pursue physics research this summer and visit grad schools in the fall,” says Obbink. “Additionally, receiving this prize will provide many opportunities for me to share my paper to a broader audience. I have been blessed to see God revealed through His wonderful creation and I hope to offer that same sense of wonder to others.
Both students described the essay-writing process as personally transformative. Shackelford noted that engaging Kuyper’s theology deepened her faith and helped her rediscover hope amid discouraging global issues. Obbink reflected on how wrestling with complex ideas sharpened his sense of wonder and dependence on God.
Also, significant financial scholarships like the Lambertus Verberg Prize provide an opportunity for motivated students who may struggle financially to prioritize school, she adds.
“Often, this money equates pretty directly to time for students. Time they can spend on their classes, building community, or pursuing their own learning, rather than work. Also, I think projects that are awarded scholarships, are an incredible opportunity for student to pursue their own learning on a subject. I never would have read as much of Kuyper as I did if it was not for this essay, but I am so grateful that I did.”
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
Ideafest 2025, a free and public event on May 1 at Dordt University, will showcase the diverse research, creativity, and academic achievement of more than 50 students through presentations, exhibits, and posters across a range of disciplines.
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