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Steve Blom named 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient
Steve Blom, executive director at Bright Promise Fund in Chicago, Illinois, has been named the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient at Ƶ. This award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in an extraordinary fashion, who give evidence of living out a Reformational worldview, and who demonstrate exemplary service to the community and the world.
Blom graduated from Ƶin 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology: Youth Ministry and earned a Master of Arts degree in Missions from Calvin Theological Seminary in 2010. After graduating from Dordt, Blom served in the church for several years before shifting his focus to community development and education.
In 2019, Blom was named the executive director of Bright Promise Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting Christian schools in under-resourced communities in and around Chicago. The program also facilitates leadership development and improvements to growth, health, and capacity for its network schools.
“To serve an organization whose purpose is to support a network of schools that do Christ-centered education in neighborhoods struggling under the weight of injustice is what moves me each day,” says Blom. “I believe deeply that Christ-centered education should be economically, ecumenically, and geographically accessible to any family. As an organization, it is our mission to make this vision a reality in Chicago.”
Blom gives significant credit for his personal and professional success to the foundation he received as a student at Dordt.
“I'm thankful for Ƶand the relationships that were formed and have lasted to today,” he said. “When I started college, I didn't know what I wanted to do. In many ways, I was wandering and forced to ask some tough questions. Ƶallowed me to wrestle with how the faith mattered to everyday life.”
Dr. Tim Van Soelen, director of the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE), says that Blom has been a culture maker in the Christian education movement in South Chicago for quite some time.
“As a board member, interim head of school, development director, and now the Bright Promise Fund executive director, Steve is passionate about creating learning experiences for all children, regardless of income or race or other social constructs that school systems can sometimes create,” says Van Soelen. “That passion is one of the many things I admire most about Steve’s leadership. Steve exemplifies the serviceable insight that we desire from Ƶgraduates.”
While honored to receive the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award, Blom also recognizes the impact Ƶhas made on many others doing important work.
“I was sincerely moved when I was told I was nominated for this award,” Blom says. “My first thought went to so many other Ƶgraduates I know who are doing the really remarkable and every-day task of kingdom building across every cultural sphere. I am often inspired by the humility, wisdom, and conviction of other Ƶalumni.”
About Ƶ
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Ƶ equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. For six years in a row, Ƶhas been named number one in the nation for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Ƶis a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. To learn more, visit dordt.edu.
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