Spark

“Tenacious” and “driven” are two words Brian Klassen ’07 uses to describe his mom, Sandra Meppelink Klassen ’74. As a career scientist at Sandia National Labs, a U.S. Department of Energy facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sandra devot- ed her working life to improving energy storage of lithium-ion batteries and solving national security challenges, specifically in airport security and explosives detection. 

Sandra studied chemistry at Calvin, going on to earn master’s and doctorate degrees in organic chemistry. “Chemistry is a male-dominated field,” says Brian. “Later in her life, my mom began sharing stories of what it was like to often be the only woman around. She was often not treated well by her male colleagues.” 

Sandra passed away in 2022 after a two-year battle with ovarian cancer. When Brian thought about how he could best honor his mother’s memory, he turned to Calvin. “Mom cared about education and learning. Calvin was the most formative of the places she studied. She was a deeply committed Christian and a scientist. She really appreciated the foundation Calvin gave her—that there is no conflict between faith and science.” 

Establishing the Dr. Sandra E. Klassen Memorial Scholarship felt like a natural choice. The $4,500 gift is awarded annually to a female Calvin junior or senior studying chemistry. 

The scholarship is also an acknowledgment of Brian’s family legacy at Calvin. Brian and both of his parents graduated from Calvin. Calvin is also the alma mater of his maternal grandparents, as well as many extended family members. 

Upon retirement, Brian’s parents moved from New Mexico back to Grand Rapids. He says his mom always intended to take more classes at Calvin. “She was somebody who was just naturally curious and who loved to learn. A liberal arts education appealed to her, especially the opportunity to take philosophy, art history, and theology classes. She always loved how comprehensive her education at Calvin was, and she wanted to return to it later in life.” 

Though his mom didn’t have the opportunity to fulfill that hope, in her later years, she was a devoted grandmother who enjoyed gardening and sewing. 

Brian says in all her pursuits and passions his mom held a deep appreciation for order and detail. “She was always so amazed at just how precise the natural world is, even down to the molecular level.” 

Brian hopes the scholarship he and his father established will ease the financial burden for Calvin chemistry students, especially women, for years to come. “Being the best scientist was an expression of my mom’s faith,” Brian says. Faithful giving is one way he and his family continue Sandra’s legacy.