Ashley Nwaokolo never earned a degree from Trinity Christian College, but the Palos Heights campus became one of the most meaningful places in her educational journey.
While attending Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where she double majored in writing and rhetoric and Spanish, Nwaokolo enrolled in Trinity’s Semester in Spain program. The experience transformed her understanding of the language and immersed her in a culture that continues to influence her life today.
When Trinity announced it was closing, she felt as though she was losing a place that had helped shape her future.
“It was deeply personal,” she said.
Today, Nwaokolo and her husband, Shalom, are helping preserve the college’s legacy through an immersive virtual experience that allows alumni, faculty, staff and future generations to revisit campus long after its doors have closed.
Nwaokolo, who lives in Sheldon, Iowa, and Shalom are the co-founders of Egents Innovations, a virtual experience company that creates immersive self-guided experiences for colleges, hospitals, economic development organizations and nonprofits.
She had studied Spanish language and culture for years before traveling to Spain, but nothing compared to the semester she spent through Trinity.
She became so immersed in the language that she found herself thinking in Spanish, and at times English seemed to fade into the background.
“I even dreamed in Spanish,” she said.
The experience strengthened her language skills, broadened her worldview and gave her confidence that still shapes her work and everyday life.
“Even though I wasn’t a full-time Trinity student, the college became an important part of my educational journey,” she said.
The announcement of Trinity’s closure also reminded Nwaokolo of her father’s experience decades earlier when his alma mater, Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, closed.
“He no longer had a campus to return to or share with his children and grandchildren,” she said. “I didn’t want Trinity’s alumni to experience that same loss.”
By then, Nwaokolo and her husband had spent several years building Egents Innovations. They believed the technology they had developed could help preserve Trinity’s history and the memories connected to it.
“We knew there was only a small window to act,” she said.
After reaching out to Trinity leaders, the couple made two trips from Iowa to Palos Heights, driving 2,560 miles and walking more than 200,000 steps while documenting the 60-acre campus.
They captured 18 buildings, residence halls, classrooms, hallways, outdoor spaces and the Ozinga Chapel in immersive 360-degree detail during the college’s final days.
Rather than producing a documentary, they created an interactive experience that allows visitors to explore the campus at their own pace using a phone, tablet or computer.
The virtual campus is housed on a platform called Perduras, a name inspired by the idea of enduring beyond physical walls. The platform was designed to preserve places that have shaped generations so their stories remain accessible even after the buildings are gone.
As the project came together, Nwaokolo realized how closely people connect their memories to physical places.
“What struck us most was how many people connected their memories to specific places on campus,” she said. “A residence hall, a classroom, a chapel or even a sidewalk. Those places become part of people’s life stories.”
She hopes alumni will revisit the virtual campus to reconnect with the places where friendships were formed, faith was strengthened and futures began.
“Our hope is that Trinity’s community always has a way to return, walk their history and share it with future generations,” she said. “We are excited to share the experience with the community very soon.”
The full Trinity virtual experience will launch Oct. 4. Until then, visitors can preview the Ozinga Chapel by exploring an interactive tour on a phone, tablet or computer at perduras.com.