thanking him for these gifts!€¦ · a very special meet & greet with miss wisconsin usa, kate...

The Leader’s Guide

Thanking Him for these gifts!

LHS Drama Department Fall Comedy Café curtain call

P R E P A R I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S

Lutheran High Leader’s Guide Winter/Spring 2016 "2

Faith & Finances:

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 and Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) rule has been made permanent. If you are 70 1/2 years or older and own a traditional IRA, the QCD allows the transfer of up to $100,000 from an IRA directly to a qualified charity to avoid recognition of the income and satisfy the required minimum distribution (RMD) requirement.

Consider utilizing the RMD to impact gifting to charitable organizations, like LHS! Consult with your tax advisor to discuss using the QCD for your RMD requirements. Then direct your gift to help LHS with financial aid and scholarships for families in need, technology upgrades for classrooms and offices, professional development and enrichment for our teachers, or additions to our Music and Fine Arts Department. Thank you for investing in our students!

In its 6 year history, Neat Repeats has donated over $520,000 to Lutheran High School! In 2015, Neat Repeats was able to donate $98,000 to Lutheran High School.This past year’s volunteer labor by LHS parents, grandparents and friends of LHS, along with the efficiency of a full-time store manager paid off for the store. Neat Repeats also increased its floor space and relocated the front entrance for a better shopping experience.

Thank you for your donations of items, donation of time, and purchases made at Neat Repeats. It is a blessing to have the store which financially benefits the school and also benefits our communities.

Who is the beneficiary of your estate? Your family and charitable organizations such as Sheboygan Lutheran High or your Church? Or Uncle Sam?

Without proper estate planning, a majority of your assets could be used to help fund wasteful and unconstitutional federal and state programs. Make sure that your assets support the people and organizations that have been important to you throughout your life.



Keeping fundraising in the forefront2016 Crusade for Bids

Dinner Auction Saturday, April 16

We are looking forward to another successful and fun evening. Beyond another great meal and catching up with friends, we will have many great items in store to bid on. Help us make this year’s fundraiser one that raises over $120,000 for LHS! Early-bird registration ends April 5.

A very special Meet & Greet with Miss Wisconsin USA, Kate Redeker, LHS Alumnae Class of 2014 is scheduled for Friday night!Stop by on Preview Night to look over prime items, and enjoy entertainment by the Good Hope Road Praise Band from 5:30 - 8 p.m.

Spirit of Wellness5K Run & 3K Fun Run/Walk

Friday night, August 12, 7 p.m.at Lutheran High

Lutheran High’s own legendary cross country course will be host to the event in the “Spirit of Wellness”. Proceeds from the run/walk will benefit Lutheran High’s various scholarship funds.This year we encourage the Sheboygan area Association Congregations to gather and run as a team. Church and school employees can log this event in their Concordia Health Plan’s Vitality Wellness platform. Get credit and have fun for a good cause! Watch for more information coming soon and “get into wellness” with us!



LCMS Secondary Educator of the Year Congratulations to Mr. Rick Zeuner! Congratulations to the Sheboygan Lutheran family! We are truly

blessed as a school family to have such great teachers. If I were to describe the attributes of the Secondary Teacher of the Year Award winner, it might sound like I was describing any one of our faculty members. I am definitely not saying that our teachers are all the same and Mr. Zeuner is not unique and deserving of this award; however, I am saying that our Mr. Zeuner embodies our staff. He is a leader on our staff, and deserves to be recognized as one of the best teachers in any high school, period.

If I were to describe a single teacher at our school who has special relationships with current and former students as well as parents and supporters of Lutheran High, would you know who I was talking about? He/She works with students outside of the regular class time, holding them accountable for their work yet accommodating the needs of each individual person. He/She shares his/her passion for the subject matter, as well as his/her faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World. His/Her unique perspective and interests allows him/her to have a deeper, closer and impactful relationship with the students. He/She cares for the complex lives that face the students inside and outside the school setting. He/She listens, he/she guides, and he/she shares the Love of Christ as a fellow believer as well as a mentor/coach/advisor/supervisor/counselor and teacher. Do you know who I am talking about now? I just described our whole staff and how they treat the students at Lutheran High. They each reach a different segment of our population because they all have unique and wonderful gifts to share. And, Rick tops it off with a real passion for reaching the students’ hearts and minds. It is no wonder that Mr. Zeuner won this teaching award this year! Congratulations, Rick. You deserve it! In Christ, Paul W. Gnan Executive Director Rick Zeuner teaches Physical Science, Geology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Old Testament, and has been at LHS since 1998. Rick received the Secondary Educator of the Year Award in January at the LCMS recognition dinner.

Christina, his wife, has also faithfully been in Lutheran education for the past thirty years and currently is the director and lead teacher of St. Paul Early Childhood Center in Sheboygan Falls, WI. They reside in Sheboygan with their furry companion, Jax, a miniature Australian Shepherd. He and Christina enjoy being in the handbell choir and mixed choir at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan.



He’s a passionate guy, for many things. His love of science and the study of God’s creation has been a part of his life and ministry from childhood. In addition to teaching science, theology and art, Richard “Rick” enjoys playing and collecting board games, reading, and spending time with his wife, Christina, and their dog, Jax.

Rick’s path through Lutheran education started for him in elementary school. He was born and raised in Milwaukee. “My mom and dad were both raised in households that did not have the means to provide a Christian education through a Lutheran school. Mom taught in a public school. My parents had joined Walther Memorial Lutheran Church which had a Lutheran grade school. The principal, Arthur Krafft, who directed the choir, asked my dad, who was an artist, if he could help design a new logo for the school. One thing lead to another and dad began to see that Christian life was a full time commitment” Rick explains. His father saw Christian education being a three-legged stool: Church, Home, and School. Rick and his brother were soon enrolled in the Lutheran grade school and set on a path to ministry.

Rick’s father’s artistic talents, coupled with his knowledge and love of nature, got Rick started in the sciences and the arts. “Dad was always prepared to collect some bug, or leaf, or rock. How many film canisters and Milwaukee phone books resided in the family car at one time or another, I couldn't say, but our bug, rock and leaf collections were pretty awesome!” Rick recalls. Rick went on to Concordia-River Forest and completed a B. A. in secondary education in 1985. He completed a Masters degree in Computing Education through Cardinal Stritch University in 2004.

Rick was first called to teach science and art at Luther East High School in Lansing, Illinois. After eleven years, he was called to teach at Sheboygan Lutheran High School and has served here ever since. Over the years, Rick started a Creation Bible class that he has lead in many of the congregations in the Sheboygan area. He also wrote a summer curriculum for the Sheboygan Area Lutheran Cooperative Vacation Bible School, a VBS ministry that works with multiple congregations every summer. Over 400 children and more than 100 helpers and volunteers participate in the four-day event. He also led a presentation on Board Games in the Classroom at the recent North and South Wisconsin District Teachers Conference this past fall.

Being rooted in God’s Word has helped Rick keep his focus as culture, technology, and responsibilities have changed over the years. Rick explains, “In many ways, students are no different today than when I began teaching in Illinois and eventually here. They still need God’s Word, guidance, and the information in our various genres of teaching. Although methods are different with newer technology, learning still depends on engagement. As long as students are connected to our coursework, they can and will learn. I believe that the key always comes back to understanding our relationship with our Creator. As Christ-followers, we are Christian leaders and, as Christian Leaders, we have a clearly defined responsibility to spread the Good News.”

When he taught in Illinois, he had up to six different courses he had to cover in a semester including Introductory Art, Advanced Art, Biology, Advanced Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Advanced Chemistry. Coming to LHS was a breath of fresh air… “I had biology and physical science. This reduction in prep periods allowed me to crystallize my skills. Although the numbers and types of classes have risen in recent years and now include Old Testament, being in the Word with the students is fantastic. That initial start allowed me to now apply what I learned in all my classes,” Rick states. Being in the Word daily keeps the focus of his ministry clear: preparing Christian Leaders.

Some of Rick’s fondest memories at LHS include flashlight hunts with students (and parents), Freshmen Class lock-ins, and being challenged to teach theology. Working with colleagues, especially ones who were former students, leading Creation Bible Classes at our area churches, and developing new Winterims also warm Rick’s heart. Getting to lead chapels, and creating the LHS Games Club are also favorite times spent with students. “And watching kids ‘get it’ for the first time makes this ministry here all worth it,” Rick touts. He also enjoys talking with alumni and watching how God is using so many people in ministry today!

Lutheran High is blessed to have such a faithful servant in Richard Zeuner. His passion for education is clearly visible in and outside the Lutheran High School walls. LHS students surely benefit from his guidance and teaching. And, they love the fuzzy micro-biology display on his science lab door.

Faculty Profile: Richard Zeuner

All because of a triangle shaped logo that showed the three parts of our Christian life.



“I created a resolution for myself several years ago that I try to achieve day by day. It is to follow Christ’s plan, share His Word, and block out any unnecessary negativity in my life. This is my New Year's resolution again this year, as I use New Year's as my chance to remind myself of this commitment,” claims Kate Redeker, an energetic Miss Wisconsin USA title holder. She’s a busy girl this year. There are many public appearances scheduled, some modeling projects popping up, charity events to help out with, and taking college credits online keeping Kate on the move. Kate, a Lutheran High Alumnae from the Class of 2014, is currently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, all online, for a Psychology major. She is not sure yet what she will pursue for a career, however, she is doing her best to take advantage of all of the experiences offered to her this year as Miss Wisconsin USA, and the networking that comes with it to help explore future opportunities.

The bigger show, The Miss USA pageant, is on the horizon. “No word yet! They usually give a 2-3 month notice as to when and where Miss USA will be. I do know that it will be a live telecast on FOX,” Kate explains. She has answered questions as part of competitions before, but they are still the toughest part for her. “The questions that are toughest are questions on polarizing topics. There are some topics that people naturally disagree on. I have strong opinions and want to stay true to myself; however, at the same time, I realize that I don't know everything. I want to be honest in my answers, but also be sensitive to all sides. That can be a challenge,” Kate replies. She writes down all of her social and economic opinions on paper so that it is easier for her to visualize when having to answer a question. She also hopes she doesn’t sound too “rehearsed” but speaks from the heart.

This year Kate has one specific goal and that is to volunteer at one USO Center or event, a charity that she has a great passion for, in each state throughout the U.S. Kate also has several trips to New York City and Miami coming up. Meanwhile she is living at home in Sheboygan; taking care of her old companion, Sash, the family golden retriever; and attending local and state-wide charity events.

Kate is scheduled to be here at LHS for our Auction Preview Night, meeting and greeting, and signing photos. Stop by the gymnasium on Friday, April 15, between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. for this free event and wish Kate well on her journey. God’s blessings, Kate!

Catching up with Miss Wisconsin USA


Lutheran High Leader’s Guide Spring 2015 "7

Kate Redeker finds pleasure and pride in serving other young ladies in military families. Her association with Future Productions and the Miss USA organization has enabled her to help others in ways she really enjoys through the USO. Pictured: Teen girls “shop” during Operation: That’s My Dress!

Kate writes: For the past four years now, I have been an avid supporter of the USO. The USO is a nonprofit organization that provides programs, services and live entertainment to United States troops and their families. The hardest demographic to reach out to tends to be military teenage daughters. This is why the USO of Metropolitan New York created Operation: That’s My Dress! (OTMD).

Sherri Hill and other high-end prom/pageant dress designers donate millions of dollars worth of dresses to this event. Then, a group of around 20 models and Miss USA titleholders put on a fashion show with all of the donated dresses for military teens, spouses, and women in service. After the show, the models all pair up with a girl to help her find the perfect dress, and pick out matching jewelry (which is all donated also!).

This is an amazing event, not only being able to give a teenage girl a dress for prom or homecoming that her family could possibly never afford, but also being able to lift their spirits, show them that they are truly beautiful, and connect one-on-one, creating life-long friendships. I still talk with all the girls that I have met during OTMD’s. During an OTMD in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, I partnered up with an 18 year old girl, Jessica, who has Cerebral Palsy. She defied all odds by living past age 2, and will soon graduate high school! While helping her pick out her dream dress, it was a bit difficult in finding a dress that she and her two younger sisters liked. The last dress I picked for her she tried on. Both of her sisters’ faces lit up and I was holding back tears as I told her how beautiful she truly looked. Thus made her burst out into tears. She gave me the greatest hug and told me that this was the best day of her entire life and that this was the first time she has ever felt beautiful. Moments like these may not seem important or story-worthy to some, but for me they are life changing. I truly get to change someone’s life by being in the position I am. This is why I do what I do.

Kate and Operation: That’s My Dress!



Crusaders in Action Central Lakeshore Conference now known as

The BIG EAST Conference Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the CLC was restructured to include five more schools, now known as The BIG EAST. This realignment in Northeast Wisconsin was to address the competitive imbalance that was becoming more evident in conferences around the region due to population growth and decline. The WIAA realigned 10 new conferences, hence joining together all nine Central Lakeshore Conference schools and five former Olympian Conference schools. The BIG EAST now includes Cedar Grove-Belgium, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, Howards Grove, Kohler, Oostburg, Ozaukee, Random Lake, Sheboygan Area Lutheran, Sheboygan County Christian, Hilbert, Mishicot, Manitowoc Lutheran, Reedsville and St. Mary Catholic (Menasha). The inaugural season also included increased competition for many sports including a complete 11-man football schedule, volleyball tournament at Lakeland College and a conference basketball tournament for boys and girls at Lakeland College. The creation of this new conference has built a very strong conference, created new rivalries, and additional opportunities in athletics, arts, forensics, and music for all students.

Crusader Forensic Team Wins the BIG EAST - North Division Meet The Crusader Forensic team, under the leadership of Señora Hahn, competed in the BIG EAST - North Division Forensics Meet Monday, Feb.1 at Hilbert. Crusader public speakers won the the meet by virtue of having the highest average overall team score. Juniors Erin Koenig finished with a gold medal and Jacob Glewen finished with a silver medal.

Guys And Dolls, an LHS Spring Musical Mark your calendar!

Thursday, April 28 - Senior Citizen Matinee at 1:30 p.m. Public performances Friday night, Saturday night,

and Sunday afternoon, April 29, 30 & May 1.

Elaina Falconer was a big contributor as a freshman on the combined Lutheran/Kohler/Sheboygan Falls High School

swim team this year. The team brought home the Sectional Runner-up Div. 2

trophy and the Eastern Wisconsin Conference Champions plaque for

girls swimming.

!

BIG EAST

C O N F E R E N C EBIG EAST

C O N F E R E N C EB I G E A S T

C O N F E R E N C EB I G E A S T

C O N F E R E N C E

BIG EASTC O N F E R E N C E



Melissa Meyer Troedel, LHS Class of 1993, caught up with LHS via our Facebook page. She has been passionate about adopting children and wanted to pass along her story of International Adoption and the blessings it has brought to their family.

Melissa writes: While in high school I enjoyed fine arts, theater, student council, and loved doing all of these things in a Christ-centered school. After graduating I went on to the medical field, first working as a director of an Alzheimer's home and then as a med tech. I married my husband, Scott Troedel, in April 2004.

Even before getting married, my husband and I had known that we wanted to build our family via adoption. In 2006 we felt led to begin building our family via an adoption from Haiti. Haiti was and still is a very difficult place to adopt from as their laws are constantly changing. We had been matched with a little boy, Jean Delson, and our journey began. We met him for the first time in April 2007, and were instantly in love.Though bringing him home would prove to be a huge battle. In July 2008, after 2 years of fighting, we seemed to be at a dead end and decided to do an Ethiopian adoption while the Haitian one kept moving along in the background. In December 2008 we brought home our baby boy, Micah, who was 10 months old. While in Ethiopia our hearts were drawn to all the older children in the orphanages, we knew God was calling us to step out in faith and adopt a school age child. In January 2010, we welcomed our daughter, Sitota, home at the age of 8 years.

Then on January 10, 2010, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti and we soon learned that the little boy we had thought would never come home would be coming on a humanitarian parole just weeks later. Going from zero to three kids in just 13 months had many challenges, but we all could feel God walking through this journey with us. In February 2012, we again felt led to adopt and God led us back to Haiti to our daughter, Naïka. Again the journey bringing her home was long, hard, and though we felt like it was too much, God brought us through. In October 2014 we welcomed her home. “Our family is anything but traditional, but we wouldn't have it any other way!”

Melissa and her husband, Scott live in Oshkosh, WI.

Eye on Alumni: Melissa Meyer Troedel



Alumni Engagements

Jessica Christian - Class of 2011 is engaged to Ben McCammon. Both graduated with Bachelor's degrees from UW-Madison in May 2015; Jessica in Chemistry and Ben in Molecular Biology. They both currently work at Covance in Madison. A June 11, 2016, wedding is planned at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan.

Brian Begalke - LHS Class of 2008 is engaged to Annie Scalise. Brian works for Porte Brown, a CPA firm in Evanston, IL, and Annie works for the Chicago Cubs. They will be married September 24, 2016 at the DePaul University Church, Chicago.

Katie Begalke - LHS Class of 2002, is engaged to Robert Carter. Katie is a freelance designer, and Rob works for The Highland Group. They live in Seattle, WA, and are planning an April 23, 2016, wedding at Hope Lutheran in West Seattle.

Alumni Weddings Rebecca Gass - LHS Class of 2007 - married Ian Lund on September 5, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church, downtown Sheboygan. The wedding party included Elizabeth Gass - LHS Class of 2004 and Teresa Gass - Class of 2012. The couple resides in Kiel.

Alumni Births

Val Feldman Lopez - Class of 2008 and husband Pablo Lopez welcomed their son, Pablo Jayce on November 12, 2015. Pablo and Val reside in Plymouth.

Katherine Stelter - Class of 1998, and Jack Rauwerdink welcomed a daughter, Hailey Sandra, in November 8, 2015. They live in Sheboygan Falls.

Nicholas Wychesit - Class of 2001 and his wife, Kris welcomed their son, Mason John on December 20, 2015. Nick and Kris reside in Oostburg.

Michael Beinemann - Class of 2005, and his wife, Tiffany, welcomed a daughter, Blakely Marie, in December 2015.

Kayla Post Freitag - Class of 2006, and her husband, Eric, welcomed a daughter, Harper Bea, on November 19, 2015.

Nathan Dillman and Laurie Kretschmar Dillman - both from the LHS Class of 2003, welcomed their son, Herschel Nathan on February 8, 2016. Nate and Laurie live in Sheboygan.



Hey Alumni... Send us your news! Engaged? Married? New Job?

Let your classmates know what you’ve been doing!

__________________________________________________________________ Last Name First Name Maiden Name

___________________________________________________________________ Current Address

______________________ __________________________________ ____________ Phone Number Email Address Graduation Year

My News: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Email your news, notes, and photos to Carmen Dolson at [email protected] for future newsletters or mail this form in the enclosed envelope to Lutheran High School.

Alumni News and Notes Scott Brinkmann - LHS Class of 2000, was hired October 5, 2015, as a Special Agent Railroad Police Officer with Union Pacific Railroad. Scott is currently the lone Union Pacific officer in the state of Wisconsin and is responsible for all law enforcement matters relating to UP assets throughout the state, based out of the Union Pacific Butler Yard in Milwaukee. He previously worked as a police officer for the Village of Grafton for over 10 years. Scott and his wife, Anne, live in Belgium, WI.

Jennifer Wallrich - LHS Class of 2005, is running in her first Ironman Triathlon in Madison this September. The full Ironman competition consists of swimming, 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and finally running 26.2 miles, for a total of 140.6 miles in 17 hours or less. The Ironman Foundation supports many charities while launching competitions across the US. For more information, you can visit Jenny’s site at https://www.crowdrise.com/2016ironmanwisconsin/fundraiser/jenniferwallrich. Go Jenny!

Become an LHS friend on Facebook and keep up on birthday wishes, post announcements and photos, find other alumni, see LHS sports scores, updates and pictures, but mainly just stay in touch!

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.crowdrise.com/2016ironmanwisconsin/fundraiser/jenniferwallrich

https://www.crowdrise.com/2016ironmanwisconsin/fundraiser/jenniferwallrich

mailto:[email protected]



Lutheran High School Association 3323 University Drive Sheboygan, WI 53081-4761

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stay in touch!

Five Motives Served by an Endowment A Positive Legacy. Because the funds are permanent, the legacy will influence future generations.Continue Regular Giving. Create an estate gift where funds placed in an endowment will have an inflation-adjusted annual gift continue in perpetuity.Permanence. Funds are guarded closely, invested and protected so the principle will grow, not be eroded by inflation.Strengthen Lutheran High School. Strong endowments allow LHS to have financially stable funds for tuition assistance and other needs.Personal Satisfaction. Make a real difference while doing something good that will last.

Sheboygan Lutheran High School Preparing Christian Leaders -- One Student at a Time.

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Mail this form to:Lutheran High School Development Office3323 University Dr., Sheboygan, WI 53081

thanking him for these gifts!€¦ · a very special meet & greet with miss wisconsin usa, kate...

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