Training students for Christian lives

A PUBLICATION OF MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL In This Issue: Celebrating 40 Years Class of 2018 Faculty News Campus Beautification JULY 2018 Training students for Christian lives

From One Anniversary to Another Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School uses God s Word in a Christ-centered education to assist families in training students for Christian lives on earth and for eternity. PRINCIPAL Tim Plath DEAN OF STUDENTS Jim Buboltz ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR Craig Morgan REGISTRAR Heath Dobberpuhl ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sarah Grams FINANCIAL SECRETARY Deborah Kuck MISSION ADVANCEMENT COORDINATOR Valerie Holzhueter MISSION ADVANCEMENT ASSISTANT Kristin Matzke Contact MVL at 507.354.6851 or mvl.org To receive HiLites by mail or to change your subscription, please contact Kristin Matzke, 507.233.8662 or kmatzke@mvlhs.org. This past year, along with our church bodies, we celebrated the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation. Our theme for the year was Grace. Faith. Scripture., based on Paul s well known words from Ephesians 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. For the entire 2017-18 school year, we focused on these words and similar themes in our chapel devotions. Time and time again we were reminded of the importance of these words and the role they play in our faith life. During the 2018-19 school year, we will celebrate our 40 th anniversary. We ll spend time celebrating the wonderful 40 years of God s grace that He has so abundantly showered on us. We will reflect on the blessings we ve received and the growth we ve experienced. Each activity and celebration, as well as our chapel devotions, will focus on the words of Psalm 126:3: The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. A forty-year anniversary is a wonderful event, but it certainly would be a hollow celebration if it were missing the fundamental foundation of our faith. How blessed we are that for 40 years, God s Word has been taught in its truth and purity at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School! For 40 years, He has provided Christian teachers who unashamedly shared God s Word with so many students. We are further blessed because we are seeing second generation students attend MVL. These alumni recognize The joy that we have in our hearts provides us the motivation to live out our mission. the impact that MVL had on their own lives and want the same for their children. As we journey through 2018-19, let s do so with grateful hearts. God has blessed us and done great things for us. The joy that we have in our hearts provides us the motivation to live out our mission of training students for Christian lives on earth and for eternity. May God bless our efforts! Tim Plath MVLHS Principal 2 mvl.org

Beautifying the MVL Campus Members of the MVL family created an awareness last fall that our building itself held few signs that MVL is a Christian school. Sure enough, with all of the remodeling, renovation, painting, and general maintenance that has taken place in recent years, most of the artwork that was hanging on our walls had been taken down and never reassessed. As a result of this evaluation, the MVL Campus Beautification Committee was formed, made up of Sarah Grams, Administrative Assistant; Val Holzhueter, Mission Advancement Coordinator; and Jason Jaspersen, Art Teacher. Meetings have taken place weekly since October to determine how best to correct this oversight. It was discovered that this was a much bigger task than initially imagined. But what enjoyment this undertaking has brought to each committee member in the pursuit of finding artwork that provides the message to our students, guests, faculty, and staff that we are indeed centered on Christ. Several updates have been made and several more are in progress, including the following: the stained glass above the main entry doors, signifying the sacrament of baptism the stained glass mosaic on the main floor, illustrating the body and blood of Jesus Christ the stairwells and hallways displaying various AP Art Club church season banners the Archival Hall, a walk down the history of MVL. Come see how our looks have changed, and how our message remains the same: God s Word is our Great Heritage! Golf Classic Recap MVL was blessed with another successful Golf Classic and Wine & Beer Tasting on July 9! The event continues to see large numbers coming out to the New Ulm Country Club for the day. Thanks to the sponsors and attendees, over $17,000 was raised for Tuition Assistance for the 2018-19 school year. The photo shows some beautiful arrangements A to Zinnia Florals & Gifts owned by MVL alumna Heather Hacker-Hammer provided for the event. For a full list of sponsors, please visit mvl.org/news-events/events/ golf-classic. Mark your calendars now for July 8, 2019! mvl.org 3

God Blessings to the Class of 2018 Ingrid Anderson Carroll Jakin Anderson Megan Barbosa Haley Birkholz Winona State University Samara Bonnett Matthias Borgwardt Julia Buboltz South Dakota Magdala Diersen University of Wisconsin-River Falls Sarah Dinse Undecided Benjamin Draper Wisconsin Lutheran Jordan Fischer South Dakota Blake Fosburgh Wichita State University Luke Gartner Josiah Glowicki Southeast Alex Gutzke Shelby Haseman Minneapolis of Art & Design Henry Havemeier Saint Cloud Technical Christian Hennig Milwaukee School of Engineering Shylo Hilbert South Dakota Aliana Hippert Workforce Keegan Jeffers Kaelyn Johnson Augustana University Jordyn Keranen University-Mankato Jacob Kiecker Isaiah Koepsell 4 mvl.org

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 Andrew Kramer Colten Maas South Dakota Abby Maasz South Central Olivia Menzel Myles Merseth Argosy University Chantel Moldan Natasha Moreton Victor Morschauser Workforce Anna Natrakul Kilachand Honors - Boston University Maxwell Nerland Nevander Neto University-Mankato John Niebuhr Noelle Olson Crown TaShawn Parker Iowa Lakes Community Austin Peterson Saint Cloud Samuel Pfingsten University-Mankato Claire Plocher Workforce Samuel Rivera St. Olaf Sarah Schwartz Madelyn Spurgin Seminole State of Florida Matthew Stein Isabella Tice Wisconsin Lutheran Kylie Ulrich University-Mankato Hayley Volz mvl.org 5

Updates from the Faculty, Staff, & Board New Faculty Three faculty members will be leaving MVL this summer. May the Lord bless them as they serve Him in new ways! Mr. Ron Wels (Science) announced he would be retiring at the end of the 2017-18 school year after 40 years in the teaching ministry. Mr. Jason Jaspersen (Art) accepted a full-time position with Koine Music Ministries. Ms. Deneal Sperle (English and Guidance) is pursuing a graduate degree and career in counseling. Principal Tim Plath and the Board of Directors have worked diligently in the last several months to fill these teaching positions. Mrs. Jennifer Uher accepted a full-time call to serve as our Physical Science and Biology teacher. She will lead the Drama department and serve as one of two Student Council advisers (with Mr. John Gunderson). Jennifer s husband, Alan, has accepted a call to serve Martin Luther (MLC) as a student teaching supervisor. Mr. Ben Lundsten accepted a one-year call to teach art. This is a provisional call, as Ben is not yet a WELS certified teacher. Ben and his wife, Haley, are members of Peace-North Mankato. Mrs. Karyn Clemons accepted a part-time, one-year call to teach two sections of Advanced Placement (AP) English and one section of Foundations of English. Karyn and her husband, Ben, are members of St. Paul s-new Ulm. Ben is a professor at MLC. Mrs. Rebecca Berg accepted a part-time, one-year call to teach three sections of Language Arts I and supervise two sections of online learning. Becky will be a freshmen adviser and help Jennifer Uher with drama. Becky s husband, Darrell, has accepted a call to teach art education at MLC. Mrs. Rebecca Rogotzke accepted a one-year call to teach three sections of American Literature and Composition. Becky and her husband, Jim, are members of Zion-Sanborn, and have a sophomore at MVL. The Board of Directors decided that we would utilize District 88 (New Ulm Public Schools) to supply us with a guidance counselor. Mr. Tim Smith has accepted that position. His focus will be on college and career counseling and academic counseling. Personal counseling will continue to be done by faculty, as well as Christian Family Solutions and Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service. Staff Changes Mrs. Donna Dose will be stepping down from her position in Food Service this summer. Mrs. Beth Fluegge, who has worked with Donna as the Food Service Assistant, will take over as our new Food Service lead. The search for a Mission Advancement Director will resume in the fall. Faculty Anniversaries In addition to Mr. Wels s 40 th anniversary, two other faculty members celebrated milestones this year: Mr. Jeff Koepsell (40 years) and Mr. Jim Buboltz (25 years). A reception for Ron, Jeff, and Jim was held in April after the Year-end Sacred Concert. MVL Board of Directors Rev. Roger Knepprath and Mr. Larry Rude retired from the Board in June. Rev. Knepprath is pastor of St. Paul s-north Mankato. Mr. Rude retired at the end of the 2017-18 school year as principal of Mount Olive Lutheran School in Mankato. We thank them for their many years of faithful service to MVL! The Board of Directors for the 2018-19 school year is as follows: Mr. Steve Biedenbender (elected in June), Mr. Duane Flygare, Mr. Bob Fosburgh, Mr. Dave Gartner, Rev. Tim Hartwig, Mr. Paul Holzhueter, 6 mvl.org

MVL ASSOCIATION CHURCHES Mr. Luke Hunter, Mr. Macord Johnson, Rev. Michael Killinger (elected in June), Mr. Peter Kramer, Mr. Warren Krohn, Mr. Paul Lokken, Mr. Todd Marotz, Mr. Jon Riederer, and Rev. Dan Witte (elected in June). Memorial & Honorary Gifts The following memorial and honorary gifts were received March 16 - July 10, 2018. Unless otherwise designated by the donor, these types of gifts to MVL are invested in the General Fund Endowment, which accrues earnings that are used for the operating budget. In memory of Lyla Baur $ 45.00 Walter & Elviera Becker $ 30.00 John & Olga Bentz $ 30.00 Darwin Black $ 100.00 Daniel Bonnett $ 25.00 Lorraine Bruss $ 10.00 Clifford Cordes $ 50.00 Lois Dammann $ 30.00 Evelyn Hahnke $ 20.00 Mervin Ingebritson $ 10.00 Harold Kletscher $ 5.00 Ruby Kroll $ 15.00 Louie Lindmeyer $ 10.00 Wanda Lokken $ 105.00 Paul Madson $ 10.00 Jerry Pitmon $ 20.00 Alvin Resoft $ 25.00 Delbert Sandhoefner $ 50.00 Myra Schaefer $ 25.00 Floyd Schwecke $ 20.00 Virginia Shellum $ 20.00 Duane Shult $ 20.00 We are thankful for the many ways in which our gracious Lord has provided. Please continue to keep our school in your prayers! Alan Spurgin $ 40.00 Gary Stewart $ 20.00 Marcella Stueber $ 20.00 Edward Wessel $ 55.00 In honor of The teaching anniversaries of Jim Buboltz, Jeff Koepsell, and Ron Wels $ 120.00 The 30 th wedding anniversary of Terry & Ann Kruger $ 10.00 St. Paul s Lutheran Church Arlington, Minnesota Courtland Lutheran Church Courtland, Minnesota St. John Lutheran Church Fairfax, Minnesota Norwegian Grove Lutheran Church Gaylord, Minnesota Immanuel Lutheran Church Gibbon, Minnesota Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Mankato, Minnesota St. Mark Lutheran Church Mankato, Minnesota Zion Lutheran Church Morgan, Minnesota St. John s Lutheran Church New Ulm, Minnesota St. Paul s Lutheran Church New Ulm, Minnesota Zion Lutheran Church New Ulm, Minnesota Trinity Lutheran Church Nicollet, Minnesota St. Paul s Lutheran Church North Mankato, Minnesota Peace Lutheran Church North Mankato, Minnesota St. John Lutheran Church Redwood Falls, Minnesota St. Paul s Lutheran Church St. James, Minnesota Norseland Lutheran Church St. Peter, Minnesota St. Peter Lutheran Church St. Peter, Minnesota Zion Lutheran Church Sanborn, Minnesota St. John s Lutheran Church Sleepy Eye, Minnesota Zion Lutheran Church Winthrop, Minnesota mvl.org 7

45638 561 st Avenue New Ulm, MN 56073-5507 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID ABERDEEN, SD PERMIT #200 40 th Anniversary Celebrations MVL does not stand alone today. We are built on the families and supporters of the last 40 years. We are also built for the families and supporters yet to come. Most importantly, our foundation and future is centered on Christ alone. The 2018-19 school year marks MVL s 40 th anniversary. Indeed, The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Psalm 126:3). This verse is our school year theme. It is a wonderful reminder of how our loving Lord has provided for us and continues to bless us. This is a special time for the entire MVL family. Two particularly special things will be happening this year. First, we invite you to be part of $40 for 40. Our goal is to raise $40,000 throughout the school year for the MVL Partnership Fund. Will you join in this partnership and utilize the enclosed envelope? $40 or $400, every gift impacts students today, yet will bear fruit and multiply for years to come. Second, rather than one large celebration, we are recognizing the 40 th anniversary throughout the year. We hope this will allow you and many others in our family to visit the campus and participate in events as your schedule allows. This includes various athletic games, concerts, and drama performances; Homecoming festivities for alumni and friends on October 4-6; WELS Regional Choral Fest, which is being hosted at MVL November 9-11; the Spirit of MVL events on November 17; and the Booster Club Auction on March 23. Principal Tim Plath is already gathering names for alumni reunion music ensembles throughout the year, such as a Homecoming Pep Band and choir to sing the national anthem. You can register your name, voice part or instrument, and level of interest by emailing Kristin Matzke at kmatzke@mvlhs.org. You can also regularly check online at www.mvl.org for additional event activities and updates. For more information about $40 for 40 or about the anniversary activities, contact Val Holzhueter: valh@mvlhs.org or 507.233.8692.