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The Zion Lutheran School homecoming
weekend took place Sunday September 7th with a special outdoor
church service, catered meal, and 50th anniversary program presided
over by current principal Stephen Parry.
The meal consisted of ham,
potatoes, green beans, salad and rolls. For dessert, there was an
anniversary cake with white icing decorated with the school’s name
and crosses in blue and gold, which are the school colors.
Throughout the school hallways
there were exhibits with photographs from various school events over
the years. In the library were many yearbooks, sports photos and
class photos.
Around 12:30 the anniversary program started with a former student
offering a prayer for the school and blessings for its future.
Video - Zion Lutheran 50th
Anniversary - Principal Stephen Parry invites former teacher Donna
Sauer to speak
Current principal Stephen Parry
then welcomed everyone. He said early Lutheran settlers that arrived
in this country often constructed and started schools before
anything else, even churches. They knew educating the next
generation of young people was an important task. We continue to do
that today.
The rest of the program was spent reflecting on the school and
events over its 50 year history.
The first speaker was former Zion
Lutheran teacher Donna Sauer who shared a brief history of the
school. She said the school was established to assist families with
the gospel.
Zion Lutheran’s first school started in 1892. Sauer said there were
several changes in focus and teachers over the subsequent years. In
1943, the congregation decided to close the parochial school when a
teacher could not be located.
In July 1972, Sauer said plans were made for a preschool at Zion
Lutheran Church and Virginia Hinkle was hired to be the teacher. In
spring 1975, April Moot and Donna Sauer were hired to teach
pre-kindergarten.
Some had suggested opening a parochial school. Ivan Ray and Gene
Aukamp were strong advocates for this vision and helped spearhead
these efforts. By July 1975, the builder’s assembly passed a
resolution to open a parochial school. Grades kindergarten through
third grade joined the pre-k program and there was a total of 22
students.
The following year fourth grade was added. Next, fifth grade was
added. By 1978 sixth grade was added and in 1979 seventh grade was
added.
By that time there were over 100 students. Sauer said the Christian
Education Committee was concerned their room in the church would
soon be too small for the current enrollment.
An architect was soon engaged to build a school on the west side of
Lincoln. Sauer said in 1980, the new school was completed and
teachers and students moved to the new building after Easter
vacation. The building was dedicated April 1, 1980, with Concordia
Theological Seminary professor Walter Meyer Jr. as the keynote
speaker.
As the eighth grade was added to offer a Christian education to the
youth in Logan County, Sauer said a sign was erected, and a
playground was built on the East side of the school in spring 1981.
In September 1980, the school’s enrollment was 137. The first
graduating class had eight students.
Under several different principals, the school continued to grow.
Additionally, there were music and sports program. Enrollment in the
90s had reached 200 students. The school also received
accreditation.
During the past ten years, some of the sports have transitioned to
participation with other local schools through IESA co-ops, which
Sauer said allows the school to play with some of their future
Lincoln community high school classmates.
The school adapted to the 2020 global pandemic by providing learning
packets and teaching through Google Classroom. Sauer said the school
was able to set up safety protocols so that during the 2020 to 2021
school year, students were able to be in the classroom thanks to the
school’s creativity and dedication.
In 2021, Zion Lutheran School started participating in the Lincoln
Community High School eighth grade Spanish program. In 2025, ZLS
joined the Logan County Music Collaborative.
Steve Schumacher became principal in 1991 and after he left in 2015,
the school had several interim principals. Current principal Stephen
Parry came in spring 2023.
Over the years there have been many improvements in technology and
various updates to the building. Sauer closed by saying she was
thankful for those who share the message of the gospel.
Next, Parry recognized past and
current staff and students from the 1970s through now having them
stand as he called out each decade.
Reflections on the school were then shared by past principals and
students, starting with Eunice Hausler, the school’s first
principal.
Hausler reflected on moving to the area in 1973 and said they wanted
a Lutheran school for their girls and there was not one around. She
was told at a meeting at the church twelve students were needed to
be able to start a school. Once she found nine students, the church
board members agreed to start a school in the basement.
Something Hausler said is that the school was built on miracles by
almighty God. One miracle was the survival of a little boy who was
dying of Reye’s disease. After much prayer, she learned the boy was
getting better. This and other miracles are found in her book Thank
You Lord, for the Privilege.
In the early years of the school, Hausler said the kids sang nearly
every Sunday plus did Easter and Christmas presentations. That
helped the congregation see what they were doing at school.
As the school’s enrollment grew and grades were added, Hausler said
there were soon no more walls to knock out of the church basement.
Once they were able to obtain land and build the school, it kept
growing.
Hausler congratulated the church for supporting the school and
bringing so many children to Jesus over the past 50 years. She is
thankful the school is here for the children and stressed the
importance of keeping it going.
Referring to the story of Noah where people ignored the warnings
about the flood, Hausler said Jesus closed the door once Noah’s
family and the animals were in the ark. She then reminded everyone
what is done at the school is key. It is important for kids to know
Jesus because when he comes back with fire and brimstone, Jesus will
close the doors and no one unsaved will come in. for he is the only
way to Heaven.
Hausler closed by thanking the teachers, principals, pastors and
others for keeping the school going all these years.
Video - Zion Lutheran 50th
Anniversary - former principals Robert Boyd and Steve Schumacher
The next one to share reflections
was former Principal Robert Boyd, who came to the school in 1991. He
recalls he and his family trying to get under the railroad bridge in
a U-Haul and having to get help.
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Boyd said his start at the
school was auspicious as there were two new teachers, a new
pastor at the church and a new baby in his family. Lincoln was
the second place he was principal and he moved here after being
interviewed by phone and never visiting the town.
Something Boyd would tell kids was bout living out their faith
and going out into the world to spread the gospel like it says
in Mark 16. In Lincoln, he said it is more like going out into
the soybean fields.
Boyd recalls working with exceptional staff, teachers, cooks,
janitors and others who had humble dedication. To him the
students were the best part and he said memories keep flooding
back of eighth grade class trips, chasing balls into the
cornfield and so many other activities.
Before Boyd moved on to his next job in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he
saw the school through Y2K. Boyd now lives and works in Florida.
He remembers the financial struggles and commitment to keep the
ministry going and encouraged the community to keep up the good
fight and support the school.
Former Principal Steve Schumacher spoke next. He came to the
school in 1991 and served as principal until 2015. Like the Boyd
family, his family moved to the community without seeing it.
Schumacher said he was blessed by the wonderful staff including
one who mopped the gym floor daily. He was also blessed to work
with dedicated students. Schumacher talked about the various
sports they had at the school, even the one man bowling team.
There were so many memories Schumacher has of times at Camp
CILCA, parades, the honors band, roller skating in the gym,
scholastic bowl, Bible bowl, a three ring circus, science and
history fairs, festivals, the outdoor nativity and many other
events.
To Schumacher, these activities provided an opportunity to
connect with each other and with God. He said it has always been
about Jesus and God has continued to work through the school,
which continues to soar.
Schumacher referred to Paul’s words in Philippians thanking God
for his remembrance of them and their partnership in the gospel.
He closed by asking the Lord to continue to bless everyone,
thanking everyone for the support and saying the Lord will raise
everyone up on Eagles’ wings.
Zion Lutheran 50th Anniversary - Former students Lori Aukamp
Clayton and Anna Sielaff
Next up were reflections from former students Lori (Aukamp)
Clayton and Anna Sielaff.
Clayton was a student during the school’s early years in the
late 70s. She recalls her dad going to many meetings about the
school and said she was jealous when her brothers started school
without her.
When Clayton was in kindergarten,
they were still meeting in the church basement. By her first grade
year, they had moved into the new school building on Woodlawn Road.
The school was her family of faith, and her family participated in
all the fundraisers.
By fourth grade, Clayton knew she wanted to be a Lutheran school
teacher. She earned her teaching degree and taught in Lutheran
schools for a few years. Clayton then educated her six children at
home. She is now teaching again in Schaumburg, Illinois.
What Clayton remembers are the school mascot, school colors, songs,
lesson, recess, plays and sports. She even remembers when scores
were recorded on a chalkboard.
Clayton called the school’s influence immeasurable and told the kids
to cherish their time at school and the parents to train the kids in
the Lord. She closed by telling the supporters to keep supporting
the school.
Former student Anna Seilaff graduated from ZLS in 2013. She began by
thanking the committee who put the celebration together and said she
loved seeing former teachers.
Sielaff grew up in the Lutheran Church and thanked the Jordan family
for their great influence on her family. It was her priority to
receive a faith education. Sielaff’s aunt was her kindergarten
teacher, which she said was confusing at family gatherings. For
Sielaff, Zion has been like a family.
Something Sielaff loved was projects such as one she did on the
Native American tribes and also loved reading books like Tom Sawyer,
The Outsiders and The Diary of Anne Frank. Other activities she
loved were band, basketball (and going to state three times), track
and field and travelling around the state for track meets.
When Sielaff started college at Concordia, she surprisingly ran into
her first grade teacher Mrs. Stamm, who was one of her favorites.
Sielaff now has bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree
in library science and works at the Springfield Library. She said
she is living her dream.
Sielaff closed by thanking all who were an important part of her
life by guiding, supporting and shaping her.
Video - Zion Lutheran 50
Anniversary - Board Chair John Klemm and Lewis Rodgers on
accreditation
ZLS Board Chairman John Klemm shared the final reflection. He
thanked everyone who worked hard to make the homecoming weekend
amazing. Klemm said we would not be here without all the previous
leaders who helped provide top notch education.
What Klemm remembers is persevering through challenges and hurdles
like the need to hire new staff, boost enrollment and make
improvements to the school to get to the next fifty years.
The school is working on goals for the best years to come. Klemm
said the digital sign outside shares news of events and the upgrades
in the building have helped with improvements. He thanked everyone
for coming to the celebration.
Before introducing CID education executive Lewis “Tripp” Rodgers,
Principal Parry talked about National Lutheran School Accreditation.
He said the school was last accredited in 2017.
Rodgers said as he joined the
celebration, he loved hearing all the comments about the school. He
also loves visiting schools and seeing strong leadership.
Accreditation allows schools to see blessings. Rodgers said his team
visited ZLS over the course of three days and recommended that the
school be accredited at the National level. The team read reports
and decided to approve and accredit Zion Lutheran School again
fully. The accreditation will be in place from September 2025 until
August 2030. Rodgers congratulated the school for its efforts.
In final remarks by Principal Parry, he said thanked everyone for
coming to the celebration and said it is obvious the school has
played an important part for years. 50 years ago, many people made
the school a reality and now they are keeping it a reality. He hopes
that is true for the next fifty years.
After a closing prayer by ZLS Pastor Reverend Mark Thompson thanking
God for the celebration and asking him to grant many more years of
service, everyone sang the doxology.
Once the celebration was over,
former staff gathered for a group photo. It was a great weekend to
celebrate many great years.
[Angela Reiners] |
