Supporting CLHS Teachers to Sustain Our Mission

For Phil Eschels, his impact on Concordia Lutheran High School students has gone from the classroom to scholarships and beyond.

Phil has a long history with Concordia and is a generous donor to the Cadet Fund and the Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). Students who attended CLHS between the years of 1974–1981 may remember Phil as Mr. Eschels, a history and government teacher at the high school.

While teaching, Phil valued his relationship with students and the comradery of his fellow faculty. “I loved watching students grow, having the light bulb go on,” he said. “Mr. Art Pinnow was my department chair. He was a wonderful man. The dedication of the entire faculty, serving Christ by teaching and educating, was incredible.”

But after seven years in the classroom, the Lord had a different career calling in mind for Phil. Following a new career path, he enrolled in law school at Indiana University Bloomington and established a regional law practice in Louisville, Kentucky, serving clients in employment defense in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

Yet Phil was always a teacher at heart. “I always took opportunities to help my clients grow in understanding and treasured that I could still be a teacher even as I practiced law,” he said.

The Christ-centered mission of Concordia and the time he spent “being on the inside” continues to strengthen Phil’s support for teachers and students at CLHS. He believes that supporting faculty with resources and healthy compensation is critical to the sustainability of the school’s mission.

Phil designated his gift this past year toward faculty excellence in the Cadet Fund and toward a leadership gift in our auditorium sound project.

Concordia is thankful for both the sacrifice of talent and treasure that Phil has shared with CLHS. To learn how your gift can support Concordia’s continued excellence, contact Jenny Grisez at (260) 483-1102, ext. 253 or Jacob Pennekamp at jpennekamp@clhscadets.com.