Support Encourages Student Success

Concordia Lutheran High School sent its 84th graduating class out to colleges and careers; 98 percent of these students received financial aid. Many of those scholarships came from endowments created over the years by alumni and friends of Concordia. Additional support came through gifts given this year specifically for tuition assistance. These gifts have helped many families ensure that their sons and daughters received that Christ-centered, quality education that is the standard and will remain the standard for the next years.

Awards and honors were shared at that graduation. Those accolades included academic, fine arts and service. Our Marching Cadets band members again demonstrated their skills this year placing high in state and continuing the history of quality music. In fact, a member of the audience surprised the band during its recent tour:

"It was an absolute honor and privilege to meet Mr. Ron Keller at our concert this evening at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hermitage, Tennessee," says CLHS Band Director Adam Friedrich. "Ron is an Indiana University grad in trumpet performance and had his first gig, playing trumpet with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, at the age of 17! Following his time at IU, he played for a couple of years in the Stan Kenton band traveling the United States before moving to New York with his wife Ann where he was an accomplished studio and tour musician playing for musicians like Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich and countless other jazz icons. He even played the Guy Lombardo Band for the New Year's Eve celebrations in the late 1960s. After his time in New York City, he moved to Nashville to become a studio musician and has played on countless jingles, smash hits and everything in between. At the end of our concert, he stood up and exclaimed that it was "the best dang high school band I've heard in years!" What a treat for us to have such an amazing man sitting in our audience this evening! After our concert, Ron shared a few words with our students, sharing tips about a life of music and playing to glorify God with their talents.

As you look forward in your planning, this is just one of the many benefits you can provide to students and faculty—to people—and that benefit can last for eternity or can make an immediate impact now. It is your choice and your plan that will make this happen. Contact Jenny Grisez at jgrisez@clhscadets.com or (260) 483-1102, ext. 253 to learn about your giving options.