(Photo provided) Lutheran High School began its first year of class in 1976. The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
By BRITTNEY DIAL TESTIN
When Lutheran High School started in 1976, the community had been asking for a Lutheran high school for nearly 50 years. Hearing the requests from the community, a group of founders decided to pursue the idea.
“Basically, it was an idea that we thought was Spirit driven, and we were going to follow that as long as God was going to lead us,” said Jerry Roesener, Founder and Member of the first Board. “We just kept moving on.”
In the Fall of 1976, Lutheran High School started with 13 students, nine freshmen and four sophomores, and five teachers (three full-time and two part-time). The high school began by renting an old building that was remodeled with the help of many community members. The opening service was held on Aug. 29 with over 350 people in attendance. Aug. 30 kicked off the first day of school.
“It’s one of the things that I, senior year graduation, was in tears because leaving the building, you know, doing something new and leaving the seven of us, there were seven of us that graduated that year,” said Suzanne Erdmann Denecke, Class of 1980. “We were going to miss that place, and I still miss it.”
In 1979, the first graduates received their diplomas. Eventually, the school became state accredited and part of the IHSAA. Maroon and gold became the school colors, and the Saints became the mascot.
Boys Basketball and Girls Cheerleading became the first teams, and every student participated.
“We had to make [uniforms] because there was no money to order anything like that,” Denecke said. “So, there were some mothers who knew how to sew and they got a universal pattern.”
Cara Wilson Hougesen, Class of 1985, shared more about her love for the school: “Even though the building was very old, the people inside of it were very intentional about loving us and showing us how to just grab ahold of what we were about and to become who we were supposed to be.”
“The building isn’t what defined Lutheran High School,” said Joel Brutcher, Class of 1987. “It was the students and the teachers and having Jesus at the center of the whole thing.”
Eventually, more clubs were added to the repertoire, including Yearbook Club, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Girls Basketball, and Drama Club.
Now, Lutheran High School has 279 students, and 81 of those students are freshmen. The teaching staff includes 20 teachers and a full staff of administration and support. Staff looks forward to seeing how Lutheran High School grows over the next 50 years.