Warm greetings from Walther.
As we get ready for a new school year, I have been reflecting on the past five years and all that has taken place, including the many ways the Lord has blessed this ministry. I took on the role of Principal/Head of School in the summer of 2019, and the last five school years have been incredibly rewarding as I’ve gotten to know and lead this wonderful community. In that time, Walther has had 15 sport seasons, around 180 chapel services, nearly 900 days of school and one global pandemic. As I personally gear up for my 6th school year at Walther the one word that keeps coming back to me is this: family. Alumni from every era tell me Walther was like a family when they attended, and that is how so many of our faculty and students describe it today. We are a family because we all acknowledge that we are children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a family with a common vision, preparing for lives of purpose, learning and service. We are a family that supports one another. Like all families, we may not always get along and agree on everything, but we know that when push comes to shove, the Walther community comes together to love one another—as Christ loved us. I am blessed to be on the verge of starting my sixth year at Walther, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Please keep our school in your prayers as we start our 71st year!
Yours in Christ,
Tim Bouman
Head of School/Principal
Alumni Dinner and Concert, Reunions, and more!
Spend the weekend of October 25 and 26 with Walther Christian Academy. On Friday, October 25 we will be hosting our annual Alumni Dinner at the school. You will be treated to a tour of Walther, a great dinner, a museum of archives, and a concert that you can even participate in. We will also provide private reunion classrooms to kick off your reunion weekend! Last year we hosted two class reunions that enjoyed wine and light appetizers in private classrooms, giving classmates a chance to reconnect.
On Saturday, October 26, join us for a brief Chapel service at 9:00am, followed by the Erin Stanley Memorial softball game at 10:00. At 11:00 we induct our first Athletic Hall of Fame class since 1998 followed by the varsity football at 1:00 vs. Westmont. Most reunions gather on Saturday evening at a local restaurant or hotel….start planning now! Let us know if you need contact information for your classmates.
Ticket information for the Alumni Dinner and Hall of Fame ceremony will be available soon. Save the date and connect with classmates now to make this a great Homecoming Weekend. I look forward to meeting and reconnecting with alumni from many decades of Walther graduation classes.
Bill Koehne ‘87
Advancement Director
Walther Christian Academy
As part of Walther’s 70th Anniversary, plans are underway to revitalize Walther’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame currently includes 17 members with the last class inducted in 1998. The Hall will honor alumni by recognizing the milestones and historic moments achieved by individuals and teams throughout Walther’s history, honor coaches who made a significant impact on the student-athletes here at Walther, and acknowledge the contributions of supporters of Bronco athletics over the years. The 2024 inductees will be announced on August 30 during our first home football game and the following week on Walther’s social media. Consider making plans to join us for the induction ceremony on Homecoming Saturday, October 26 at 11:00am. |
Ethan Gonzalez, Walther Class of 2022, is a student at University of Southern California (USC). After starting as a Political Science major he transferred to the Marshall School of Business at USC and absolutely loves it. He is especially pleased with the support and resources involving emotional and mental health for students, the networking available, and USC’s commitment to inclusion for all.
The networking opportunities helped Ethan land a full-time internship this summer at the accounting firm Ernst and Young in Chicago. He is part of a launch internship program that will allow him to experience two rotations. He started in the internal audit division focusing on Enterprise Risk, and is currently working in Assurance within the external audit division. Ethan hopes to return to EY next summer for a service line internship where he would spend the full summer diving deep into one area of the firm.
While at Walther, Ethan was involved in volleyball, Mathletes, NHS, and Student Council (serving as Vice President as a senior). He credits Walther for a strong academic foundation. He is especially thankful for his teachers’ dedication and desire for their students to be successful.
After graduation from USC, Ethan plans to pursue a career as a CPA and foresees completing an MBA at some point in the near future. We look forward to following his progress along the way.
Spend the weekend of October 25 and 26 with Walther Christian Academy.
If you are organizing a class reunion and would like a contact list or logistical help, feel free to contact Bill Koehne at advancement@waltheracademy.org
Walther Christian Academy is operated for the purpose of providing Christian Education at the secondary level for the families of Lutheran congregations. However, it admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, and religion to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin and religion in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
