Friends,
It is February. Outside it is cold, windy, snowy and icy. It is still very dark and, according to Punxsutawney Phil, we will be stuck here for a bit yet.
Inside the halls of Walther, it is a different story. Thanks to the generosity of our friends and supporters from our last Capital Campaign, we have a nice, modern boiler and HVAC system keeping us warm. And thanks to Facility Director Jayson DeVries, we have all new LED lighting keeping the halls and classrooms bright.
Much more, though, than the heaters and light fixtures, our Walther family is providing daily warmth, light and joy. Just this week, our Praise Band lifted spirits with beautiful harmonies leading chapel. Our Parent Association provided a special grab and go breakfast with a smile. Our boys basketball team upset Timothy Christian in a nailbiter while our cheerleaders cheered and our pep band struck up the Walther Fight Song. Our students returned from the Shakespeare Theater raving about their experience and saying they “actually” enjoyed A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It may be winter outside, but the love of Christ and the Walther family keeps things warm inside. And the boiler helps.
I hope to see many of you at the Bronco Benefit later this month–buy your tickets now!
Yours in Christ,
Tim Bouman
Head of School/Principal
The Bronco Benefit is just 2 weeks away! We are looking forward to this annual fundraiser which has many new features this year.
New Venue: The Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park
New Price: Reduced to $125 per ticket
New Competitions: Heads & Tails and a Dessert Dash
New Auction items:
But the purpose of the event has not changed. We gather to enjoy fellowship and fundraise in support of Walther Christian Academy: its students, teachers, facility, and programs.
Join us in-person on Saturday, February 22 or support the event online. Silent auction items and donations will be available throughout the evening at the event website, www.BroncoBenefit25.givesmart.com.
If you plan to attend, don’t hesitate. Ticket sales close on Monday, February 10. Purchase your tickets today by going to walther.com and clicking on the Bronco Benefit advertisement.
We hope to see you there!
Bill Koehne ‘87
Director of Advancement
Walther Christian Academy
Five members of Walther’s senior class were recently named Illinois State Scholars for 2025. This matches the statewide average with 10% of our senior class earning the distinction.
Briana Wurpts, Caleb Goman, Carter Powell, Jonah Winkelman, and Sandra Jimenez have combined to take 16 AP courses (including 9 this year alone) plus 8 courses at Concordia-Chicago. They all have weighted GPA’s over 4.0 and their SAT scores range from 1060-1350. The group is heavily involved in music and drama, and three are athletes. We are proud of this talented group of students who have maximized their academic potential and look forward to seeing where God leads them after graduation.
Rachel Wilharm, Walther Class of 2016, is a Physician Assistant in the Cardiology department at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. After completing her undergraduate studies in Physiology at the University of Minnesota, she went through the PA program at Concordia University Wisconsin where she earned a Living the Mission Scholarship. Rachel’s sub-specialty at Illinois Masonic is electrophysiology, so her patients are dealing with arrhythmia issues, many with pacemakers or defibrillators.
Rachel always liked science classes and had thoughts of entering the medical field. Her favorite class at Walther was Anatomy with Mrs. Ernst where she found everything interesting, especially the dissections. It was during a seminar for health careers class while at UM that she decided being a Physician Assistant was the route for her.
While at Walther, Rachel was involved in band, choir, and drama all while playing three sports and maintaining high grades. She credits these experiences with developing good time management skills and working as a team, whether in athletics or in the classroom doing experiments together.
She is thankful for the ways that Walther influenced her faith development. “I especially liked Campfire because it was more laid back and energetic. Time in Spiritual Family and Religion classes allowed us to talk about faith with friends and teachers. You don’t get that opportunity everywhere.”
Rachel now donates to Walther on a monthly basis. “Walther has always been a part of my family. Now that I am making money, it is a natural way to give back.” Rachel certainly continues to “Live the Mission” in all that she does.
IHSA Regional Wrestling Meet @ Walther – Saturday Feb 8 @ 7:00pm
IHSA Girls Basketball Regional @ Walther – February 18 and 20
Bronco Benefit – Saturday, Feb 22 at 5:00pm
Open House for Prospective Students – February 19 @ 7:00pm
Career Day – March 21
Join us on Saturday, February 22 at the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park for the 2025 Bronco Benefit, our largest fundraising event of the year. The evening includes appetizers, open bar, dinner, auction, and raffles – all benefitting Walther’s faculty, staff, students, and facilities.
We will hear music from Walther students, learn about the impact Walther is making on their lives, get an update from Head of School Tim Bouman, and celebrate with former teacher and coach, Roger Kruel ’74, as he is awarded the 2025 Sower Award.
Make this event a success by becoming a sponsor, contributing an auction item, hosting friends at a table, or attending on your own.
Tickets sales close on Monday, February 10 at BroncoBenefit25.givesmart.com. We hope to see you there. Call or email Bill Koehne with any questions or to offer an auction item.
Bill Kammrath, Class of ’60, passed away on December 23, 2024.
Vern Klotz, Class of ’62, passed away on December 26, 2024 after a short period of illness.
David Heinrich, Class of ’71, passed away on January 8, 2025.
Carl Schroeder, Class of ’66, passed away on January 31, 2025. Visitation is on 2/10, 3-8pm at Knollcrest Funeral Home in Lombard. Funeral service is on 2/11, 10am at Immanuel, Elmhurst.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.
Please email any death notices to 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.
