Summer is always an unusual time in the life of a school. Even though we are between academic years and most of our faculty and students are getting a well-deserved rest, the work continues at Walther. I am often asked what administrators do over the summer. It’s a great question. Our admin team is here laying the groundwork for a successful school year. What does that look like?
Please keep Walther in your prayers this summer, and drop in to visit any time.
May God bless your summer,
Tim Bouman
Head of School/Principal
Walther has been a part of my life in a variety of ways ever since I was in 5th grade when I joined the grade school band program and attended summer basketball camp. I continued in these programs until becoming a Walther student from 1983-1987. Four years later I returned to teach and coach at my alma mater. During 21 years on the faculty at Walther, I taught mostly math classes, served as the math department chair, coached basketball, track & field, and even cross country for one year. My last two years I also served as the Dean of Students. Most recently, I have experienced Walther as a parent. My sons, Aiden ‘22 and Ryan ‘26, have been involved in music, drama, and volleyball, among other things.
I am excited to return now as Walther’s Advancement Director. I look forward to connecting or reconnecting with Walther alumni in a variety of ways as we work together to provide the school with a strong foundation, allowing it to thrive as we serve the students in our community for years to come. I invite you to reach out at any time via email or phone, and I look forward to meeting many alumni and friends of Walther during our Homecoming / Alumni Weekend, October 25-26, 2024.
As part of Walther’s 70th Anniversary, plans are afoot to revitalize Walther’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Thanks to our readers, we have learned that two previous incarnations of Walther’s Athletic Hall of Fame did exist, with inductions in 1989, 1997 and 1998. Our committee will be sure to incorporate these inductees as we build a more permanent and sustained Hall of Fame. The Hall will honor alumni by recognizing the milestones and historic moments achieved by those individuals and teams throughout Walther’s history, honoring coaches who made a significant impact on the student-athletes here at Walther, and acknowledging the contributions of supporters of Bronco athletics over the years.
We are now accepting nominations.
Anyone can nominate:
You can learn more and download a nomination form on our website:
On June 30, 2024, Warren G. Hoger was called to his heavenly home at the age of 94. Coach Hoger taught and coached at Walther from 1956-1978 and returned in 1993, serving as athletic director until 2000 and assistant football coach until 2010.
Coach Hoger’s teams won 14 Private School League Championships across three sports. As head coach, his teams won four football championships, including three in a row from ‘69-’71, four wrestling championships with three in a row from ‘68-70, and six in track and field including every year from ‘64-’68. Coach is a member of the Halls of Fame for both the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association and the Illinois Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association.
But Coach Hoger was known for more than the dominance of his teams. He was a mentor for Walther students and coaches alike. As a coach he guided his athletes to be better people, and as athletic director he implored his coaches to do the same. Many of the tributes on Walther’s Facebook page after the announcement of his passing spoke of Coach Hoger as a mentor and friend.
Coach Hoger’s legacy will live on at Walther through the Hoger Tuomi Wrestling Invitational hosted each December at Walther, and the dedication of Walther’s track in his honor in 2015. We thank God for the multitude of ways Coach Hoger impacted the lives of so many Walther students and colleagues.
Please email any death notices to: Advancement@WaltherAcademy.org
A few months ago, Melrose Park Mayor Serpico presented Walther with a $150,000 safety grant. We were incredibly thankful for this generosity, and today we are proud to report that we have been able to completely replace and update both our security cameras and our intercom systems to make our school a safer place. Thank you, Mayor Serpico.
Do you want to support Walther and leave your mark? Or, purchase a gift for someone you love?
Choose a paver purchase option to honor your time at Walther, thank a parent or teacher, honor a memory, or recognize your business. The pavers are $200 each.
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.
