Scholarships available from LWML SWD

Amelia will be a Freshman at Concordia University Wisconsin this coming Fall with a major in Secondary Education. She credits her parents, both educators in fields that are often seen as being at odds - music and science, as being her primary influence in how she approaches life, nature, and the amazing world God has created. Amelia has seen first-hand that abilities and God-given talents are best used to serve others. She wants to use her abilities in science, math and music to teach and with patience help her students to understand the subject matter, but more importantly, how science and one’s faith connect. Amelia enjoys working with people to solve problems and with her gift of empathy, she hopes to bring joy and success to what might be confusing. Middle school and high school biology students will be blessed to have Amelia as
their teacher. And, her musical gifts will be an additional blessing to her students, her fellow staff members, and the church at large. Amelia knows that God is guiding her path and leading her to His intended purpose.

Elizabeth Johnson will be a junior at Concordia University Wisconsin this coming Fall, majoring in Early Childhood and elementary education. She has been surrounded by Lutheran educators who have prepared her for her vocational calling, but most importantly, her faith life, values and worldview. She credits her high school teachers with living their faith, showing genuine concern for students’ well-being, and most importantly integrating faith in all curricula, athletics, and school life. Elizabeth wants to reflect these same qualities as a teacher. She desires to work in an environment where faith, character, and learning are all integrated, with Christ at the center. Elizabeth has taken advantage of many opportunities to lead and guide children as a Band Camp counselor, as a teacher’s aide in the special education department, and in respite care. She has learned a lot about communication, building relationships, patience, and how to handle difficult situations – gifts that support her desire to teach. She believes that communication is the basis for building a trusting relationship with students and families; a strong work ethic grounded in a desire to serve others will support that trust. Elizabeth knows that leading with Christ’s love and modeling her faith through her words, actions, and relationships is the basis for teaching in a Lutheran school. She looks forward to working with kids, shining the Light of Christ, as she grows spiritually and professionally as a full-time worker in the church.

Annalise Carson was encouraged at an early age to search the Scriptures. It was during 5 th grade that her parents noticed how much she enjoyed reading the Bible and talking about her faith. They encouraged her to pray about how she might place those at the center of her future career. She didn’t know much about church work vocations other than being a pastor. In middle school she began taking voice lessons from her church’s Director of Parish Music and began singing regularly in church. At the end of her freshman year of high school she attended the LWML convention in Milwaukee and took advantage of the opportunity to talk with female church workers to explore possible careers. Her Lutheran high school teachers, her pastor and family encouraged her to consider the Deaconess program. Now she is headed to Concordia University
Chicago where she will major in the Synod’s Deaconess program. Classmates and teachers have appreciated Annalise’s positivity and joyful personality which will continue to impact others as she shares the Word of Christ as a deaconess. Her God-given gifts of singing and drawing will be assets as she serves a congregation, school and more with messages from God’s Word. Art and music speak to the heart, mind and soul; Annaliese prays that she will continue to not only show love to others but continue to grow in love for Christ and His Church.

Anne Herlihy, a non-traditional student with 30 years of healthcare and business experience, is transferring as a junior into the Director of Church Ministries program at Concordia University Wisconsin. She has volunteered mentoring youth and is excited to learn more about family ministry. She also shares a passion for Deaf Ministry. Anne appreciates the opportunities she’s had to serve in the LWML, the encouragement from the women she has met while serving, and is excited to assume her new position as a co-coordinator for women’s mentorship as part of CUW’s Campus Ministry. She gives thanks to God for the support of her husband and children.

Emma Shive was home-schooled until fourth grade, when her first experience in a classroom with a patient, inspiring teacher set her on the path she believes God has prepared for her. Her Lutheran high school Spanish teacher demonstrated the love of teaching, the opportunity to pray and share her faith, interest in students’ lives and interests that Emma hopes to integrate in her own classroom someday. Emma
believes God has gifted her with empathy and the ability to respond with support and care for others, connecting both with her future students and co-workers. “Building one another up” is a calling she takes to heart. As the oldest of five siblings, Emma is accustomed to an active environment with lots going on; she believes this will come in handy in a classroom with many students. Having younger siblings has also taught her the importance of making sure everyone is included. In her future classroom Emma is planning to build a positive, encouraging environment where students know they are loved and supported to succeed. For her the classroom is the perfect place to share the love of Jesus with each day a new opportunity to witness to her faith through actions and words. As a sophomore at Concordia University Wisconsin in Fall, Emma is eager to learn more about the teaching profession and how she can live out her faith in the
classroom, dorm, and community.

Laurie Meyer has discovered that life’s path is not always a straight line. After high school she studied the culinary arts to further her love of baking but soon discovered something was missing. Working with children in the daycare of the Lutheran school she attended helped her to discover the joy and purpose she had prayed for – a new path centered on serving her Lord by teaching. Over the past ten years Laurie has worked in a Lutheran daycare as both a preschool and kindergarten aide. Last year she stepped into the role of a 3-year-old preschool teacher. She now sees that even the culinary school education helped shape her discipline and leadership skills now used in the classroom. Now, with the help of the LWML SWD scholarship Laurie will be able to continue her education toward a bachelor’s degree and Lutheran Teacher Diploma at Concordia University Wisconsin to better serve both the students and families in her school. Guiding children in faith, helping them understand God’s love from an early age is her desire, using God’s gifts not for herself, but in serving others. Further education and full-time church work will help Laurie shape young hearts and lives for years to come.

Hailey Whittow shares that her first two years at Concordia University Wisconsin have confirmed her vocational pursuit of Lutheran K-12 Business Education with minors in Theology and Math Education. She credits her Lutheran high school teachers and now the professors at Concordia with the development of her classroom leadership skills and how to share Jesus with students and co-workers. During her first two years at Concordia she has observed in three different Lutheran schools and has been inspired by the faith demonstrated by the teachers as they instruct and lead. Hailey believes there are so many ways to connect business with the Bible, especially the communication aspects which are central to any business setting. During the summer of 2026 Hailey will further her leadership and teaching skills working with Next Step Ministries in Kansas City, MO. For nine weeks she will work with middle and high school students, leading them in serving projects in the community, sharing the love of Christ with the team in the Kansas City area. Living for Christ is central to her life at Concordia and supports her hope to be an example of God’s love to everyone she meets. Hailey says she looks forward to what God is going to do in her life, and she will continue to lean on the promise that He has good plans for her and her life.

Madelyn Rahn learned early on in kindergarten class that she needed Jesus every day. A simple life-lesson of trusting in Jesus taught by her Lutheran school teacher has had a lasting impact on Madelyn. Her mother is a childcare director in a Lutheran school; helping in the classroom, seeing how happy her mother is teaching and caring for students has made her want to teach. Madelyn hopes to follow her mother and her kindergarten teacher into the classroom of a Lutheran school. Madelyn has worked to develop her gifts of positivity and organization both in her school life and at home. Keeping lessons, supplies, and student activities organized is an important part of teaching. Madelyn has been a setter on the volleyball teams in high school and college. As a setter she is the team cheerleader and has made a conscious effort to be uplifting when things aren’t going well. Positive outlook is an important teaching skill as there will always be students who struggle with concepts, social situations, and sometimes family life issues. Madelyn sees her gifts as blessings to develop and share, both in the classroom and with co-workers. She is thankful for the encouragement, support, and blessings of having teaching models who focused their lives on sharing the love of Christ.

Georgia Esch will be a Freshman at Concordia University Wisconsin in the Fall with plans to major in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. At one time Georgia thought about becoming a nurse or pediatrician. But during her sophomore year of high school in Health Occupations class, she learned just how squeamish she was and how little understanding she had of all those technical medical terms. That was when she recalled her elementary years when she watched teachers lead with patience and kindness and now she hopes to follow in their footsteps. The most important influence for Georgia is her little brother, born prematurely and with several disabilities. He cannot hear and Georgia has been practicing sign language since her 3 rd grade year. Knowing that she can help her brother supports her desire to help children with disabilities in the Lutheran school setting. Most importantly, Georgia wants these children to know how much Jesus loves them. She has worked in her church’s daycare and as a volunteer in first grade
in her local school district’s elementary school. Georgia has always loved working with children playing games, teaching a new skill, and making sure they are safe and healthy while in her care. Her volunteer experiences, her loving care of her little brother, and her desire to teach about Jesus’ love and salvation will surely bless Georgia’s future students, families, and school.

Peyton Roethel will be a junior at Concordia University Wisconsin in the Fall, majoring in Lutheran Early Childhood and Special Education with a Compassion Care Certificate. She has been serving as a resident assistant for students with special needs at Concordia and spends a lot of time working with children and those with special needs. It is her passion. Peyton credits her mom as her primary example of love for the teaching and care of children with special needs. Seeing her mother serve as a Lutheran school teacher with such dedication and joyful sharing of the love of Christ has been inspiring. Peyton responds to every opportunity to serve as a tutor, Sunday School teacher, camp counselor, VBS music leader and much more. She desires to share the love of Jesus with children and people with special needs. She cares for children with her whole heart and she sees their loving responses. Peyton believes children with special needs are
best served with a genuine, gentle, calm, and joyful heart and she prays that God would grant her the compassion to help in every way possible. Peyton feels called to advocate for others who may not be able to speak for themselves, and to provide every individual with the education they deserve. She looks forward to all the blessings the LWML SWD scholarship support will provide.

Madysen Gonzagowski has known from 6 th grade that she wanted to work within a church setting. She experienced a strong connection with her congregation’s Director of Christian Education all through high school; this mentorship developed Madysen’s desire to pursue a life’s vocation as a DCE. But, after touring many Concordia University campuses and understanding the different paths of church work, she knew that teaching in a Lutheran school was her future. Hearing as a child that she ‘would be a great teacher’ was affirmed during her first years at Concordia University Wisconsin. Madysen has been surrounded by younger children as a babysitter, helping in the church nursery, and with family. She believes that one of her primary gifts is the ability to communicate clearly and patiently will be of great benefit in the elementary
classroom. As a gifted organizer and responsible older cousin Madysen has always felt the need to effectively communicate and coordinate – both are great assets in the classroom. She looks forward to planning effective lessons, organizing a classroom, and being involved in the faith growth of the students and their families. She has a strong desire to keep learning and growing, to deepen her understanding of Scripture and theology to effectively share the love of Jesus, and expand her knowledge of teaching methods - a continual process for the Lutheran teacher.

Rebekah Berg wasn’t sure about a lifetime career choice in full-time church work; it seemed a little too ‘basic’ as she had grown up in an environment surrounded by church workers. Dad is a Lutheran pastor, and Mom is a Lutheran teacher. During her junior year of high school, Rebekah listened to presentation about Lutheran education and the serious shortage of Lutheran teachers. That presentation struck a chord with Rebekah; what if others didn’t ever have the opportunity to attend a Lutheran school just because not enough people wanted to teach. She began to think about all the teachers and family members in her life who have lived their faith, supported her spiritual growth, and spoken the love of Christ every day. Yes, she could be a teacher! God works in mysterious ways! Rebekah decided she wanted to just like all those beloved teachers,
spreading the love of Christ to people who need it, supporting faith growth in each and every student. She has been blessed with a bubbly personality, an energy that is contagious. Teachers need an engaging personality, and teaching requires an abundance of energy to be sure. Rebekah looks forward to her own classroom where she can tell the love of Jesus, teach with patience and kindness each day, knowing that God’s plan for her life is unfolding with blessing and grace.

Reagan Makela will be a sophomore at Concordia University Wisconsin continuing classes in her major of elementary and special education. Having grown up in a household of Lutheran church workers, she has experienced the strengths and challenges of full-time professional church work. Having the Word of God and the love of Jesus surround her in very difficult times has taught Reagan the importance of Lutheran education, a strong foundation in Jesus and the supportive community of church and school. She is looking forward to using the gifts and talents of patience, determination, compassion, and perseverance in her future classroom as an elementary special education teacher. She learned to remain motivated even while life’s challenges seemed insurmountable. Reagan knows there will certainly be students in her future classrooms who are struggling through family issues and she is well suited to work with families navigating very difficult situations. She has learned to look through the challenges so that she doesn’t miss the blessings and rewards that God has provided in the end. Reagan has enjoyed her first year preparing for her vocation as a Lutheran school teacher and is looking forward to the next few years of more classes directly related to her major. She knows that each day has lessons to learn and resources God will provide for her benefit and the people God will place in her path as an active member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in a Lutheran school.