Meet Our Alumni
Why do you choose to send your children to St. Stephen Lutheran School?
We choose to send our children to St. Stephen Lutheran School because we went there! I first noticed Sami when I was in 3rd grade, and she was in 1st grade and I thought she was cute. Now we’re married with kids of our own, so of course we wanted to send them here. We want them to learn and grow in their faith in God, while also having fun and receiving a proper education. Keeping out the noise and distractions of current secular culture is also important to us. Although the tuition is not free, when you’re talking about the education and souls of your children — it’s worth it!
What do you think is the best thing about St. Stephen Lutheran School?
The leadership. I remember Pastor Seehafer leading the entire school and then some on a march from the old church over to the new church after it had been built and that was awesome! He is one of the finest pastors you could have. We trust the Board and we trust the principal and staff to take care of our kids and teach them about Christianity and traditional/family values, while offering a top-notch education.
Why do you choose to send your children to St. Stephen Lutheran School?
I attended St. Stephen as a child and feel that the education I received was a great Christian foundation. I am happy to be able to send my children here to learn about Christ and His love for us and to receive a Christian education.
What do you think is the best thing about St. Stephen Lutheran School?
I love St. Stephen because my children excel in their academics and spiritual development. There are always great ways for them to connect with God and grow in their faith, while growing friendships and learning leadership and responsibility. They respect others. They are also introduced to athletics and continue to develop and enhance their athletic abilities. I also love the after-school clubs that are offered: God’s Kids Club, Kids for Christ, Art Club, and Lego/Stem Club.
Why do you choose to send your children to St. Stephen Lutheran School?
Not only did I attend as a child, but so many of my extended family attended as well. Both of my parents are involved in the church, especially my dad, which was another factor. I love when I walk my son down the hall to his class and we pass by several of his cousins. The Christ-centered foundation is important to my family and we feel like our children really get a solid Christian education.
What do you think is the best thing about St. Stephen Lutheran School?
I love the Christ-centered education and the smaller class sizes so that my kids can get a more 1:1 education. I love that my son comes home from school singing new hymns and is excited to tell us and others that he learns about Jesus at school.
Why do you choose to send your child to St. Stephen Lutheran School?
My name is Ian and I attended St. Stephen school from preschool through 8th grade. There are several reasons that I currently send my daughter there. The primary reason is because they teach about Jesus. Life puts in front of each of us many difficulties, struggles, and sadness. In Matthew 7, Jesus speaks about the wise builder who builds on the solid foundation. The Christian education that St. Stephen provides is that solid foundation. As my daughter grows up and the storms inevitably come, I want her to have that solid foundation only provided in the teachings of Jesus. Openly speaking and teaching about Jesus is the main reason I send my child there. However, it is not the only reason. The family-like atmosphere is great. There have been several people including teachers, pastors, staff, and other parents who have gone above and beyond to be helpful and encouraging. Other great things about St. Stephen include the large campus that allows them to host events for the community and the childcare which is in the same building as the school.
What do you think is the best thing about St. Stephen Lutheran School?
As I look back on my life, I can honestly say that attending St. Stephen was one of the biggest blessings I have ever had, and I am confident that many years from now my daughter will feel the same way.
When I look back on my time at St. Stephen, it’s not the tests or the homework that I remember. It’s the community. The pastors, the teachers, and the congregation didn’t just support a school; they fostered a genuine sense of belonging. That environment made classmates feel more like a family than just friends. They were teaching us character by living their faith out in front of us.
Many years have passed but that blueprint is something I rely on every single day as a husband and a father. Today I use that love that was provided as an example for my own children. Faith in Jesus isn’t just about Sunday mornings, but about how you treat people every moment of the day. St. Stephen didn’t just prepare me for the next grade; the entire community prepared me for life. I’m so grateful for that lasting gift.
St. Stephen Lutheran School helped shape me into the person I am today by giving me both a high-quality education and a strong foundation in my Christian faith. The caring teachers showed me what it means to lead with kindness, serve others, and trust in God in all things. I’m truly thankful for the time I spent there.
How did your faith-based education help shape who you are today?
My faith-based education helped shape me into who I am today by grounding me in strong values, values that I hold close to me today. The education I got at St. Stephen not only prepared me for my future education but is an experience that I fondly remember. Beyond education, it emphasized things like integrity, compassion, and service to others. These are the characteristics that I try to uphold and use on a daily basis.
Where has life taken you since graduating St. Stephen?
Since attending St. Stephen, I graduated from Horicon High School, and got my Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Edgewood University. I currently work at UW Hospital in Madison, as a nurse on their Medical-Surgical Unit.
How did St. Stephen prepare you for life outside of school?
The emphasis of integrity, compassion, and service to others that St. Stephen taught me prepared me for life outside of school. I use these characteristics not only in everyday life, but also working as a nurse treating patients. I am so thankful for the time and education I got from St. Stephen.
How did your faith-based education help shape who you are today?
My faith-based education helped shape me into who I am today by teaching me the importance of grace, compassion, and service to others. More than just academic knowledge, my faith-based education built a strong moral foundation rooted in Christ.
Where has life taken you since graduating from St. Stephen?
Since graduating from St. Stephen, I graduated from Horicon High School and currently attend Edgewood University. I am graduating this May with my Bachelor of science in Business and then plan to attend Edgewood’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.
How did St. Stephen prepare you for life, outside of school?
St. Stephen has taught me to view challenges in life with a perspective based on faith, respect, and purpose. These values have helped prepare me to navigate real life situations with belief and trust in God’s plan for me. I am so grateful for the education and faithful foundation St. Stephen has given me.
My memories of St. Stephen School are many. From Mrs. Keup’s sweater that we referred to as the “Coat of Many Colors” and also how she wore her watch with the face facing the back of her wrist. She also had a bulletin board up front with a church and the children all got a paper car and if we went to church we got to park it by the church. That was a big deal! I still remember one of the first songs she taught us “1,2,3,4,5 I Caught a Fish Alive”…and I taught it to my daughter growing up and then to my grandson.
St. Stephen taught me a love of music that has carried me throughout my life. We actually learned to sing in parts which made the songs so beautiful. In the upper grades we actually got to take turns helping in the kitchen for lunch. If I was lucky and Mrs. Bierman had made my favorite chocolate cookies, she’d give me a couple and a glass of peach juice which was also my favorite. We had great teachers over the years and we still do to this day. My 8th grade year Mr. And Mrs. Hanebutt came and they were fresh out of college and we absolutely loved them. They were young and awesome teachers and they became lifelong friends of mine and my family to this day.
My dad went to St. Stephen School when it was on the corner of Cedar and Maple Street as did his brothers and sister. Then I went her and my daughter went to preschool here and was confirmed here and now my grandson goes here.
It’s truly been a blessing to have this wonderful school where you learn about Jesus on a daily basis but it’s also the friends you make along the way that are just like extended family.
Those years at St. Stephen helped build a strong foundation of values—faith, respect, accountability, and compassion. It taught me how to treat others well and stay grounded in what truly matters.
What makes it even more meaningful is that it didn’t stop with me. My children attended the same school, and now my grandchildren do as well. That says everything about the kind of foundation it provides. It’s a place that supports not just Christian education, but faith, family, and community across generations.
At St. Stephen, I had several teachers who made a lasting impact on me. My second grade teacher, Miss Bohl, showed me the importance of kindness. My third and sixth grade teacher, Mr. Hanebutt, made learning fun. And Mr. Hessler, my eighth grade teacher and principal, taught me the value of respect. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my life.
St. Stephen will always hold a special place in my heart because of the memories—the students, the teachers, even the cooks—and the love of Jesus in all we did. There was something special about being part of it. Being a “Stevie” wasn’t just where I went to school—it was something I was proud to be.
