Faces

Making the grade

Schmidt works for opportunities for all students

Capturing a woman like Joan Schmidt on paper is tough, but it's even tougher to capture her in person. President of the National School Boards Association, she's traveling most of this school year-as many as 250 days away from her hometown of Fairfield, Mont. For Schmidt, a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fairfield, the job is only part of her superwoman routine. She also serves the congregation, works on the family farm and runs the occasional marathon.

"When I'm away I try to focus in on the issues at work, so when I come home I can pack in all the things I love and care about," Schmidt says. "It's hard, but I'm relishing the opportunity." Schmidt admits she's had to make some concessions, after serving as organist and choir director, teaching Sunday school and even controlling St. Paul's lights and heat on Sundays. But, she adds, her faith has found a new focus in her work for the school boards.

"We need to think ethically about the gap between the haves and the have-nots and that ties so clearly to the mission of the church," Schmidt says. "Growing up in Sunday school, you have a sense of some of that-collecting dimes and quarters to help someone else. Now I'm so much more aware of the disparities."

Schmidt recalls becoming involved in her local school board more than 20 years ago, when her kids were in school. "I started thinking about what I wanted for [my children] and wished that the opportunities were available to every student in the nation," she says.

Now that she has a nationwide influence, Schmidt champions a platform of "educating the whole child," emphasizing early education; mental, physical and emotional health; and music and the arts.

While Schmidt credits her faith for who she is, she takes an open-minded approach toward her actions in the public sphere. "I'm very aware of the separation and the care we need to take in respecting the uniqueness of each faith," she says. "Under God's grace, my faith undergirds all that I approach. With that foundation I don't need to constantly insert religion into schools.

"In many ways you're an example of your faith-and how you live your life is the strongest influence."

Caleb Carlson, Advent, Morgan Hill, Calif., co-coached the Northern California men's 18-and-younger water polo team to a national championship. He teaches Old Testament and coaches water polo at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif.

Anissa Angelosante, St. Peter, Marble Falls, Texas, was named 4AS/5A Athlete of the Year for Cross Country Track. She ran for Marble Falls High School.

Phyllis Kersten, an ELCA pastor serving Grace, River Forest, Ill., received the Wheat Ridge Ministries Seeds of Hope Award, which recognizes individuals for their exemplary dedication and commitment to serving in ministries of health, hope and healing. She served as vice president for communications for Wheat Ridge Ministries from 1974 to 1992 and also served part time as its staff associate while attending seminary.

Ruth Hetland, a pastor of First, Colorado Springs, Colo., and her former council president from Trinity, Akron, N.Y., Martin Szinger, were finishers in the Pikes Peak Marathon, known as "America's Ultimate Challenge," with a vertical gain of 7,815 feet over 26.2 miles. Several other members from First also finished the marathon, which was held in August: Bruce Wacker, Kathy Trautner, Craig Trautner, Ron Furstenau, Brad Olson and Robin Satterwhite.

Susan Kessler-Scholl, Galilee, Pewaukee, Wis., founded Trails to Bridges: A Venture of Hope, aimed at helping economically disadvantaged artisans in poor countries sell their wares at a fair price. For more information, see www.trailstobridges.com.

Ma Lee Vang, a junior at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., was named a Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation Scholar for 2005-2007. The scholarship provides $5,000 for the last two years of college, plus a $4,000 summer stipend for a summer project to address unmet needs in Minnesota communities. Vang plans to assist third- and fourth- grade average readers to an improved reading level through Project Read.

Ordell Braase, Spirit of Grace, Surprise, Ariz., was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. The former Baltimore Colts player and former president of the National Football League Players Association has been striving to improve medical benefits for pre1965 football players.

Jill Schumann, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America, was named to the "Power & Influence Top 50" list by The NonProfit Times, a publication distributed to 85,000 people in nonprofit executive management nationwide. "When you touch one in 50 people in the U.S. and your revenue is in the $7 billion range, you have quite a say in social policy," The NonProfit Times wrote. "Schumann, who does it all with a national staff of about a dozen and a vast network throughout the country, makes sure the voice of the underserved is heard."

100 plus

110: Leila Backman Shull, St. David, West Columbia, S.C. 103: Aubrey Franklin Addy, Reformation, Columbia, S.C.; Ella Hoff, Our Savior, Sacred Heart, Minn. 101: Orrie Bergerud, Christ, Hot Springs, Ark.; LydiaBerktold, Bethlehem, Ellsworth, Wis.; Julia Boyum, South Zumbro, Kasson, Minn.; Emma Buck, Hay River, Wheeler, Wis.; Gay Christiansen, First, Xenia, Ohio; Rena Erikson, Ezekiel, River Falls, Wis.; Elizabeth Fisher, Holy Trinity, Salem, Ohio; Grace Hahn, Trinity, Taneytown, Md.; Mildred Johnson, Messiah, Washburn, Wis.; Oscar Ramstad, Beaver Creek (at Augustana College), Sioux Falls, S.D.; WilburRea, Follmer, Milton, Pa.; Gladys Skaugh, First of Trempealeau Valley, Taylor, Wis. ; Martha ShuKis, Our Savior, Cleveland, Minn.; VioletThorsbakken, First, Barren, Wis.; Lydia Westphal, Trinity, Birnamwood, Wis.

Share your good news of accomplishments and awards in "Faces." Send to: kathleen.kastilahn@ thelutheran.org or "Faces," The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631.

Nicole Adamson

Adamson is a senior at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. She was The Lutheran's summer intern.

Copyright Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Jan 2006
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