Trending
NEW ULM -- Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School (MVL) plans to hold its annual Spirit of MVL event virtually November 19-28, with the theme "Together in Spirit." The public is invited to participate at spiritofmvl.givesmart.com.
This year's event is raising funds for MVL's livestream technology project. The project's goal is to provide a better viewing experience for concerts, access to sporting events, an opportunity for students to have hands-on multimedia learning, and much more. The event also supports the MVL Partnership Fund.
The auction will be held on Saturday, November 21, at spiritofmvl.givesmart.com, and the live broadcast will take place 6:30-8:00 P.M. Door prizes and donation opportunities will begin Thursday, November 19.
The event also honors the 2020 Spirit of MVL award recipients: John Apitz of New Ulm, Lynn Hacker of Sleepy Eye, and Fred & Joy Struck of St. Peter. MVL recognizes these individuals for using their time, talents, and treasures to the glory of God and to the benefit of Christian education.
John Apitz is a New Ulm native. When he and his wife, Gail, were expecting their daughter, Kaitlin, they decided to return to New Ulm so that she could attend St. Paul’s Lutheran Grade School as John had. John and Gail decided to continue Kaitlin’s Christ-centered education through her high school years, and she graduated from MVL in 2011. During those high school years, John was asked to help build sets for MVL Drama. For the last decade, his woodworking and construction skills have helped bring the MVL stage to life, and have impacted countless students who participated in Drama. Earlier this year, John retired from his full-time work at Puhlmann Lumber & Design in New Ulm. John and Gail continue to reside in New Ulm and are members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Lynn Hacker grew up in Door County, Wis. After graduating from Dr. Martin Luther College (now MLC) in New Ulm, she married Dan Hacker. Together Dan and Lynn started Hacker’s Tree Farm, Nursery and Greenhouse in Sleepy Eye in 1981 after the death of their son Thomas. Lynn shared that she considers her role as a mother as her occupation and raising children in the faith as the top priority. Their children Heather, Matthew, and Nicholas attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Sleepy Eye and graduated from MVL in 1995, 2001, and 2003, respectively. Dan went to his heavenly home in 2018 after a long battle with ALS. Lynn continues to own and operate the family business and is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Hacker’s has been a key part of MVL’s Christmas wreath and greenery program for more than 25 years.
Fred Struck grew up in St. Peter and always wanted to start a garden center in the area. After serving in the United States Army, he earned a horticulture degree from the University of Minnesota. Fred and his wife, Joy, then started their first garden center in 1972. After relocating the original store and later starting a second store, the family business’s sole focus became Traverse Des Sioux Garden Center in St. Peter. As passionate as Fred and Joy are about horticulture, they are even more passionate about their faith and the value of Christian education. They are members of Norseland Lutheran Church in St. Peter and are the proud parents of three sons: Karl graduated from MVL in 2003, Oren in 2006, and Keith in 2009.