Another LL Link: Dan Moll (‘67)

This article was first published in the 2022 spring/summer issue of Lakeside Lutheran Link, the magazine for LLHS alum.

This year, when the call went out for alum donations, Dan Moll answered that call with gusto! He used his hobby to create an fantastic one-of-a-kind work of art. He and his wife, Beth, live in Elk River, Minn., and attend Lord of Glory Lutheran where he served as an elder for many years. They have three grown children.

Dan attended Bethany Lutheran College and then Mankato State, majoring in business admin. He worked as a manufacturing purchasing manager in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years, then purchased a Jellystone campground in central Indiana and managed that for 28 years.

So how did he get into woodworking? “When I sold the campground, I needed a hobby to keep my mind and body busy,” he said. “I always had an interest, so I took lessons and built a shop. I just enjoy making sawdust!” He also snowshoes, plays pickleball, and even bought a motor coach to travel around the country. “I have spent two winters in Florida and this summer will drive around Lake Superior.”

“My favorite memories of Lakeside are being on the football and basketball teams, bus rides to school activities, attending the band festivals and the May Banquet,” he says. As for which teachers left their mark, he says, “Coach Stelter showed me the value of teamwork and how to apply myself to achieve my goals. Professor Huebner taught me the values of being a Christian.”

For students and recent grads, he encourages them to “Keep building your faith. Surround yourself with fellow Christians and a church who will help you grow your faith. Never stop trusting that the Lord is with you.” Thanks for your time and that beautiful armoire, Dan!

Principal’s Pen: Summer here is loud

One of the first things I noticed at Lakeside when I began teaching here was the “loudness” of the building during the summer. I thought that the school would be quiet! After all, it’s summer vacation, and all the students have gone home. It’s time for peace and quiet!

My unrealistic expectations quickly unraveled. First there was laughter. Then, the squeak of tennis shoes. Then the opening and closing of doors. Loud voices. Kids running. Music. Food smells. Students are back? But it’s only June.

I’ve learned that at Lakeside, the building is very busy during the summer—overnight band camp, grade school sports camps, high school speed and strength programs, meetings of different school groups—all of this and more is summer at school. On most days, the parking lot is filled with cars, students and parents are in the hallways, and the building is loud!

And I’m glad for that. It reminds me that the ministry of Lakeside Lutheran doesn’t stop in May. It continues throughout the summer. “Partnering with families to educate, encourage, and equip students for life and eternity” (our mission statement) keeps happening even when school is out. A coach working with young people at a sports camp, a parent volunteer helping a student adjust a band uniform, students meeting at Lakeside and then going on the adventure of a mission trip—these are just some of the many ways that God is glorified and people are served with the Gospel even when classes aren’t in session. This Bible passage comes to mind: “I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a little peace and quiet this summer—you might find a spot at Lakeside. But as you wait for your teen to finish up an activity or practice, don’t be surprised if the building is louder than you expected. The noisy business of educating, encouraging, and equipping continues on, “at all times.”

Reach Principal Schultz at dschultz@llhs.org.

LL Advantage: Stand out. Stand steady.

This article was first published in the 2022 issue 2 edition of LLHS Advantage, a magazine for students and families in K-8. A message from Steve Lauber, Admissions Director

We live in a world where things are changing all the time.

* Gas prices seem to keep changing (in one direction) on an almost daily basis. 

 *County Stadium changed to Miller Park, then to American Family Field.

* Society changes to accept and then even promote viewpoints that go directly against God’s law.

* Teenage mental health is changing, and for the most part, not for the better.

Here at Lakeside, we are undergoing many changes as we look to a new school year … changes in leadership, changes in our building, changes among our faculty and coaching staff.

We can’t avoid change; however, by God’s grace, we have one thing that will never change–God’s unchanging Word in the Bible and the promise that believers are saved for eternity without our lifting a finger.

Jesus did it all for us. Faith in that secures us a spot in Heaven.

What a comfort that is – to us as parents, to our former students, our current students, and the next generation of students at Lakeside.

Another LL Link: Paying it forward (debt-free)

This article was first published in the 2022 spring/summer issue of Lakeside Lutheran Link, the magazine for LLHS alum.

David Wilson (‘16) and his “debt-free degree” story was featured in the Ramsey Solutions documentary, Borrowed Future: How Student Loans are Killing the American Dream. “Years ago, I happened to comment on a Ramsey Livestream. The moderator noticed (with 1,000 other people watching) and for my story. That email turned into a call with the director,” David says, then interviews in Nashville and Milwaukee. He adds, “I can’t explain to you what it is like having a film crew follow you for your graduation!” Months later, he flew out for the premiere with all 1,100 Ramsey employees, and sat next to Dave, his wife, Sharon, and COO Luke LeFevre.

Since then, each semester, he has visited LLHS teacher Matt Doering’s required senior Financial Literacy classes, where he first learned—and is now sharing the message of—how deeply student loans can impact futures, and that it is possible to graduate from college debt-free. “Even if I hadn’t been in the movie, I would still be here to share my story. Because of the financial lessons I was taught at Lakeside, I now have freedom in adulthood to live, work, and be where I want, change the financial trajectory of my family tree, and give back in ways I never could have imagined at this age. I want other students to have that same freedom when they walk into adulthood,” he says.

Here are the five tips he shares with Warrior seniors.

1. Decide if college is the right choice. Before investing money and time into a college, determine a career path. “Then we can define the road map to get there. If that requires college, great, if it doesn’t, great!”

2. Choose your dream school! Pick a school you can afford. List potential schools, research and compare costs, pick a school that has what you need and can afford. Cashflow the first year and determine how you can cashflow the next 3 years.

3. Become a financial aid expert. Fill out the FAFSA early and own the process of working with your parents to fill it out every year.

4. Find outside scholarships. Fill out as many as possible. Reuse essays as you are able and don’t let perfectionism hold you from pressing the submit button. Keep applying every year!

5. Stay debt-free in school. This includes working, attending community college, living at home, and living like a college student, not trying to match your parents’ lifestyle.

“These steps, paired with clear goals and time management, resulted in my not only graduating debt-free but also leaving school with a fullyfunded emergency fund and a maxed-out ROTH IRA for 2019/2020,” he says. Wilson, who now works as a Program Manager at Lockton in Kansas City, Mo., is thankful for his Lakeside education, which provided him with a seamless transition to college. “The academics allowed me to jump into college coursework without feeling behind as some do, and the extracurriculars made it easy for me to get super involved in campus life early on. Lastly, the financial knowledge I was taught alleviated a lot of stress after college.” For more tips, follow him at David J Wilson on Facebook.

David at the premiere of Borrowed Future

Each year, he visits the Fin Lit classroom at LLHS

David credits Matt Doering’s class with giving his a stable financial future.

This article https://issuu.com/llhs/docs/lllink21