Connected by Generosity & Gratitude

Scholarships are a great option for donors to put their gift towards. Based on need, merit, or both, scholarships guarantee that a student can attend our schools. The benefit of establishing a scholarship is that the donor can support a student that represents the donor’s values or mission.

Caroline (LHS 1954) established an estate gift to Milwaukee Lutheran and also wanted a way to donate for current needs. She reached out to LHSAGM Advancement Director, Andy Locke, for ideas. He suggested starting a scholarship, and the connection was made.

Zion (MLHS 2021) has been the recipient of this scholarship for three years. He and his mother were able to meet Caroline shortly after the scholarship was awarded. They expressed how grateful they are to have the financial assistance of this scholarship, which helps make it possible for him to attend Milwaukee Lutheran High School.

Caroline Suycott’s Reflection

“I attended Lutheran High School in the fifties, when the school was located on 13th and Vine Streets in Milwaukee. Even though tuition was only $90 for a semester in 1951, it was a financial commitment for most parents to send their children to LHS. Later tuition went to $120 a semester. The students made a commitment also, because many came from outside the greater Milwaukee area and had to take a Greyhound bus and then public transportation every day. Very few students owned a car, and this was before school buses.

The school, which was built in 1903, was overcrowded at that time. To accommodate the 800-plus students, we attended some classes in government-type barracks, and in annexes which were built onto the school building. We either froze or endured hot temperatures because of make-shift heating equipment. For gym we took a bus to 12th & State Street. We didn’t mind these inconveniences, because that is just the way it was. In 1955, the year after I graduated, MLHS opened.

Those four years laid a solid foundation for my entire life, and were filled with many enriching activities and happy experiences. I developed life-long friends, obtained a good education, and reinforced a love of the Lord. One of the most important things I and my classmates learned, was the importance of involvement in our church community, and in later years when I spoke to other LHS graduates, almost everyone was active in some kind of volunteerism for their church.

Ten years after graduation, our first class reunion was held, and there has been a reunion every five or ten years thereafter. When we celebrated our 50th reunion, in 2004, we decided to get together every year for lunch, which we have done, except for 2020, because of the pandemic. We have lost some of our classmates, but every year there are about forty people that gather to share fellowship and, reminisce about former years.

My donation, the scholarship, has been a blessing to me, too. I have had the opportunity to get to know Zion and appreciate him and others at the school to be conscientious young people working toward their goals. He is very involved in extra curricular school activities, including football and choir, and he works part time. He has the qualifications of a leader, and loves the Lord. I feel blessed that I’m able to help someone gain a solid, Christian foundation in preparation for his walk through life.”

Zion Morgen’s Reflection

I was truly blessed to receive a scholarship from Caroline Suycott, it helped my mom a lot with tuition expenses. When I met Mrs. Suycott there was so much love in her heart. She was very caring and welcomed me with open arms and from there we built a relationship.

I chose MLHS because I wanted to learn more about God and be truly cared for as a student. I wanted to be at a place that would increase my knowledge and nurture my gifts to push me towards greatness. I’m a member of the MLHS Varsity Football Team and Gospel Choir. I also attend after school actives such as open gym, concerts, and basketball games. I enjoy these activities because they give me the true high school experience.

The most important thing I’ve learned at MLHS is the love of Jesus! My freshmen religion teacher opened my eyes to religion immediately. I learned how important it is to know Jesus and his love for us. This truly changed me for the better. I went from praying every now and then to praying every day.

I am still figuring out my next step after I graduate from MLHS. My ultimate goal is to be an entrepreneur in the field of investments and real estate. I am excited to graduate this year, however I will greatly miss MLHS. I met some amazing people and had a lot of great times! MLHS did their part by providing a rigorous curriculum with a Godly foundation that will be a part of my everyday life. 

Milwaukee Lutheran student, Zion Morgen (right), and Lutheran High School alumna, Caroline Suycott (middle), had the unique opportunity to get to know each other through a scholarship fund. They discovered the blessing of the donation was mutual.