Meet the Academic Top Ten
This year’s group of high performers worked hard throughout their years at WLHS and are headed off to new challenges in the fall.
Amos Ebling
Grade School: St. John, Wauwatosa
College: Wisconsin Lutheran College
Received a Presidential Scholarship
Double Major: Computer Science and Mathematics
To challenge himself and earn college credits, Ebling chose Advanced Placement (AP) biology, calculus AB, chemistry, history, microeconomics, Spanish, and statistics at WLHS, as well as courses offered at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He’s taken a number of dual credit classes, including calculus 2 and 3, complex analysis, introduction to computer science, linear algebra, and physics.
“Because of Wisco’s Christian environment and the genuine care that all of the teachers and staff have for their students, I have been able to learn and grow in my faith as well as in my academic endeavors.”
— Amos Ebling (’25), valedictorian
Makayla Wendl
Grade School: Zion, Hartland
College: Rose State
Major: Math
Elza Hofer
Grade School: Frank Lloyd
Wright School, West Allis
College: University of Iowa
Major: Spanish
Sarah Lin
Grade School: Attended elementary school in Shanghai, China
College: University of Wisconsin – Madison
Major: Psychology
Lin came to WLHS her sophomore year and, in addition to taking advanced classes like AP biology, calculus AB, computer science, economics, stats, and U.S. history, got involved in high school life. She joined the dance squad and student newspaper, was part of the global leadership team, participated in forensics, and was active in Wisco Witnesses in the World (WWW).
“My advice for incoming students is to seize the opportunities that are part of high school and don’t worry about things because God has plans for you.”
— Sarah Lin (’25), salutatorian
Alex Enslen
Grade School: Christ, Big Bend
College: Martin Luther College
Major: Mathematics
Kaitlyn Oldenburg
Grade School: Christ the Lord, Brookfield
College: University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, School of Architecture and Urban Planning Honors College
Received Academic Excellence Scholarship
Major: Architecture
Makayla Wendl
Elza Hofer
Alex Enslen
Kaitlyn Oldenburg
2025 Valedictorian
Amos Ebling
2025 Salutatorian Sarah Lin
Meet the Academic Top Ten
Lauren Roedel
Grade School: St. Paul, Franklin
College: Indiana University, Hutton Honors College
Received Dean’s Scholarship
Double Major: Criminal Justice and Psychology
“I had so many great teachers at WLHS and I learned something from each of them. AP psychology with Mrs. Bauer was really interesting. My cross-country coach Mr. Schaper showed us how to live your faith every day. Mr. Wallace, who teaches economics and geometry, showed his concern by checking in with me to see how I was doing and ask about my college plans.” — Lauren Roedel (‘25)
Tommy Doerr
Grade School: Homeschool
College: Martin Luther College (MLC)
Earned a perfect score on the ACT
Received MLC National Merit and Presidential Scholarship
Major: Pastoral Ministry
“My junior year, after visiting Martin Luther College and talking with friends who are pastors, I decided I wanted to do something meaningful and serve others. The highlight of my time at Wisco was February 6 when I gave a chapel on Psalm 71. I talked about the different troubles students face and the fact that our God is so great we don’t have to worry.”
—
Tommy Doerr (‘25)
Luke Koeller
Grade School: St. Jacobi, Greenfield
College: University of Wisconsin – Madison
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Syndey Vitangcol
Grade School: St. John, Wauwatosa
College: University of Wisconsin – Madison,
Received an athletic scholarship to play softball
Major: Early Childhood Education
2025 Academic Top Ten
Syndey Vitangcol
Lauren Roedel
Luke Koeller
Tommy Doerr
Meet the Grade School Band Directors
WLHS offers a variety of musical opportunities for grade schoolers to learn an instrument, play in a band, or sing in a choir.
Each of these activities is a good way for young boys and girls to exercise their creative “muscles,” learn how to work with others, make new friends from area schools, and have a built-in peer group at Wisco.
Mr. Danny Hafenstein
Grade School Band Director and Music Instructor
Mr. Hafenstein, whose primary instrument is percussion, has a master’s degree in music composition from the University of Wisconsin –Madison. He joined WLHS in 2019 and knows Wisco well since, prior to his full-time position, he spent three seasons working with the Viking marching band as a percussion instructor while attending Wisconsin Lutheran College. He also happens to be married to alumna, Anne Steeves (‘11), who he met through band connections.
In addition to leading the Grade School Band program and teaching lessons at WELS grade schools, Hafenstein is a multifaceted performer. He regularly plays the drums for services at Grace Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and with the Milwaukee Festival Brass and Kettle Moraine Symphony. He also sings with the Milwaukee Chamber Choir, Chant Claire Choir, and Canticum Novum.
“Learning an instrument gives students lifelong skills and the opportunity to praise God,” says Hafenstein. “We have many who play during their school’s chapel service. It’s a wonderful way to get engaged with church at a young age, and it’s something that can continue into adulthood.”
Grade School Band Director and Music Instructor
Each week, Ms. Mengel, who graduated from Martin Luther College with a degree in elementary and instrumental music education, visits 15 grade schools, giving approximately 70 lessons.
“I love going to the different schools,” says Mengel, whose primary instrument is the trumpet. “It’s so rewarding because I get to experience each school’s unique culture, meet the students, build relationships with them, and see their musical growth.”
When Mengel attended WLHS, she was an involved and busy student. Among other things, she was part of concert band, pit orchestra, brass, jazz and percussion ensembles, Wisco Kids, and was one of the first members of the Viking Steel Band.
“It’s such an incredible blessing to come back to Wisco and work alongside the directors and teachers who I looked up to,” says Mengel. “Mr. Petersen was a big influence on my life because he strengthened my love for education and music and helped me realize I could do both as a career.”
In addition to Grade School Band Directors
Ms. Alicia Mengel (‘19) and Mr. Danny Hafenstein (pictured right), Director of Bands
Mr. Quinten Petersen (pictured left) assists with the grade school band program, and Choral Director Mrs. Lisa Uttech (‘98) (pictured middle left) directs the Wisconsin Lutheran Children’s Choir
Ms. Alicia Mengel (’19)
Danny Hafenstein
Alicia Mengel
Meet the Grade School Band Directors
WLHS has many ways for grade school students to get involved with music.
• Private Lessons – WLHS instructors visit WELS grade schools during the day.
• Weekly Band Practice – Three levels of Grade School Band — beginner, intermediate and advanced — practice at WLHS on Monday nights for one hour.
• Ensembles – Jazz, percussion, brass, string, and woodwind ensembles play together an additional 45 minutes after the weekly band practice.
• Children’s Choir – Auditions are held each fall for third-eighth graders and practice is at WLHS on Tuesday nights.
• Performances – Each year, the Grade School Band and Children’s Choir host two concerts.
• Solo Festival – All instrumental and piano students participate in a one-day festival where they receive feedback from a panel of judges.
Grade School
Open House
September 2 and 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at WLHS
Interested students can meet Mr. Hafenstein and Ms. Mengel and try a variety of instruments to find the one that piques their interest.
Did You Know?
“Studies have found that playing an instrument delivers so many mental and physical benefits,” says Grade School Band Director and Music Instructor Danny Hafenstein. “Among other things, it aids memory, concentration, and motor skill development. It also helps grow soft skills like listening, personal accountability, independence, and can reduce stress and manage anxiety.”
F The WLHS Grade School Band has approximately 140 members and is always looking to add more!
F Interested students can play the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion.
F The flute is the oldest instrument in the world, dating back to the beginning of time.
F The newest instrument in the band is the saxophone, which was invented by Adolphe Sax in the early 1840s.
F High school marching bands evolved from the military, which used marching songs to direct troops and maintain morale.
F John Philip Sousa, who led the U.S. Marine Band from 1880-1892, composed 136 military marches, including “Stars and Stripes Forever,” which is the country’s official march song.
Handling the Tuition Hurdle
With four children to consider and a good public school close by, Tracy (Chernohorsky,‘05) and Doug Saugstad (’05), had a decision to make. Would they send their son, Oliver (’27), to WLHS or would he attend New Berlin West?
“I’ll be honest. When we started looking at our options, there’s sticker shock when you see the cost at WLHS,” says Doug. “It’s hard when you start doing the numbers and realize they’re not adding up.”
Thankfully, the Saugstads have a circle of friends who were willing to share their experience handling tuition at WLHS.
“We talked with a few different families who weren’t embarrassed to say they had struggled with the price but were able to get tuition assistance and that made a difference,” says Tracy. “Before having those conversations, we weren’t even going to apply to Wisco because the numbers were so daunting.”
The Saugstads did apply and received a package of scholarships and financial assistance for Oliver’s freshman, sophomore, and upcoming junior year.
For Oliver, the transition to Wisco was made easier because he was part of the Grade School Band program and had established connections over the years. In addition to the marching band and a percussion ensemble, he got involved in a variety of school activities right away. He joined the rockclimbing club, plays on the esports team, is part of the international student mentorship program and WWW, and freshman year was part of the canoe club.
The Saugstad Family
Oliver Saugstad (’27) (pictured left) with his parents, siblings, and Orchard Butudom (’27) (pictured right), an international student from Thailand who has become like family.
“Wisco is a fantastic place if you want to have a good Christian high school education because of the many opportunities to serve and grow in your faith,” says Oliver.
For his parents, WLHS feels right.
“Wisco built a strong foundation for who I am and where I ended up,” says Doug. “We like knowing Oliver will grow in his faith during high school, and we believe it’s worth the cost of tuition.”
“Please don’t make a decision based on the sticker price. Once we dove into the process, we learned that Wisco wanted us there and would meet us where we were at.”
— Tracy (Chernohorsky, ‘05) and Doug Saugstad (’05)
College, Career, and Life Readiness
Working with Student Services, all WLHS students complete a college and career planner.
Stages of Successful Academic & Career Planning (ACP)
Know
Who am I? Students get to know their interests.
Explore
Where do I want to go? Explore career pathways and education opportunities.
Plan
How do I get there? Students plan their route, set goals, choose courses, join clubs and activities, obtain financing, and more. Go!
Recalculate as needed.
Grade 9
Students are exposed to Career Clusters and make connections to personality interests, talents, and employability skills through counseling and guest speakers.
Grade 10
Students develop an Academic and Career Plan (ACP) that represents a match of student interests and academic outcomes. Students identify high school courses, co-curricular, and employment opportunities to help carry out their ACP. Students identify an adult mentor outside of the Wisconsin Lutheran High School staff to help provide planning advice and create opportunities to learn and volunteer.
Grades 11-12
Prior to graduation, students complete their Academic and Career Plan (ACP), gain real world exposure in their career focused area using a Christian perspective, and graduate with a post secondary plan with the option to attend a four-year university. All Wisconsin Lutheran High School students will have knowledge and skills related to career and life as a Wisco alumni.
