Northland Lutheran High School concludes celebration of 40th anniversary

This past spring marked the end of Northland Lutheran High School’s (NLHS) 40th year. Special festivities of the October 18-20 weekend included a pig roast, a concert by Koine (the church band), and many and varied activities around the campus at 2107 Tower Road, Kronenwetter. On Sunday, a celebratory service of thanks and praise to God was led by local pastors in the school gymnasium. Pastor Michael Jensen, Western Wisconsin District pesident, delivered the sermon for the service. NLHS choir, area choirs, NLHS band, and area Lutheran elementary school bands provided musical offerings.

Northland Lutheran High School was brought into being by an association of Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran churches who wished to have a Christian education option for their high school students. NLHS opened its doors in 1979 with grades 9 and 10. Classes were held in portable classrooms in Merrill, and the school maintained operations there until 1987. That fall, the school began leasing the former St. Francis Cabrini Middle School on Grand Avenue in Wausau. Needing a location of its own, Northland moved for the last time to a newly built facility at the corner of Tower and Kowalski Roads in Kronenwetter in 1999.

Since its inception, 786 students have graduated from Northland Lutheran High School, going on into many different walks of life. Four principals have served the school: John Schultz, 1978-1991; Jeff Davis, 1991-1995; Rick Grundman, 1995-2012; and Ryan Wiechmann, 2012-present. The student body currently numbers 62, and the curriculum covers standard high school classes as well as religion, business, STEM, advanced placement, dual credit, and several vocational/technical courses. Most prominently, the school focuses on training students through premier Christ-centered education, preparing young people for this life and eternity.