| dc.description.abstract | Marcus Birkholz’s essay recounts the founding and early development of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School (MVL) in New Ulm, Minnesota, from 1977 to 1979. Prompted by the relocation of Martin Luther Academy, local WELS congregations rallied to establish an area high school, overcoming financial, logistical, and organizational challenges. Birkholz emphasizes the grassroots nature of the movement, highlighting the decisive role of laypeople and the deliberate effort to make MVL a regional institution rather than a New Ulm-centric one. The paper addresses misconceptions about MVL’s origins and explores its connection to MLA, noting how MVL better served local students and families. Birkholz also reflects on the minimal opposition to the school’s founding and the spiritual and communal benefits it brought to the region. Through interviews, meeting records, and personal observations, the essay captures the optimism, dedication, and faith that shaped MVL’s beginnings.
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