Concordia Lutheran High School is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Alumni Awards, recognizing graduates whose lives and service reflect the school's mission and values. This year's honorees are Dr. Donald Ahlersmeyer '50, recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award; Mr. Ken Finner '75, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award; and Mrs. Elizabeth Hoham (Spira) '07, recipient of the Neale M. Shank Award. Each recipient has demonstrated a lasting commitment to faith, service, leadership, and excellence while making a meaningful impact within their professions, communities, and the Lutheran Church.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD: Dr. Donald Ahlersmeyer, class of 1950
Dr. Ahlersmeyer is a 1950 graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School who worked his way through high school on his way to a groundbreaking career in the field of Special Education. Don exemplified servant-leadership as he served "the least of these" in the special education field, spearheading the fields growth in compassion and caring as he mentored countless future special education teachers to tackle the challenges of their profession. In the midst of it all, he remained a faithful husband of 70 years to his wife Janet, father to their six children, grandfather of 19, and great-grandfather of 19 as well. His life bears strong witness to the mission statement of our high school - keeping Christ at the Center of all things.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD: Mr. Ken Finner, class of 1975
Mr. Finner is a 1975 graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School with a legacy of service to our high school and the Lutheran community in Northeast Indiana. Ken is a long-time supporter of the JROTC and Athletic programs, consistently helping with the Johnny Appleseed fundraiser and working the concession stands for home games. Ken has worked all over the world in the floor systems industry, installing countless industrial floors as well as basketball courts. Ken provided a labor love in the summer of 2022 installing the Eugene Parker Memorial Court and most recently installed the new floor in our auxiliary gym. Always smiling and a truly humble servant, Ken is a shining example of distinguished service to our high school.
NEALE M. SHANK AWARD: Mrs. Elizabeth Hoham (Spira), class of 2007
Mrs. Hoham (Lizzy to her family and friends) is a 2007 graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School currently residing in Alexandria, Virginia. She is the bride of fellow 2007 classmate, Rev. Theodore Hoham, and they have been blessed with four children who "are growing by leaps and bounds." Lizzy received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Harvard University, has an Educator Certification in English and Social Studies, and completed her LCMS teacher's colloquy. She taught at Concordia Lutheran High School from 2015 to 2020 and then served as a Progress Partner Coach with TLSP from 2021 to 2025. She currently volunteers at Immanuel Lutheran School in Alexandria, Virginia, as the auction coordinator and is part of the planning team working to add high school grades to Immanuel Lutheran School, establishing the first LCMS classical high school in the Washington, D.C., area.