Concordia’s $1 Million ‘Surprise’
By Ashley Smith, The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Feb. 20–The man honored last year with Concordia Lutheran High School’s distinguished alumnus award wants to give back to the school — 1 million times over.
T. Paul Bulmahn, a 1961 graduate now living in Houston, is donating $1 million to the school so it can hire more teachers, create more programs and award more scholarships. Bulmahn’s cousin, Steve Bulmahn of Fort Wayne, will present the check to the school at a news conference this afternoon.
“It was very much a surprise,” said David Widenhofer, Concordia’s executive director, who learned of the donation in late December. “Especially the amount,” added Principal John Marks.
After graduation, Bulmahn went on to earn degrees from Valparaiso University, the University of Texas and Texas State University. He is founder and president of ATP Oil & Gas Corp., an international offshore oil and gas development and production company in Houston. He also owns GoldMark Farm in Ocala, Fla., which trains thoroughbred horses.
“This gift just provides for incredible opportunities that we’ve never had before,” Widenhofer said.
Marks said the school wants to hire another math teacher, create need-based scholarships — the annual tuition totals $7,600 — and develop new programs in science, technology and entrepreneurship.
“(We’re) very thankful,” said Phil Habegger, a math teacher, one of 46 teachers at the school, which has 679 students. “We have a lot of potential for good uses for it.”
This gift is the largest single donation in Concordia’s history and amounts to a fifth of its $5.4 million yearly operating budget.
“That’s exciting. Wow,” said Kara Doerffler, 18, a senior.
The donation itself may have been a surprise, but the benefactor wasn’t. Widenhofer called Bulmahn a “man of great integrity” who did great things as a student at Concordia.
“He’s got a tremendous sense of value, and he cares for people,” Widenhofer said.
In a statement released by the school, Bulmahn said the gift was inspired by his trip to last year’s graduation ceremony, which reconnected him with his past.
“I was very impressed with what is taking place there and wanted to make a difference for Concordia to encourage young people to believe they can pursue their own dreams and potential. That possibility for Concordia gives me great joy, and I am eager to see the school flourish at an even greater level,” he said.
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