THE LUTHERAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOURNAMENT (LEST), a Northwest tradition, has come to California. The three-day cavalcade of competitions and performances for Lutheran schools from around the U.S. drew 5th to 8th grade children to Orange County to showcase and celebrate their God-given talents in the areas of sports, science, music, and much more.
“It went extremely well. We had so much positive feedback,” says Brianna Soto ’18, Concordia’s assistant director of visits and event services. “People are excited to come back next year.”
LEST “showcases the many great things happening in Lutheran education,” says Melinda Schulteis ’95, professor of mathematics, who served as faculty coordinator for numerous events. “LEST is a chance to celebrate our Lutheran education system, to give students and teachers a place to come together to fellowship, be challenged in different academic areas, and promote fun and skill development.”
The weekend festival included math and science competitions, gatherings for art, writing and spelling, workshops on robotics, e-sports tournaments, boys and girls basketball tournaments, a festival concert with a combined choir and handbell groups (whose performances were also adjudicated), and a tailgate dinner preceding Concordia men’s and women’s basketball games.
Visitors from Lutheran middle schools as far away as Idaho and Arizona made the trek, many visiting the Concordia campus for the first time.
“On behalf of the students, parents and staff of Christ Lutheran Church and School, I want to say thank you to Concordia for organizing and hosting LEST this past weekend,” wrote Robby Bouslaugh, principal of the Costa Mesa school. “Our students and families had a great time participating in the different events throughout the weekend. Their excitement in attending the different events was clearly evident and students are eagerly looking forward to next year’s event. Thanks again for hosting LEST!”
Concordia partnered with Crean Lutheran High School, Orange Lutheran High School, and St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Orange to hold events on all four campuses. Faculty and staff from each school helped organize and coordinate many different aspects.
Matthew Hood ’17, a social science teacher at Crean Lutheran High School, served as campus coordinator of LEST for Crean. Hood and his father, Concordia senior director of external relations Bil Hood, MA ’19, both participated in LEST as grade-school children when they lived in Seattle.
“What makes it really attractive for a school like Crean is we can bring talented, gifted middle-schoolers to our campus and have them compete in, say, robotics,” says Matt. “It gives them a taste of what continuing education in the STEM subjects might look like at the next level.”
Matt Hood believes that Orange County is a great fit for LEST because within ten miles of each other are two of the biggest Lutheran high schools in the nation, and Concordia.
“We’re working for a cohesive, continuing mission, and the change in location only serves to reinvigorate this 60-plus-year tradition,” he says.
A worship service and closing awards ceremony capped the festivities on Sunday. LEST will continue to be held annually on Presidents’ Day Weekend at Concordia and the campuses of partner Lutheran schools in Southern California.
“Concordia is a fantastic home for this kind of event for years to come,” says Schulteis.