Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School's wooded 32-acre campus is located in the North Shore community of Brookville. Founded under the leadership of the Rev. Ed Stammel from Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville and a group of determined pastors, 17 Lutheran congregations united in the late 1950's to launch their vision – a Lutheran High School to serve the Long Island community. In 1959 the newly formed Lutheran High School Association of Nassau and Suffolk Counties purchased the former Deering Howe estate built in the 1920's. The 1960's As interest grew rapidly, the construction of a building to complement the original mansion was completed. Long Island Lutheran Junior/Senior High School officially opened its doors in September 1960 with an enrollment of 410 students in grades seven, eight, and nine. Rev. Elmer Eggold, the school's first Executive Director and Principal, was joined by a faculty and staff of 19 to guide the learning experience. In 1962 the LuHi Summer Program for Education and Recreation (SPEAR) was established. The Summer Program would provide tremendous financial assistance for the school’s operation. Leadership later passed to Rev. Rudolph Ressmeyer and then to Rev. Edward Visscher. Marking the close of the decade was the construction of a gymnasium that at the time was one of the largest and best-equipped on the East Coast. The 1970's Early in the decade enrollment grew to more than 600 students and new “traditions” began including a Germanfest, Christmas Fair, and Homecoming, enabling alumni and friends to maintain connections at LuHi. The name Long Island Lutheran first appeared on the front of the building and an eighteen-foot cedar cross gave a visible sign of the school's focus and mission. Executive Director Richard Rath, administering a program of academic excellence coupled with Christian distinctiveness, oversaw a student body with ethnic, economic, religious and social diversity – an identity that is proudly maintained to this day. The 1980’s In 1985, following a thorough self-study by the faculty and staff, Principal Richard Rausch accepted the school’s first accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. By 1989 Executive Director David Hahn and Principal Paul Wenger were invited to the White House to receive the School of Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education as an “Exemplary Secondary School.” The 1990’s In 1991 the “Vision for Tomorrow” capital campaign successfully raised $3 million to build a Chapel/Performing Arts Center. The new facility was dedicated in 1995 and provided the school community an outstanding venue for worship and performance. The following year the lower level of the C/PAC was developed to provide much needed art and computer classrooms and freed up classroom space to add two sections of sixth grade. With the sixth grade came reorganization and the new name, Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School. The library was then remodeled featuring a Rotunda and Internet/computer research stations while recapturing the elegance of the original mansion décor. The decade was marked by solid leadership, a caring and committed faculty, a talented and diverse student body, and strong volunteer and alumni involvement. Our second ten-year accreditation by the Middle States Association of Schools and colleges was awarded in 1995. The school’s endowment grew to $2.5 million and an additional anonymous gift of $1 million established the Lutheran Crusader Fund to annually provide support for innovative programs and Gospel-based ministries for Lutheran/Christian institutions throughout the metropolitan New York area. In all things the school community endeavored “to be like Christ” as academic excellence moved to new levels, including Advanced Placement and “distance learning” college courses via compressed video. Opportunities for Christian service led to growth in character and a strengthening of relationships. 2000 and Beyond Under the theme "We Are Family" and with the focus on "16 Initiatives for the Future of Long Island Lutheran," the celebration of our 40th Anniversary moved the school forward into the new century. Improvements on campus in these years have included a new student center/dining hall, prayer chapel, foreign language center, student ministry center, fitness center, wrestling room, and the Ammerman Center for Physical Education and the Arts. These construction projects, along with support for academics, technology, athletics, and spiritual life, have allowed for the addition of supplemental programs for students, particularly in the areas of physical education, music, drama, dance, athletics, foreign language, technology, and service experiences. As the 50th Anniversary approaches in 2010, Long Island Lutheran plans to move into the future with the vision, focus, and commitment that brought it successfully through the first 50 years.   ©LuHi 2012