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Melissa (Wittcop) Bergholt '23 earned master's degree at Concordia Nebraska, will speak at upcoming LEA event

Seward, NE (09/19/2025) — A veteran educator and administrator, Melissa (Wittcop) Bergholt '23 earned her bachelor's degree in elementary and middle education from Concordia University Wisconsin and a master's degree in K-8 math and science education from the University of Central Florida. When researching administration-focused master's degree options, she discovered Concordia University, Nebraska's online course options, which not only checked all of the boxes for program requirements but also offered "reasonable tuition" for Lutheran teachers.

"I enjoyed having coursework with educators in the public school sector. It provided opportunities for me to learn about the public education system but for them to also learn about Lutheran schools and our practices and procedures," she explained. "When I began this program I was already in my second position as a principal, so I had practical experience. What I appreciated in this program and what the professors offered included the various articles and texts that we read. My academic knowledge for my role grew thanks to those texts and the insights provided by the professors."

She completed her master's degree in education administration from Concordia Nebraska in 2023. Bergholt said that although she has been a Lutheran her whole life, her Concordia Nebraska studies helped to both develop her faith and also offered her an opportunity to share faith-based views with her classmates.

She has served in Lutheran education for 25 years and has taught middle school math and science at three different schools. She is currently in her second position as principal at Word of Life Lutheran School in St. Louis, Missouri, overseeing the school's preschool to eighth grade program.

"This is my eighth year as administrator here," she said. "My day-to-day activities include welcoming children to school, visiting classrooms, working with teachers, attending meetings, answering emails, planning school events and working with parents. My favorite part of the job is visiting with students. They always bring a smile to my face!"

This year, Bergholt is presenting at the Lutheran Education Association's (LEA) annual convocation event for the first time, although she's attended the event in the past. LEA Convocation will take place October 2-4 in St. Louis, Missouri. She is presenting a sectional with one of her co-workers titled "Welcoming Diversity Within the School".

"Word of Life, like other schools, has a diverse student population," she said. "This includes differences in faith, family backgrounds, academic levels, socio-economic levels and ethnicity. Our presentation focuses on how to support teachers and families with various ethnic backgrounds. In addition, it focuses on how to teach about this diversity, welcome it and celebrate it."

LEA exists to link, equip and affirm educators and workers in ministry for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. Professional development events include the triennial convocation and an annual conference for elementary and early childhood administrators.

Melissa is married to Concordia University Chicago alumnus Matthew Bergholt, who serves as continuous improvement specialist at Lutheran Church Extension Fund. They have two sons, Christopher and Tanner, who both attend Word of Life. When she's not hard at work at school, Melissa said she enjoys cheering at her boys' soccer games, spending time with them, reading and playing handbells with her church's choir.

The Lutheran Education Association links, equips and affirms educators and workers in ministry for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. Numerous Concordia Nebraska faculty, staff and alumni are presenting at or attending this year's LEA Convocation.

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 1,700 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

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