Aina J. Bornemann Scholarship

Four months before Aina Bornemann’s 80th birthday, her three adult children began concocting a gift they knew would please her as no other gift could. By pooling their ideas and resources, they designed a scholarship in their mother’s name that would highlight her lifelong passion for music. They were right about one thing: she thought it was the best birthday present ever.

In the process of raising her family, Aina instilled in her children a deep appreciation for music, especially sacred music. Aina herself was involved in a multitude of musical groups—choirs, vocal ensembles, handbell choirs and more. She even directed children’s choirs. Aina sang in her church choir at Christ Lutheran in Long Beach as long as she was physically able to do so.

The Bornemann family had a long and fruitful history at CLU. All of Aina’s children attended and graduated from CLU—Karen in 1970, Jim in 1974 and Barbara in 1975. Karen, Aina’s oldest, married fellow alumnus Allan Spies and later served as chair of CLU’s board of regents. The entire family came together philanthropically to place their family name on the Spies-Bornemann Education and Technology Center in 2000.