Lemke Family Scholarship

Jerry and Martha Lemke already felt allegiance to CLU (then CLC) when they made the decision in 1984 to create a scholarship in their family name. They had been involved in the early events of the college and had encouraged their son Gordon to enroll at CLC as a student. After Gordon graduated in 1979 he became an admissions officer, serving as an ambassador and recruiter for his alma mater.

Martha Lemke was a devoted mother who was actively involved in campus events, specifically the CLU Guild and the CLU Women’s League. Both groups provided support for the college and also opportunities for participants to build long-lasting relationships. One of their most visible projects was Scandinavian Day each spring, where they displayed and sold their handicrafts for the benefit of the college. Martha was one of the event’s most faithful participants.

Jerry Lemke was supportive of the college too, but in his own way. When his employer, ARCO, announced a new two-for-one matching gift program, Jerry saw an opportunity to make a difference with his gifts to CLU. Jerry’s initial gift of $2,000 established the Lemke Family Scholarship. When matched two-for-one by his employer, that gift grew to $6,000—enough to endow the scholarship immediately. In Jerry’s mind, that was creative financing.

In time, ARCO reduced its annual match to one-for-one, but the Lemkes continued to take advantage of the match, making their gifts on a regular and generous basis. In that process they built a strong financial base for their scholarship. Son Gordon, who went on into successful business ventures, joined in that support, so it truly became a “family” scholarship.

In designating the purpose of the Lemke Family Scholarship, Martha and Jerry chose to be as open and fair-minded as possible. The scholarship is available to any student in any major who is in good academic standing—undergraduate, fifth-year, or graduate level. Scores of deserving students have benefited in the years that followed, thanks to the good planning and generous spirit of the Lemke family.