Hannah Mundt ‘23 Named NELAC Student Teacher of the Year
Recent Concordia University, Nebraska graduate Hannah Mundt ‘23 of Kansas City was named the Nebraska English Language Arts Council (NELAC) Nebraska English/Language Arts Student Teacher of the Year for 2023. She was also the recipient of the Gerry Cox Memorial “Future Teacher of the Year” Award. The award is selected by a committee from the NELAC board and the Nebraska affiliate for the National Council Techers of English (NCTE). The awards were presented to her by Clark Kolterman, Seward NELAC Awards Chair, on May 27.
“I always wanted to be a teacher, as I have been so blessed to have incredible role models in the education field, including my mom, three of my grandparents and other family members,” she said. “They supported me throughout school since I was a toddler and encouraged me to grow in my God-given talents.”
Mundt being raised in Lutheran schools and witnessing her educators’ servant leadership greatly impacted her and inspired her to teach. Deciding to study education at Concordia Nebraska was not a hard decision. She said she saw the familiar values and qualities of her life-long Lutheran education reflected on Concordia’s campus.
“As soon as you step foot on the campus you can feel the love and compassion of Christ shown through his people,” she said. “When I toured Concordia Nebraska as a high schooler, professors, coaches, and students were clearly connected in community through love towards God and each other.”
Mundt earned two degrees: one in secondary education with an English language arts concentration and one in English with a minor in literature. She also received her Lutheran Teacher Diploma.
Mundt was placed as a Language Arts and English student teacher at Lincoln Lutheran High in Lincoln, Nebraska during the 2023 spring semester. During the second half of that semester, she taught at Concordia Prep in Baltimore, Maryland and was housed with an area pastor, his wife and four children. She taught freshman intro to literature, sophomore world literature, 8th grade public speaking, and junior/senior public speaking. She also had the opportunity to assist in the spring musical, Hairspray. Outside of the classroom, Mundt explored the east coast, visiting New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Annapolis, Assateague Island, Ocean City and more.
“It was such a blessing to see God’s beautiful creation in an area of the country that was brand-new to me,” said Mundt. “Student teaching in Baltimore put me outside of my comfort zone and provided me with a very rich experience.”
She has now accepted a call to serve as a high school English teacher at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Mundt will be honored this fall at the Teacher Day Luncheon at the annual Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival in Seward, Nebraska and next May at the State Capitol during the NCTE and NELAC Honors Day.
“I am so thankful that I chose Concordia,” she said. “I am beyond excited to continue in the Lutheran School Community as a teacher, serving students by encouraging them in learning and sharing Christ’s love with them.”
