Julia (Flandermeyer) McCourt, '61 Earns the Sower Award
Julia (Flandermeyer) McCourt, recipient of the 2017 Sower Award, has provided prolonged and significant service to Concordia University, Nebraska as well as generous support through gifts and prayers.
Julia has a passion for Lutheran education and equipping students to learn, serve and lead in the church and world. Together with her late husband, Charlie, Julia has offered faithful and steadfast support of academic and church work scholarships, the Class of 1961 Scholarship Endowment, and a wide variety of capital building projects and campus renovations.
Julia also put her passion to work on Concordia’s Board of Regents, where she served for nine years, leading the University in this important role 1994-2002. Building the Thom Leadership Education Center was the most exciting and satisfying achievement during her tenure, Julia said. But beyond the projects, she valued most the relationships with other board members university staff, and the students. “The people I’ve met and come in contact with over the years have been very inspirational,” she notes, “I feel spiritually uplifted when I am with them.”
Julia grew up in in the Pennsylvania countryside and stayed close to home for much of her youth. College provided an opportunity to go somewhere new, and the urging of many of her Lutheran school teachers led her to Seward. She graduated in 1961 and taught two years in New Jersey, where she met her husband, Charlie. They were married in 1963 and, after a year in Canada, moved back to Pennsylvania, where Julia taught another four years before transitioning to full-time care for their two sons, Mark and Greg. After a few more moves, the family settled in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where Charlie established McCourt Manufacturing, which he would oversee until retirement.
A firm believer in Lutheran, Christian higher education, Julia highly values what she believes Concordia graduates can bring to society. Julia’s passion for Concordia students and Concordia’s mission, her generosity and faithful support, and her servant leadership make it an honor to recognize her with the 2017 Sower Award.
