Lutheran Education Association names Concordia Nebraska’s Dr. Lorinda (Schomacker) Sankey ’80 as recipient of 2026 Christus Magister Award

The Lutheran Education Association (LEA) recently announced that Concordia University, Nebraska’s Dr. Lorinda (Schomacker) Sankey '80 was selected by LEA's board of directors to receive LEA's top honor, the Christus Magister Award. Since 1965, this most prestigious Lutheran Education Association award has been presented to Lutheran educators who have made significant contributions to Lutheran education. 

LEA Executive Director Dr. Thomas Wrege '85 presented the award to Sankey at the university’s recent honors dinner event, which is part of the university’s commencement weekend festivities. 

“She brings the kind of leadership that anticipates what is needed and moves toward it with a deep love for and commitment to Lutheran education, genuine care for those around her and the pursuit of Christ-centered excellence,” said Concordia Nebraska President and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of Academic Ventures Dr. Bernard Bull. “She is the type of ‘yes and’ leader who consistently makes things better, builds upon the ideas of others, helps move things from ideas to action and cultivates a culture of care and excellence.”  

“Dr. Lorinda Sankey is a seasoned Lutheran teacher and leader. Her passion for Lutheran schools runs deep and shows in her dedication to Concordia University, Nebraska…Lorinda's work to equip educators, both at the university level, as well as for those already serving in Lutheran schools, is to be recognized and celebrated. She is a tremendous role model in her faith, pedagogy, leadership and work ethic!”

Sankey serves as the dean of the university’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences and head of teacher education at Concordia University, Nebraska. 

When asked about her greatest joys in ministry, she said “My greatest joy in ministry is to learn of my former students leading successful Christian vocations in their families, schools, congregations and communities. Whether through social media or hard copy Christmas cards, I see my K-8 Lutheran school students living out the purpose for which God has prepared them. I see my former educator preparation students at educator conferences, on social media or hear of them referred to by a Lutheran network connection. At the time I taught these students at all levels, I was working with them to know they were created by God for a purpose and that we were together to live out His purpose. When I reconnect with them now, I have a window into the purposes that God prepared for them.” 

Sankey was introduced to Lutheran schools when her parents enrolled her in first grade at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Cheney, Kansas. Her experiences in this two-room school formed her desire to become a Lutheran school teacher.  

She graduated from then-named Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education with social science emphasis and youth ministry minor. There she met Ken Sankey ’80 who was also preparing to be a Lutheran teacher. Lorinda and Ken married one week after graduation and moved to Key West, Florida, where they served in their first teaching calls at Grace Lutheran School. She taught third grade and Sunday school and led the church’s youth group. She volunteered in Sunday school, vacation Bible school and youth ministry and taught part-time at Grace, St. John, Aurora, Indiana and Zion, Wilton, Iowa, during the years with young children at home.  

She returned to full-time teaching at Central Lutheran School in Newhall and Atkins, Iowa, where she taught second, third, fifth and sixth grades from 1989 to 1996. She led vacation Bible school and taught Sunday school at St. John, Newhall. During these years, Lorinda served on several committees in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS) Iowa District East.  

She taught sixth, seventh and eighth grades at Holy Cross Lutheran, Collinsville, Illinois, from 1996 to 2000. In 2000, Lorinda accepted a call to teach at Zion Lutheran School, Bethalto, Illinois, where she taught second and sixth grades. While at Holy Cross and Zion, she coached the fifth through eighth grade track team, served on the student, staff and policy committee at Metro East Lutheran High School, started the Rainbows for All God’s Children programs, and taught vacation Bible school and Sunday school at both schools. In 1999, she completed a master of science degree in elementary education at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois.  

In 2006, she accepted a graduate assistant position at Saint Louis University (SLU) where she taught undergraduates in the education department a variety of courses and learned about career possibilities in higher education. Upon completion of a Ph.D. at SLU in 2008, she accepted a call to Concordia University Chicago as assistant professor and coordinator of early childhood, elementary and master of arts in teaching programs. During the years at Concordia Chicago, she taught bachelor and master level courses, served on several committees, led professional development with Lutheran educators and helped move the university forward in the areas of policy, national education accreditation, faculty recruitment and selection, school partnerships and Illinois State Board of Education approval of the elementary and middle level programs. Lorinda and Ken were members of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Franklin Park, Illinois, during their years at Concordia Chicago.  

In 2016, she accepted the call to Concordia University, Nebraska as associate professor of education and associate dean for the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (CEHHS). In 2018, Lorinda advanced to rank of professor and was promoted to dean of the college in 2019.  

Of the many leadership challenges that she faces, she said, “Good teachers are idealists. We always strive to teach better, to be better. Unchecked, this striving can lead to discontent and disappointment, even damaged relationships. My daily challenge is to give my work to God and trust that He will direct it. My sinful self wants to be in control and to take credit. Thank goodness Jesus rescues me from myself! He sends the Holy Spirit to stir my heart to read God’s word daily and listen to hear that He has always been in control, is now and will always be. God’s got it. Jesus saves me and will take me to heaven in spite of myself.” 

She currently serves as dean of the CEHHS, providing advocacy, mentoring and supervision for department chairs, faculty members and students in three academic departments: education, health and human performance and human and social sciences. Lorinda leads growth in the master’s level programs of the college with focus on serving the needs of Christian/Lutheran audiences.  

Her role as leader of education programs has resulted in continued approval of all bachelors and master level education programs by the Nebraska Department of Education in 2019 and 2025 and national accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for all bachelors and master level education programs in 2019 and 2022. The education programs are currently under review by CAEP in 2026.  

She is a member of the LCMS Committee for Colloquy of Commissioned Ministers, the Lutheran Education Association and served as past president of Nebraska Association for Colleges of Teacher Education. She has published articles and a book chapter and continues to lead a variety of professional development for Lutheran educators.  

“In recent years, she spearheaded many of our church worker efforts resulting in a significant growth of Lutheran education students and an overall church work population of close to three hundred. It is inspiring to see all those students gathered for our church work student luncheon each semester, and God used Dr. Sankey to help make much of this a reality. She brings the head and heart of a teacher to her work,” added Bull. “Her decades of experience in Lutheran schools, combined with her leadership in higher education, gives her a rare ability to connect the daily realities of teaching with the long-term formation of educators and the broader mission of Lutheran schools. She lives and breathes Lutheran education and has helped form countless future Lutheran teachers.” 

Lorinda and Ken share their love of Concordia University, Nebraska with their children and children-in-law, Brent ‘04 and Margaret (Orman) Sankey ’04, Thad ’06 and Sarah (Heuer) Sankey ’06, and Lauren ’08 and Nathan Hannemann ’08. They have nine grandchildren: Alina, Agneshka, Eli, Lila, Micah, Jubal, Benjamin, Konstantine and Nicholas.  

About the Lutheran Education Association: Founded in 1942, the Lutheran Education Association is a professional organization committed to linking, equipping, and affirming educators and workers in ministry for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.   

About Concordia University, Nebraska: Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 2,500 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.