Class of 2023

For over a century, NHS membership has stood as an enduring symbol of student achievement, transcending mere report cards and test scores. It represents a commitment to excellence that encompasses scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

NHS is more than just an academic accolade; it is a holistic approach recognizing and fostering well-rounded individuals who contribute meaningfully to their communities. By empowering and championing these exceptional students, NHS provides schools like Lutheran North a values-based framework to cultivate a culture of excellence. The impact of NHS extends far and wide as our students grow into compassionate, responsible, service-oriented individuals, poised to lead in their communities and beyond.

Growing out of the 1981 National Commission on Excellence in Education and the Exemplary Private School Recognition Program, the Lutheran North 1983 class was arguably the most successful in school history as it included three students who received National Merit Commendation and three National Achievement Scholars.

The prestigious academic and philanthropic achievements of the Class of 1983 National Honor Society inductees paved the way for Lutheran North to receive the Exemplary School Award (“Blue Ribbon School”) by the United States Department of Education in 1984 – the very first year of National Blue Ribbon recognition for private schools.

Still today, the National Honor Society at Lutheran North continues upholding the tradition of excellence, not just in academics but in every facet of a successful student’s life. Its members are a beacon of inspiration for current and future generations, reminding us all that true 

Lutheran High School North

After graduation from North in 1992, Jason attended Valparaiso University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Psychology (Magna Cum Laude) in 1996. He continued his academic work at Washington University, St. Louis (Valedictorian) with his master’s in Social Work (MSW) in 1999. He also obtained a Master’s in Human Resources and Industrial Relations and an Advanced Certificate in Business Administration in 2002 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Jason is the founder and president of Greer Consulting, Inc. (GCI), an entrepreneur, former National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) agent, and one of the most sought-after labor and employee consultants in the United States. Among Jason’s clients are: Nike, Enterprise Leasing, Dr. Pepper, Staples, Pepsi, Johns Hopkins Hospital, U.S. Army, SSM, BJC Healthcare, and many more.

With Jason at its helm, GCI leverages over 30 years of business leadership experience to collaborate with client-partners in developing solutions to the dilemmas organizations face in today’s complex world. While leaning on experiences with past clients, as well as the unique needs of the client at hand, each receives the full benefit of Greer Consulting’s emphasis on creating and maintaining harmony in the workplace. Jason’s team-building approach advocates addressing problems that typically lead to dissatisfaction by strengthening the bond between employers and employees, with the goal of maximizing a culture of excellence.

Additionally, Jason is widely known for his work in Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Reconciliation, based in part on his experience as a victim of racial harassment and cross burnings by the KKK in 1991. With an engaging and empathetic approach, Jason was branded as “The Employee Whisperer” by clients and the media alike. Jason’s writings include Bias, Racism & the Brain: How We Got Here and What Needs to Happen Next (2020) and People Matter Most: The Dirty Little Secrets of Employee Relations & Labor Management (2015).

Jason is a volunteer leader at The Crossing Church. He serves as a mentor to Valparaiso University School of Social Work students, supports as a mentor to University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations students, and also mentors Ritenour High School students.

Jason lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has two children: Jada Greer (16 years old) and Jaydan Greer (13 years old). Jason created the Lutheran High School North Dr. Jerome Greer Scholars scholarship in honor of his father.

Jana was an outstanding student and athlete while at North. While attending, she competed at the varsity level in three sports: cross-country, basketball, and track. She was a member of the three-peat women’s track & field state championship teams (set a state record in the high jump), reached the quarterfinals in state basketball, and advanced to the state championship for two years in cross-country. Jana was the metropolitan area-scoring leader in basketball multiple seasons and was also the Post-Dispatch Student Athlete of the Year.

Jana continued her athletic career at Saint Louis University with a four-year scholarship in basketball. She was co-captain of the team in 2003 and 2004. While she was playing at SLU, the women’s team advanced for the first time to the WNIT. Her basketball skills took her around the world: Puerto Rico, Italy, Spain, and France.

She graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Human Resources. She continued her education at Fontbonne University with a Master of Arts in Education and Special Education. She also received a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University and culminated her studies earning a Doctor of Education in Leadership from Maryville University.

Jana started her career in education in 2005 in the St. Louis Public School District. Her Lutheran education instilled numerous core values with service being foundational. She found success by sharing her personal experiences as she shifted her focus from sports to eliminating barriers that negatively impact students’ academic success—specifically those that disproportionately impact underserved and underrepresented communities. She presents at the Beyond Consequences Trauma-Informed Schools local and national conferences and serves on the advisory council for the Crisis Prevention Institute, stressing the importance of de-escalation techniques that exclude restraint and seclusion of students, with self-care as the anchor strategy.

She has worked as a teacher, athletic director, assistant principal, and principal. In 2020, she was selected as the Enterprise Holdings Secondary School Leader of the Year. In 2021, she accepted the position as Principal of Ritenour High School in St. Louis County. Today, she is the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at Saint Louis University.

Jana is a member of Washington Tabernacle MB Church. She serves on the Julia B. Hattitude Scholarship Fund Committee and is a Board Member for Dream Builders 4 Equity and the Teacher Home Visit Program.

Her husband is Carl Haywood Jr., and together they have three children: Carl (19), Jaila (16), and Jordyn (13).

After graduating from Lutheran North, Richard attended Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, where he received his B.A. in Mathematics and Physics in 1977. He then proceeded to the University of Texas, Austin, to earn his M.A. in Mathematics in 1980. He continued his studies in Austin to receive his Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1984.

Rich began his teaching career in 1984 at Davidson College, ranked one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation. Davidson is a private college with affiliation to the Presbyterian Church. Two major themes that are a part of the culture at Davidson are respect for diversity of all kinds and a service mentality in life.

Dr. Neidinger was promoted to full Professor in 1997 at Davidson. He became Chair of the Department of Mathematics in 2003. Among his many honors, he was the recipient of the George Pólya Award from the Mathematical Association of America in 1990 for an outstanding article, Automatic Differentiation and APL in The College Mathematics Journal. He is the author of over 25 articles in mathematical or computational journals, including The American Mathematical Monthly, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Review, Mathematics of Computation, and Pacific Journal of Mathematics.

Richard’s interests beyond family and work include the founding of Friends of Accion, Inc., a nonprofit that supports access to education in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. He also coordinates partnerships in missions between U.S. and Mexican Protestant churches, all through Accion Ministries in Mexico. The ministry runs three group homes where youth can live in a Christian environment during the week to be able to attend high school and college. Richard is an Elder in the Presbyterian church, an adult Bible study teacher, and works with a monthly food pantry. The emphasis of Christian culture and service at Lutheran North and Davidson College are exemplified by Richard’s life activities.

Richard married Barbara Ingram Neidinger (C.P.A.) in 1978. Their daughter, Dana, recently completed a Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and is now a professor at Centre College in Kentucky.

After graduating from North, Paul’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Missouri–Rolla, a Master of Science in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois–Urbana, and an MBA from Washington University, St. Louis. He was also awarded an Honorary Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Paul has lectured and published numerous technical articles and papers, both externally and internally at Boeing. His most recent recognition in 2022 was the awarding of the Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Management. His teams have been recognized with many industry and company awards, including for the T-X/T-7 Program: the 2019 Aviation Week “Game Changer Award,” 2019 Collier Trophy finalist recognition, and the 2019 Popular Science “Best of What’s New.”

Paul has held a number of diverse engineering and business-related leadership positions during his career at Boeing. He has led key programs and development activities, serving as the Chief Engineer for major aircraft programs that include the F/A-18 Strike Fighter and the T-7 Advanced Trainer. He has also held positions of Vice President/Program Manager for the T-7 and performed the same role for a Boeing Phantom Works developmental program. In his current position of Executive Vice President at Boeing, Paul is responsible for leading development activities for future tactical aircraft.

One of his most recent projects, the T-X/T-7, is the most significant accomplishment in his engineering career. He led the design and development of aircraft from concept to flight in under 36 months, resulting in a franchise program win in the USAF competition for advanced pilot training aircraft, securing jobs for the region for decades.

Paul’s comment was, “It will forever change how we build airplanes.”

Paul has remained active in the Lutheran Church and, in particular, Lutheran education, serving on various boards supporting these programs. He has been married to Jean for 34 years and has two sons—Nathan (married to Becca, with grandson Zayden) and Matthew. It is also interesting to note that his father, Royce Niewald, was in the first graduating class of Lutheran High School North.

During his high school experience at Lutheran North, Scott was very active in the sports program, participating in three different sports: football, basketball, and baseball. He was a pitcher in baseball for four years. During his football career, he had the unique role of being the backup quarterback to Steve Atwater (NFL Hall of Fame, Canton, OH). His high school experience demonstrated his passion for sports regardless of the nature of the sport.

After graduating from North, Scott attended the University of Missouri for two years. He then transferred to Lindenwood University for his last two years of college. He graduated from Lindenwood Cum Laude with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Business.

Scott has worked in the radio and TV industry for over 30 years. He has had the opportunity to broadcast three of the most unique experiences in St. Louis sports history. He was part of the broadcast teams for the Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams in 1999, the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, and the Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues in 2019.

As a member of the St. Louis Blues telecast on Bally’s Sports Midwest, they won the Synopsis award in back-to-back years, which is awarded to the best regional telecast among all MLB, NBA, and NHL teams. Bally Sports made him the TV Voice of the St. Louis Billikens. Scott was promoted to handle play-by-play duties for the conference telecast for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball for the 12-team league telecasts throughout the season. The telecast also includes a national broadcast for the women’s tournament championship game on ESPN. He has also been nominated for several regional Emmy awards as well as national awards for broadcasting.

Scott is involved with several local charitable organizations in the greater St. Louis community and serves as a speaker for these local groups. When we see Scott chatting with the “Mad Hungarian,” Al Hrabosky, after a Cardinal game, the public probably can’t appreciate all the “behind the scenes” work that is part of the presentation of the endless number of sporting events in our lives.

Scott’s family consists of his mother Sandy, who resides in South Carolina. Sandy was a secretary for the Mathematics and Science Department at LN for many years.