The Community That Shaped My Future

Connor Gilroy, a 2018 graduate of Martin Luther High School and 2025 graduate of Marquette University Law School, describes his time at Martin Luther as the experience that shaped his confidence and calling. “At Martin Luther, I had the opportunity to grow through my faith, academics, and athletics,” he says. “It prepares you for the real world by allowing you to gain experience through the many opportunities that are offered.”

Those opportunities, inside and outside the classroom, gave him lessons that carried him through college, law school, and into his work today at Northwestern Mutual. He reflects on how the school’s theology classes, weekly chapel, and faith-filled staff helped him develop a deep, daily reliance on Christ: “My faith is my source of comfort, strength, and purpose… Martin Luther strengthened my faith and helped guide me on my walk with Christ.”

The relationships Connor formed at Martin Luther remain one of the most meaningful parts of his journey.

“Meeting people I consider to be lifelong friends is one of the greatest things you can have. This speaks to the sense of community that Martin Luther creates and the feeling that everyone belongs there.”

That same community continues to shape his life as an alumnus—a network marked by pride, integrity, and a willingness to support one another. Even now, he finds himself leaning on the tools and values Martin Luther instilled in him. “Going to Martin Luther means you have a family for life,” he shares. “It prepared me for the real world through the curriculum, life experiences, and many unforgettable memories that helped me through college and law school.”

Today, he carries forward the lessons of those four years—faith, integrity, service—and steps into the future with confidence shaped by his time at Martin Luther.

The Foundation Behind My Nursing Journey

Abby Hafemann, a 2021 graduate of Martin Luther High School and now a registered nurse at Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital, describes her years at ML as the place where her passion for nursing, and caring for others, began to take root. “Throughout my years at Martin Luther, I was surrounded by a community that emphasized compassion, service, and leadership,” she recalls. In an environment that encouraged students to look beyond themselves, she learned to recognize the qualities essential to nursing.

Running the school’s American Red Cross blood drives became a defining experience. Coordinating volunteers, welcoming nervous donors, and working closely with medical staff gave her early exposure to healthcare and strengthened her organizational and communication skills. “Being trusted with something so important confirmed my desire to pursue nursing,” she says. Whether through service, athletics, or choir, Abby saw daily examples of teachers and students lifting one another up—examples that shaped the kind of nurse she hoped to become.

“Martin Luther gives you teachers who truly care and who push you to think critically, communicate clearly, and develop the discipline you’ll need for the rigor of the medical field.”

Abby credits her ML teachers and advanced courses that carried her through demanding college-level courses and, later, nursing school itself. Teachers like Mr. Nickel pushed her precision and ability to communicate under pressure. That academic preparation, paired with the spiritual foundation she built in a Christ-centered community, now shapes the way she interacts with patients—seeing each one as someone created and loved by God.

For Abby, being a Martin Luther alumna means living out the compassion, confidence, and purpose she discovered during her time here. “It means being part of a family that has supported me, challenged me, and helped me grow… and inspires me to continue living in a way that reflects the education and faith I received here.”