St. John's College
Alumni Association
PO Box 376
1502 E. 6th Ave
Winfield, KS 67156
Phone: 620-221-1572
Email: sjcaa1@cox.net
Office Hours:
Tuesday - Thursday
8:00am - 3:00pm
Office Staff:
Larry Junker, Executive Director
Wallace Behrhorst, Reporter Editor
Beth Smith, Administrative Assistant
From the Executive Director
Greetings Alumni and Friends of S. John’s College Alumni Association:
Here it is, late February 2026, and I just realized that this would be the last time you hear from me as your Executive Director. After 20 years serving as Executive Director, it is time for me to “really retire.” I started in this office on July 1, 2006, and will retire July 1, 2026. These 20 years have just flown by. During this time, the Alumni Association has printed some 80 Johnnie Reporters, 240 reports to the Board of Directors, 40 Board of Directors meetings, 20 Winfield Johnnie Reunions, and received many, many phone calls and emails. The Association started the Annual Fund in 2007 because the Operational Endowment earnings would no longer fund the day-to-day operations of the office. And, speaking of endowments, the Scholarship Endowment has grown from a little over $800,000 back on June 30, 2006, to almost $3,500,000. The Operational Endowment likewise has grown from some $600,000 to just over $1,200,000. Some of these increases have come from financial market growth, and a good share from gifts to the Association from alumni, either as direct gifts or through estates. I also have enjoyed meeting many of you alumni over these past 20 years. The Alumni Association has applied to continue our RSO status with the LCMS. This is generally granted every 5-years, so this is the fourth time we have applied for this status. We look forward to this status being granted again later this spring. While attending the LCMS Convention, I inquired about receiving funds through Thrivent Choice Dollars, and with the help of a Thrivent Representative, we were granted this status to receive these dollars. To date, we have received over $122,000 from Thrivent for operational purposes. I have enjoyed the stories of your escapades while students at SJC. I only wish I had recorded many of these. I want to say a special THANK YOU to the people I’ve worked with here at the SJCAA Office - Linda Kaiser, Kathy Grimm, Sally Ray and Beth Smith. They have made my job easier, for they really run the office. A special THANK YOU to “Mister St. John’s”, Rev. Wallace Behrhorst. He still does many of the Ye Old Johnnies found on pages in the Reporter. I suppose I could go on and on about things here at SJCAA, but I think it is time to say, I hope in some small way, that I have contributed to the success of SJCAA. I ask you to continue your support of the incoming Executive Director, Lori Williams, P’77. I ask for your continued prayers not only for me, but also for Lori and for the Association. Prayer Works!
Now for a few updates: Financial Aid applications are coming into the office. Some are even “first-timers.” It looks like we should have over $100,000 to give to these students who are attending the colleges, universities, and seminaries of the LCMS.
A few reservations have come in for the Winfield Johnnie Reunion scheduled for June 5-7, 2026. The Reunion Committee is in the planning stages for this reunion, honoring the SJA and SJC Classes of 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, and 1986. There are four important events that will be celebrated during this Reunion. First of all, this will be the 50th Anniversary of the Class of 1976; secondly, we will celebrate the Class of 1981, which was the first class to graduate with their Bachelor’s Degree; thirdly, this is the last class of students to attend St. John’s College, as the College officially closed in 1986; and lastly, this is the 110th Anniversary of the completion and dedication (June 4, 1916) of West Dorm (now known as Rehwinkel Hall). The theme for this reunion is “CELEBRATE & REJOICE” with Biblical reference to Philippians 4:4 - “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say rejoice!” This theme was found in the 1976 Yearbook (the 50th Anniversary Class), the 1986 yearbook (the last class of SJC), and the 1981 yearbook (the first class to graduate with a bachelor’s degree).
Finally, the 2025-2026 Annual Fund, in support of the operations of the office, has received just over $18,000 towards a goal of $43,530, or 41% of our goal. The Association thanks you for this support, and asks for your continued financial support as well as your prayers.
It has been an enjoyable 20 years, and it is time for me to “sign off” and say as I close each report -
Blessings always and God speed,
Larry Junker
SJCAA Executive Director
Greetings Alumni and Friends of S. John’s College Alumni Association:
Here it is, late February 2026, and I just realized that this would be the last time you hear from me as your Executive Director. After 20 years serving as Executive Director, it is time for me to “really retire.” I started in this office on July 1, 2006, and will retire July 1, 2026. These 20 years have just flown by. During this time, the Alumni Association has printed some 80 Johnnie Reporters, 240 reports to the Board of Directors, 40 Board of Directors meetings, 20 Winfield Johnnie Reunions, and received many, many phone calls and emails. The Association started the Annual Fund in 2007 because the Operational Endowment earnings would no longer fund the day-to-day operations of the office. And, speaking of endowments, the Scholarship Endowment has grown from a little over $800,000 back on June 30, 2006, to almost $3,500,000. The Operational Endowment likewise has grown from some $600,000 to just over $1,200,000. Some of these increases have come from financial market growth, and a good share from gifts to the Association from alumni, either as direct gifts or through estates. I also have enjoyed meeting many of you alumni over these past 20 years. The Alumni Association has applied to continue our RSO status with the LCMS. This is generally granted every 5-years, so this is the fourth time we have applied for this status. We look forward to this status being granted again later this spring. While attending the LCMS Convention, I inquired about receiving funds through Thrivent Choice Dollars, and with the help of a Thrivent Representative, we were granted this status to receive these dollars. To date, we have received over $122,000 from Thrivent for operational purposes. I have enjoyed the stories of your escapades while students at SJC. I only wish I had recorded many of these. I want to say a special THANK YOU to the people I’ve worked with here at the SJCAA Office - Linda Kaiser, Kathy Grimm, Sally Ray and Beth Smith. They have made my job easier, for they really run the office. A special THANK YOU to “Mister St. John’s”, Rev. Wallace Behrhorst. He still does many of the Ye Old Johnnies found on pages in the Reporter. I suppose I could go on and on about things here at SJCAA, but I think it is time to say, I hope in some small way, that I have contributed to the success of SJCAA. I ask you to continue your support of the incoming Executive Director, Lori Williams, P’77. I ask for your continued prayers not only for me, but also for Lori and for the Association. Prayer Works!
Now for a few updates: Financial Aid applications are coming into the office. Some are even “first-timers.” It looks like we should have over $100,000 to give to these students who are attending the colleges, universities, and seminaries of the LCMS.
A few reservations have come in for the Winfield Johnnie Reunion scheduled for June 5-7, 2026. The Reunion Committee is in the planning stages for this reunion, honoring the SJA and SJC Classes of 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, and 1986. There are four important events that will be celebrated during this Reunion. First of all, this will be the 50th Anniversary of the Class of 1976; secondly, we will celebrate the Class of 1981, which was the first class to graduate with their Bachelor’s Degree; thirdly, this is the last class of students to attend St. John’s College, as the College officially closed in 1986; and lastly, this is the 110th Anniversary of the completion and dedication (June 4, 1916) of West Dorm (now known as Rehwinkel Hall). The theme for this reunion is “CELEBRATE & REJOICE” with Biblical reference to Philippians 4:4 - “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say rejoice!” This theme was found in the 1976 Yearbook (the 50th Anniversary Class), the 1986 yearbook (the last class of SJC), and the 1981 yearbook (the first class to graduate with a bachelor’s degree).
Finally, the 2025-2026 Annual Fund, in support of the operations of the office, has received just over $18,000 towards a goal of $43,530, or 41% of our goal. The Association thanks you for this support, and asks for your continued financial support as well as your prayers.
It has been an enjoyable 20 years, and it is time for me to “sign off” and say as I close each report -
Blessings always and God speed,
Larry Junker
SJCAA Executive Director