Return to the Pride!

Hear the roar of the Luther Lions mascot calling all alumni home for Luther Alumni Weekend, May 15-16, 2026. This biennial event is open to all students, all grades, and all connections.

Events begin Friday evening with the alumni basketball games. Saturday is jam-packed with cinnamon rolls and coffee for the classes of 1975 & 1976, a downtown street market, a parade, a cornhole tournament, car show, a banquet, and, finally, a street dance on Main Street! Alumni committee chair Lauren Wilson (Coats, 2019) says the whole weekend will feel like coming home. She shared more reflections on the planning and on why the committee is working so hard on the full slate of events.

LRN: Tell us about the clever theme, “Return of the Pride.”

LW: “Return of the Pride” just felt right the second we said it out loud. It ties directly to our Lions mascot, but it also represents people coming back home—to their school, their town, and their roots. We wanted something that felt strong and meaningful, not just catchy. It was actually really fun coming up with it because we kept going back to what Luther means to people, and this one captured it perfectly.

LRN: What’s some of the deep history or lore about the weekend?

LW: Alumni Weekend has always been about connection—bringing generations together in one place. You’ll see people who graduated decades apart sitting side by side, sharing stories as if no time had passed. There are so many alumni who’ve poured time and heart into keeping this tradition alive—people who show up every year, volunteer, donate, and make sure it continues.

LRN: What’s one memory from a past reunion that still makes you smile or gets retold around the planning table?

LW: One of my favorite memories is watching people walk in who said they weren’t sure they’d come—and then seeing them light up the second they recognize someone. It turns into hugs, laughter, and “I haven’t seen you in 20 years!” moments. Those are the stories we always come back to because they remind us why we do this.

LRN: How has the weekend changed since those early days—what’s stayed exactly the same because it’s so core to what Luther is?

LW: It’s definitely grown—we’ve added more organized events and tried to make it bigger and better each year. But at its core, nothing has changed. It’s still about community, relationships, and pride in where you came from. That feeling of walking into a room and instantly belonging—that’s something we’ll never change.

LRN: Reaching alumni is notoriously hard—what’s the single biggest challenge you and the team face when trying to get the word out?

LW: The biggest challenge is simply finding everyone. People move, change numbers, switch emails, and life gets busy. Social media helps, but it doesn’t reach everyone. We’re constantly trying to bridge that gap and make sure no one feels left out or forgotten.

LRN: If an alum is on the fence—maybe thinking “it’s been too long” or “I won’t know anyone anymore”—what would you want them to hear from you directly?

LW: I would tell them it’s never too late to come back. You will know someone, and even if you don’t right away, you’ll leave knowing people. Luther has a way of making you feel like you belong no matter how long it’s been. You won’t regret coming—but you might regret missing it.

LRN: If you could describe the weekend in one sentence that captures the feeling rather than the schedule, what would it be?

LW: It feels like coming home.

LRN: What’s something that happens at Luther Alumni Weekend that you wish more people knew about because it’s quietly magic?

LW: It’s the small moments—conversations in the hallway, people reconnecting outside the gym, laughter during the banquet—that really make it special. Those aren’t scheduled events, but they’re the heart of the weekend. That’s where the magic is.

LRN: Can you mention something about your first year of teaching at LPS? Coaching too? Has that stirred in you any new reason to help connect alumni with today’s students?

LW: My first year teaching at LPS, while also coaching, has truly been a blessing. I’ve been lucky to have such a great group of kids who have made this year so much fun, both in the classroom and through coaching. I coach track, cross country, and basketball, so I get to see these students in so many different settings, and it’s really helped me build strong relationships with them.

Being in the classroom and around athletics every day, you really see how much these students look up to the people who came before them. It’s helped me find my passion in both teaching and coaching, and it’s made me even more proud to be part of this community. As a 2019 graduate, it’s also really special to be able to come back and give back to Luther Public Schools in a different role.

This experience has made me realize that Alumni Weekend isn’t just about reconnecting with the past—it’s also about showing our current students what’s possible for their future. Coaching, especially, has opened my eyes to how much pride students take in representing Luther, and that same pride carries on long after they graduate.

That’s what’s pushed me even more to help connect alumni with our students today, because those relationships and role models matter. When students can see successful, kind, hardworking people who once sat in the same classrooms come back and pour into the school, it gives them something real to look up to. It shows them that Luther isn’t just where you start—it’s something you carry with you.

KFOR’s Natalie Hughes Named Alumni Parade Grand Marshall

Luther alum Natalie (Mohr, 1987) Hughes will serve as the Grand Marshall of the alumni parade on Saturday morning (10 am). With a distinguished career in broadcast journalism, she has served as news director at the nationally recognized KFOR in Oklahoma City since 2015, earning several awards. Hughes lives in Luther with her husband Hank. Like his mom, their son, Evan, is an LPS and Oklahoma State University alum.

“I could easily throw out some great memories that involved football and basketball games, being a cheerleader and homecoming queen, but I’m really drawn to those involving the people who made a lifelong impact on me.

“Aside from memories tied to my immediate family, my strongest recollections involve the incredible teachers I had within the Luther school system. There were so many who were kind and compassionate and outstanding educators. In third grade, Mrs. Sarah Stults instilled in me a love of perfect cursive penmanship. Later, Mrs. Zelma Christy’s English classes taught me how to properly diagram a sentence. Mrs. Linda Willis insisted on teaching the Saxon Math Curriculum to make certain her students were well prepared for the mandatory algebra class they’d face in their freshman year in college. I’m so grateful for the teachers in Luther. They each gave me the skills to be successful.”

She also has fond memories of being welcomed in the home of Danny and Twila Roy when she was pals with their daughter, Sherri, and going on lake trips with the Tytenicz family.

“I’m also amazed at the impact someone like John Tytenicz has had on the young people in our town. Generations of young men learned the value of hard work while hauling hay for Mr. Tytenicz. While growing up, my friends and brothers hauled hay for him. Now, decades later, my son and nephews continue the tradition. Boys grew to men, throwing Tytenicz hay bales in the blistering heat, all the while absorbing lessons in commitment and responsibility.”

Natalie added, “Finally, I would like to mention former Luther principal Dennis Delano. When I was in fifth grade, my friends and I were terrified of him. Mr. Delano’s deep voice and no-nonsense demeanor were enough to keep us all in line. Forty-plus years later, in 2025, I was stunned to run into Mr. Delano in San Antonio. He had made the long trek to Texas to support my son during a collegiate national shooting competition. (Side note: Over the years, the Oklahoma State Shooting Team has been blessed with many award-winning shooters from Luther!) Mr. Delano had traveled 475 miles each way to encourage a young man from our community. That says so much about him … and our town.”

“Return of the Pride” Luther Alumni Weekend is May 15 and 16

Alumni Committee:
Lauren Wilson -President
Carly Snedeker – Vice President
Jenny Bailey-Secretary
Caitlin Scheer- Treasurer
Gracie Tytenicz
Casey Pittman

Helpful links to signup for Luther Alumni Events:

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