Established on 02.22.2019 by Jon and Phyllis Evert †
Jon and Phyllis Evert, both part of the Concordia Class of 1968, met while volunteering at the Plymouth Christian Youth Center in Minneapolis. At the time, Phyllis was teaching in Coon Rapids and Jon was attending Luther Seminary and contemplating a life in ministry. In 1973, they were married and moved to Comstock, MN, where they lived on the Evert family farm and continued the unbroken tradition of farming. Jon served in the United States Army Reserve, held public office, and served on the boards of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Fargo Moorhead River Keepers and the Fargo-Moorhead Food Commission. Phyllis took a career sabbatical to raise their children, after which she returned to teaching, serving as a special education teacher in Fargo, ND, for eighteen years. Jon and Phyllis have been blessed with four children (Laura, David, Christa, and Lee) and eight grandchildren. Their oldest child, Lee, is from Vietnam and joined the family when he was eleven years old. Their two daughters, Laura and Christa, attended Concordia College.
Jon and Phyllis have lived their lives dedicated to family, faith, and community. They have traveled around the world on mission trips dedicated to service and learning. Through these experiences, Jon and Phyllis profoundly understand the important role that diversity plays in their lives and in the lives of their children and grandchildren. For this reason, Jon and Phyllis have created the Jon ’68 and Phyllis ’68 Diversity Endowed Scholarship to make a Concordia College education possible for local and national students of diverse backgrounds.
The Jon ‘68 and Phyllis ’68 Evert Diversity Endowed Scholarship is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid to students from underrepresented populations. Selection is based on scholastic achievement or financial need.
† - Testamentary endowments may not be contributed to until they are fully established.