Established on 03.13.2018 by Gary '63 and Elizabeth "Betty" Zinter
Gary E. Zinter was the first of Ervin Zinter and Dorothy Pederson Zinter’s four children to graduate from Concordia. Gary’s daughter, Courtney, ’02, was the 21st Pederson/Zinter family member to graduate from Concordia College. Following his graduation from Concordia in 1963 with a chemistry major and math minor, Gary taught science and math at William M. Kelley High School in Silver Bay, MN for 18 years. From 1966 to 1973, he owned and operated a fast food restaurant in Beaver Bay, MN while teaching school. In 1975, while still teaching, Gary began working for Lutheran Brotherhood, now Thrivent Financial, where he worked for 43 years before retiring in 2018. Gary has remained active at Concordia by serving on Concordia's National Alumni Board from 2006-2010 and being a Class Agent since 2001. He also received the "Call to Serve Award" in 2021 and the "John Pierce Ambassador Award" in 2022.
Elizabeth (“Betty”) Zinter is a University of Minnesota Mankato graduate with a degree in chemistry and math. She taught high school science and math in Lakefield, MN until she and Gary were married. Betty was a substitute teacher for several years and was Gary’s administrative assistant in his insurance business for over 20 years.
Gary and Betty’s only child, Courtney Ann Zinter, graduated summa cum laude from Concordia College in 2002. Her majors were economics and French with a minor in English writing. Courtney followed in the footsteps of her father by working as a financial associate with Thrivent Financial for two years and then at Thrivent Financials' corporate office for five years, mostly in the areas of health insurance products and new product development. While working for Thrivent, she earned her MBA from the Carlson School of Management (University of Minnesota), graduating with honors in 2007. In 2013, Courtney graduated with high honors from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. At the time of the establishment of this scholarship, Courtney is a partner at Davis & Harman LLP, a law firm that specializes in tax, employee benefits, and insurance.
The Courtney Ann Zinter ‘02 Endowed Scholarship in Finance or Business with a Finance or Economics Concentration is awarded to the Offutt School of Business student with the highest GPA in his or her major, where students eligible for the scholarship consist of those majoring in either (1) finance or (2) business with a finance or economics concentration. Selection is based on academic excellence. This merit-based scholarship will not reduce other gift assistance, and may be combined with other scholarships and financial aid up to but not exceeding full tuition.