Established on 05.12.2017 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.
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 Financial’s 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. Courtney is a partner at Davis & Harman LLP, a law firm that specializes in tax, employee benefits, and insurance.
The Gary E. ’63 and Elizabeth A. Zinter Endowed Scholarship in Finance is awarded to junior or senior students majoring in finance within the Offutt School of Business.