April 4, 2024

Dr. Mary Louise Zieger's educational journey was marked by remarkable achievements and a lifelong commitment to education and community service. Now, her generous gift to the Lindbergh Schools Foundation will help to support future teachers for years to come.

Dr. Zieger was a longtime Lindbergh teacher and administrator. When she passed away, she left the Lindbergh Schools Foundation nearly $1.7 million to continue her legacy of supporting public education. The Dr. Mary Louise Zieger Scholarship is a $56,000, four-year scholarship that was awarded for the very first time this Wednesday, to a Lindbergh High School senior who is planning to study in the field of education. Alexis Gralike, who will be attending Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. was awarded the first scholarship. She will study elementary education.

Since its inception, the Foundation has helped provide 986 students with $1,030,945 in scholarships. This year, the Foundation will add to that total, awarding 93 scholarships, totaling more than $175,000 for LHS seniors. 

“Dr. Zieger's remarkable life journey was characterized by her unwavering commitment to education and her unrelenting passion for making a positive impact in the lives of others,” said Erica Keating, executive director of the Lindbergh Schools Foundation. “As a final testament to her commitment to education, her parting gift to the world was a scholarship fund, a legacy gift that will ensure that her passion for teaching lives on in future generations of educators as well. We are honored and grateful to be the stewards of her generous gift.”

• WATCH: Dr. Mary Louise Zieger Scholarship Video

About the Lindbergh Schools Foundation

The Lindbergh Schools Foundation is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Lindbergh Schools’ commitment to excellence in all facets of education. ​Our mission is to endow and administer funds that award scholarships for Lindbergh High Schools students, support Lindbergh programs and projects that enhance the educational experience for students, and strengthen the bond between Lindbergh Schools, its alumni, and the community.

About Dr. Mary Louise Zieger

Dr. Mary Louise Zieger earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri Valley College in 1959, followed by a Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville in 1965, and ultimately, her Doctor of Philosophy degree from St. Louis University in 1969.

During her professional career, Dr. Zieger made substantial contributions to education and her community. From 1959 to 1967, she dedicated herself to teaching fifth grade at Sappington Elementary School, taking a brief sabbatical leave from 1967 to 1968. Her commitment to education extended beyond the classroom when she served as an administrative assistant at The Middle School from 1968 to 1970, and later as assistant principal at Sperreng Middle School from 1970 to 1974. Her passion for teaching remained evident as she continued her career, instructing fourth grade students at Long Elementary School until her retirement in 1997. In recognition of her dedication and impact, she was honored as a Lindbergh Distinguished Educator in the same year of her retirement.

Dr. Zieger often reminisced about a defining moment in her career when, during her final semester in college, she found a teaching contract from her preferred school district, Lindbergh Schools, waiting for her. This event marked the beginning of her remarkable 38-year teaching career at Lindbergh, during which she considered her greatest successes to be those moments when she witnessed her students truly understanding her teachings and developing a genuine love for learning.

In her post-retirement years, Dr. Zieger continued to serve her community with unwavering dedication. She was elected as a deacon and took on the role of Monitor of the Board of Deacons. Additionally, she devoted her time to teaching Adult Bible Study classes at Southminister Presbyterian Church, volunteering at the Affton Police Department by assisting in data entry to support officers in acquiring data for their patrol vehicles, and serving as a neighborhood watch captain for her subdivision. For seven and a half years, she selflessly volunteered at Nurses for Newborns, where she contributed to their intake department. During her time at Meramec Bluffs, she took on the role of a Wing Watcher, ensuring the well-being of residents on her wing who lived alone.

Dr. Mary Louise Zieger's remarkable life journey was characterized by her unwavering commitment to education, her community, and her unrelenting passion for making a positive impact in the lives of others. And, as a final testament to her commitment to education, her parting gift to the world was a scholarship fund, nestled within the Lindbergh Schools Foundation, ensuring that her passion for teaching lives on in future generations of educators.