Wartburg’s mission statement is in my heart

NAME: Laura Hofer Hinspeter
CLASS YEAR: 1999
MAJORS: Music Education
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Owner and instructor, L.A.H. Music Studio

WHAT ARE YOUR CONNECTIONS TO WARTBURG: I am a 1999 Wartburg graduate with a bachelor’s in music education. My brother is Brad Hofer ’02, and my son, Brenden ‘24, is majoring in engineering and singing in the Wartburg Choir, like I did when I was a student. I also sang in Castle Singers. After graduating, my husband, Brian, and I were married in the Wartburg Chapel by Pastor Larry Trachte in 2001.

SINCE GRADUATING, HOW HAS WARTBURG IMPACTED YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE: Professionally, I have a rich and diverse career. I own L.A.H. Music Studio, where I instruct voice, piano, and flute lessons. I’m also an adjudicator for the Iowa High School Music Association, the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards program,  and an independent choral clinician, as well as a guest director for large group, solo/small ensemble, and jazz choirs around Iowa. I am also incredibly blessed to also be an independent health coach, assisting my clients in reaching their health and wellness goals.

Personally, the mission statement of the college has remained in my heart since graduating  and is a pillar of who I am. Wartburg wasn’t just about my major, but about building me as a whole person.  It has shaped how I live my life as a child of God; a wife; a parent to my three children, Brenden, Brody, and Jenna; a co-worker; and a friend. The experiences I had in the classroom, participating in and touring with music ensembles; and the opportunities to grow in my faith and develop lasting relationships with classmates, professors, and staff offered me multiple opportunities to make connections then and have provided networking opportunities even today.

WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND YOUR WARTBURG-THEMED CAMARO: We had attended the Good Guys Car Show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds early in the summer of 2020. I was salivating over a 1969 Camaro, but knew those were way out of my price range. That summer, Brenden worked for Shottenkirk Chevrolet in Waukee for their auto detailing department. He saw this orange Camaro come off the truck and told me about it as soon as he got home. I had driven by it several times, not stopping because I knew I’d want it!

The Monday before we moved him to Wartburg for his freshman year, Brenden arranged a test drive for me. I took it for a spin – and told my husband I wanted it! Since 2020 was a bummer of a year because of COVID-19 and we didn’t get to go on our family vacation to visit friends in Australia, we agreed that we could make this bucket list dream come true! I decided to do black-out plates and wanted it to represent the fact that both the purchase and my college experience were “Worth It!”.