At Great Plains Lutheran High School, we nurture the whole student—mind, body, and spirit—within a Christ-centered environment that feels like home. Whether students come from nearby South Dakota towns or as far as South Korea and South Africa, they’re known, valued, and daily reminded of God’s grace.
Our blend of local and international students creates a uniquely supportive and unified community where friendships form across all backgrounds. That spirit of connection and purpose is at the heart of who we are, and every campus improvement is made with that in mind.
Our recent partnership with Catalyst Construction reflected that commitment and was an example of how mission-aligned school construction projects can support both physical needs and spiritual growth.
The Impact of Faith-Based Construction Partnerships on School Communities
As President and Director of Mission Advancement at Great Plains, we’ve seen firsthand how construction projects can either uplift or burden a ministry like ours. From our first conversations with Catalyst Construction, it was clear this would be different.
There was mutual trust, a shared sense of purpose, and a collaborative approach. This wasn’t about just adding four classrooms or updating our office—it was about investing in our students, staff, and the generations to come.
Catalyst didn’t just build walls—they listened, problem-solved, and made what seemed impossible, possible. When we encountered a budget-breaking fire suppression requirement, Catalyst worked swiftly to identify a creative and affordable solution that no one else had offered. That mindset—one of “yes, we can”—echoed through every stage of the project.
Working around an active school can be challenging, but Catalyst respected our space and community. From setting up temporary walls to scheduling noisier work outside of school hours, they ensured learning could continue uninterrupted. Their subcontractors—especially the team from Extreme Fire—mirrored that same professionalism.
In fact, our office staff was ready to adopt them. One of our custodians even asked who had cleaned the school, and it turned out that it was them. That kind of attention to detail didn’t go unnoticed.
Enhancing Student Experience Through Thoughtful Campus Design
What we now have isn’t just new rooms—it’s new energy.
A thoughtfully designed study hall that’s already a student favorite.
A Learning Resource Center that helps us better serve students with unique learning needs.
Meeting spaces that make us more connected and collaborative.
And yes, even new offices that spark meaningful, spontaneous conversations we didn’t have the space for before. Our students and staff often ask, “How did we function without these spaces?”
That says it all.
We wholeheartedly recommend Catalyst to other schools and ministries planning school construction projects. Their ability to communicate clearly, follow through consistently, and lead with heart made this experience truly rewarding.
More than builders, they were partners in our ministry—caring not just about the project, but about the people.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Mission with Confidence
As we look to the future, we know these updates will help us reach even more students with the life-changing message of the Gospel. We’re grateful for Catalyst’s role in helping us do that—and for their work in helping Great Plains Lutheran continue to be a place where students grow in faith, character, and confidence.
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