“It’s a story that inspires people,” said Zamperini. “It’s a story that, if you’re hopeless in your struggles, you can look at Louie Zamperini’s struggles and see that he was able to overcome those insurmountable odds, it gives you hope that you can get through what you have to get through.”

Recounting his father’s miraculous story of perseverance and survival, Zamperini’s message focused on his father’s faith and the power of forgiveness. He relayed stories of his father’s thievery as a kid and how his brother helped him change his focus from running from the police to running for competition, eventually running his way to the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the record for fastest last lap in the 5000 meters.

Zamperini talked about his father’s experience during WWII, how he crash-landed in the Pacific and was stranded at sea for 47 days, only to be rescued by the Japanese and brutally mistreated in Japanese POW camps for two years, horribly beaten every day for 14 months by a guard called the Bird.

Zamperini said that when WWII ended, his father’s battle with PTSD began. It dominated his life for the next five years until he was taken to a Billy Graham Crusade where his life was changed forever by the salvation of Jesus Christ.

Later, Louis Zamperini traveled to Japan to visit a prison filled with his former guards. While there, he forgave them, shook their hands, and led several of them to Christ.

Speaking on his father’s forgiveness, Luke Zamperini said that “it was the capstone miracle on his life to show the power that God has in Jesus Christ.”

Zamperini also addressed a major factor in his father’s ability to survive being stranded at sea for so long, saying, “He was really prepared for his ordeal at sea. Why was that? Through education.”

He then went on to speak about how his father learned First Aid as a boy scout and was able to help save his pilot friend when they crash landed, how he learned that bullets lose their velocity in a few feet of water and was able to avoid getting shot when a Japanese plane came to strafe them. He learned how to avoid being eaten by a shark from a class he took while stationed in Hawaii, and he learned in a college physiology class that the mind is like a muscle; if you don’t use it, it will atrophy, so he would recite various things while at sea in order to keep his mind sharp.

In addition to Zamperini’s address, those in attendance at the banquet heard from two students, Romy Massey and Joshuwa Scott, about how they received scholarships to attend HLGU and it has changed their lives.

Prior to the student testimonies, HLGU’s ministry team, Praise Song, took the stage to perform a selection of their praise and worship pieces from the semester.

The event was sponsored in part by HNB Bank and WGEM, and the evening was closed out by Dr. Anthony Allen, HLGU President, who appealed to those in attendance to support the students at HLGU.

“Because of the generous sponsorship of this evening, we’re able to provide this wonderful evening of fellowship,” he said. “We’re able to provide this wonderful presentation by Luke Zamperini. We’re able to be mutually encouraged by one another. We’re encouraged to continue our work, and your gift will make it possible for us to invest in the future of God’s kingdom by educating young men and women at �������� University.”

For more information about HLGU’s annual Booster Banquet, please contact Lauren Youse, director of alumni services and development at 573-629-3126, or via email at lauren.youse@hlg.edu.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12

Purchase Tickets Online

Luke Zamperini is the son of Louis Zamperini, one of World War II’s most well-known prisoners of war and hero of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Louis Zamperini is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand’s latest book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, which has repeatedly been in the number one position on The New York Times Bestseller list and was made into the 2014 movie Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.

The Booster Banquet is sponsored by HNB Bank and WGEM. Ticket prices are as follows.

$50      General Admission Ticket – before November 1 – Includes banquet admission

$65      General Admission Ticket – on and after November 1 – Includes banquet admission

$175    Executive Admission Ticket – Includes reserved parking, admission to a private reception with Luke Zamperini on November 9 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and a special reserved seat at the banquet. Attendees to the special private reception will receive a copy of Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken, and be able to meet Luke and have a photo taken with him.

$1200  Sponsor a Round Table – Includes eight executive tickets for a special price.

Due to the limited amount of executive tickets, you must call the office of institutional advancement at 573.629.3124 to purchase them by credit card only. Veterans my call the office to receive tickets at a special discount.

Luke Zamperini is also an executive producer to a sequel of Unbroken. This sequel looks at the life of hero Louis Zamperini post WWII, and is now playing in select theatres. The faith-based film – distributed by Pure Flix – is based on the second half of Hillenbrand’s book, portraying Zamperini’s story of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation, and is titled Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

Louis Zamperini passed away on July 2, 2014, but Luke is honored to continue carrying the torch of his father’s legacy. For nearly 50 years, Luke accompanied his father to hundreds of speaking engagements and is thoroughly versed in every aspect of Louis’ incredible story of bravery and survival. His father’s accounts of life as a POW and fighting to survive were Luke’s bedtime stories growing up, and now he is grateful to continue sharing those stories and watching them influence the lives of others.

When Luke Zamperini speaks to audiences about his father, he adds a unique perspective, focusing on how the discipline of athletics, scouting, and education prepared Louis to survive his incredible ordeal at sea, and would subsequently help him to endure cruelty and humiliation as a prisoner of war. He stresses that it was Louis’ preparedness that would equip him for his countless ordeals.

Luke identifies key incidents and concepts in his father’s life that have shaped and molded his own character, compelled him into a life of service, and led him to a career in the field of emergency preparedness.

Luke Zamperini is the chief inspector and public information officer for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety where he specializes in employee training and disaster preparedness.

Luke is also a musician, an avid golfer, and a Bible teacher. He resides in southern California with his wife and his son, Louis’ only grandchild.

For more information, please contact Lauren Youse ’05 M ‘16, director of alumni services and development, at 573.629.3126, or via email at lauren.youse@hlg.edu.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12

Luke Zamperini is the son of Louis Zamperini, one of World War II’s most well-known prisoners of war and hero of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Louis Zamperini is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand’s latest book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, which has repeatedly been in the number one position on The New York Times Bestseller list and was made into the 2014 movie Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.

The Booster Banquet is sponsored by HNB Bank and WGEM. Ticket prices are as follows.

$50      General Admission Ticket – before November 1 – Includes banquet admission

$65      General Admission Ticket – on and after November 1 – Includes banquet admission

$175    Executive Admission Ticket – Includes reserved parking, admission to a private reception with Luke Zamperini on November 9 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and a special reserved seat at the banquet. Attendees to the special private reception will receive a copy of Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken, and be able to meet Luke and have a photo taken with him.

$1200  Sponsor a Round Table – Includes eight executive tickets for a special price.

Due to the limited amount of executive tickets, you must call the office of institutional advancement at 573.629.3124 to purchase them by credit card only.

Luke Zamperini is also an executive producer to a sequel of Unbroken. This sequel looks at the life of hero Louis Zamperini post WWII, and is now playing in select theatres. The faith-based film – distributed by Pure Flix – is based on the second half of Hillenbrand’s book, portraying Zamperini’s story of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation, and is titled Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

Louis Zamperini passed away on July 2, 2014, but Luke is honored to continue carrying the torch of his father’s legacy. For nearly 50 years, Luke accompanied his father to hundreds of speaking engagements and is thoroughly versed in every aspect of Louis’ incredible story of bravery and survival. His father’s accounts of life as a POW and fighting to survive were Luke’s bedtime stories growing up, and now he is grateful to continue sharing those stories and watching them influence the lives of others.

When Luke Zamperini speaks to audiences about his father, he adds a unique perspective, focusing on how the discipline of athletics, scouting, and education prepared Louis to survive his incredible ordeal at sea, and would subsequently help him to endure cruelty and humiliation as a prisoner of war. He stresses that it was Louis’ preparedness that would equip him for his countless ordeals.

Luke identifies key incidents and concepts in his father’s life that have shaped and molded his own character, compelled him into a life of service, and led him to a career in the field of emergency preparedness.

Luke Zamperini is the chief inspector and public information officer for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety where he specializes in employee training and disaster preparedness.

Luke is also a musician, an avid golfer, and a Bible teacher. He resides in southern California with his wife and his son, Louis’ only grandchild.

For more information, please contact Lauren Youse ’05 M ‘16, director of alumni services and development, at 573.629.3126, or via email at lauren.youse@hlg.edu.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12

Luke Zamperini is the son of Louis Zamperini, one of World War II’s most well-known prisoners of war and hero of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Louis Zamperini is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand’s latest book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, which has repeatedly been in the number one position on The New York Times Bestseller list and was made into the 2014 movie Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.

The Booster Banquet is sponsored by HNB Bank. Tickets go on sale beginning September 1. Prices are as follows.

$50      General Admission Ticket – before November 1 – Includes banquet admission
$65      General Admission Ticket – on and after November 1 – Includes banquet admission
$175    Executive Admission Ticket – Includes reserved parking, admission to a private reception with Luke Zamperini on November 9 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and a special reserved seat at the banquet. Attendees to the special private reception will receive a copy of Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken, and be able to meet Luke and have a photo taken with him.
$1200  Sponsor a Round Table – Includes eight executive tickets for a special price.

Due to the limited amount of executive tickets, you must call the office of institutional advancement at 573.629.3124 to purchase them by credit card only.

Luke Zamperini is also an executive producer to a sequel of Unbroken which is on the way from the film’s original producer, Matt Baer and God’s Not Dead Franchise Director Harold Cronk. This sequel will look at the life of hero Louis Zamperini post WWII. The faith-based film – distributed by Pure Flix – is based on the second half of Hillenbrand’s book, portraying Zamperini’s story of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation, and is titled Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

Louis Zamperini passed away on July 2, 2014, but Luke is honored to continue carrying the torch of his father’s legacy. For nearly 50 years, Luke accompanied his father to hundreds of speaking engagements and is thoroughly versed in every aspect of Louis’ incredible story of bravery and survival. His father’s accounts of life as a POW and fighting to survive were Luke’s bedtime stories growing up, and now he is grateful to continue sharing those stories and watching them influence the lives of others.

When Luke Zamperini speaks to audiences about his father, he adds a unique perspective, focusing on how the discipline of athletics, scouting, and education prepared Louis to survive his incredible ordeal at sea, and would subsequently help him to endure cruelty and humiliation as a prisoner of war. He stresses that it was Louis’ preparedness that would equip him for his countless ordeals.

Luke identifies key incidents and concepts in his father’s life that have shaped and molded his own character, compelled him into a life of service, and led him to a career in the field of emergency preparedness.

Luke Zamperini is the chief inspector and public information officer for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety where he specializes in employee training and disaster preparedness.

Luke is also a musician, an avid golfer, and a Bible teacher. He resides in southern California with his wife and his son, Louis’ only grandchild.

For more information, please contact Lauren Youse ’05 M ‘16, director of alumni services and development, at 573.629.3126, or via email at lauren.youse@hlg.edu.

�������� University announced Luke Zamperini as the keynote speaker for the 77^th Annual Booster Banquet. The banquet will be held Friday, November 9, at 7 pm. Tickets for the banquet will be available for purchase on September 1.

Luke Zamperini is the son of Louis Zamperini, one of World War II’s most well-known prisoners of war and hero of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Louis Zamperini is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand’s latest book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, which has repeatedly been in the number one position on The New York Times Bestseller list and was made into the 2014 movie Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.

Luke Zamperini is also an executive producer to a sequel of Unbroken which is on the way from the film’s original producer, Matt Baer and God’s Not Dead Franchise Director Harold Cronk. This sequel will look at the life of hero Louis Zamperini post WWII. The faith-based film – distributed by Pure Flix – is based on the second half of Hillenbrand’s book, portraying Zamperini’s story of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation, and is titled Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

Louis Zamperini passed away on July 2, 2014, but Luke is honored to continue carrying the torch of his father’s legacy. For nearly 50 years, Luke accompanied his father to hundreds of speaking engagements and is thoroughly versed in every aspect of Louis’ incredible story of bravery and survival. His father’s accounts of life as a POW and fighting to survive were Luke’s bedtime stories growing up, and now he is grateful to continue sharing those stories and watching them influence the lives of others.

When Luke Zamperini speaks to audiences about his father, he adds a unique perspective, focusing on how the discipline of athletics, scouting, and education prepared Louis to survive his incredible ordeal at sea, and would subsequently help him to endure cruelty and humiliation as a prisoner of war. He stresses that it was Louis’ preparedness that would equip him for his countless ordeals.

Luke identifies key incidents and concepts in his father’s life that have shaped and molded his own character, compelled him into a life of service, and led him to a career in the field of emergency preparedness.

Luke Zamperini is the chief inspector and public information officer for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety where he specializes in employee training and disaster preparedness.

Luke is also a musician, an avid golfer, and a Bible teacher. He resides in southern California with his wife and his son, Louis’ only grandchild.

For more information, please contact Lauren Youse ’05 M ‘16, director of alumni services and development, at 573.629.3126, or via email at lauren.youse@hlg.edu.