This was not the July that any of us expected in Kerrville and the Hill Country. As you all know by now, the community has been devastated by the flood of July 4th and its lingering aftermath. There was a naive sense of hope as the sun rose on the disaster that this would all be over soon. It became clear to us all as the water receded that our community will be healing for months—even years. But you would have been proud of the way your Schreiner University campus responded to these very dark hours. Early on the 4th after discovering the campus had not sustained significant damage, faculty, staff, and students began to gather to prepare for whatever came next. Over the next few hours, and because of this quick preparation, we were contacted by emergency management personnel and asked to serve as a shelter and reunification center for local camps. We were also asked to house and feed the linemen who were providing immediate support to bring power back to the region and the first ambulance teams to arrive on the scene. Your Schreiner University lived into the sign on its front gate: Enter With Hope. And over the last four weeks, we have averaged over 400 emergency responders each night, staying with us in apartments and residence halls, relaxing after tremendously difficult shifts with a walk across our calm campus and enjoying the hospitality of the Schreiner Diner. We asked for volunteers to help manage the experience of these guests, and your Schreiner University responded with eagerness, staffing check-in and answering questions and solving problems 24 hours a day for 7 days a week.

This was not the July that any of us expected, but we know that the start of the academic year is almost here. It will be a sprint to get the campus ready for the students’ return, but we are prepared to do that work. We have shared with them that after the emergency responders have left, it will be our community—including the students of Schreiner University—who will undertake the long-term and legacy work of cleaning up, rebuilding, and restoring Kerrville and the Hill Country. And while there is still much grieving that must take place, we intend to make space for joy, too, in helping new students find their way to class on the first day, in cheering on our new football team during its initial practices, and while celebrating the new semester at the Welcome Back Concert for students at the Trailhead.

In the weeks and months ahead, I encourage you to return to Kerrville and eat in our restaurants and stay in our hotels and shop downtown. These are not insignificant opportunities for you to positively impact this area. When you do, I hope that you’ll stop by campus, too. Come see our new soccer field and Edington Sports Performance Complex. Come meet our new faculty. Come cheer on the volleyball team. This was not the July that any of us expected, and it did not leave us unchanged. But your Schreiner University endures.

Charlie McCormick, Ph.D.
President
Schreiner University