Advancing the
MISSION INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2016
The McComb Family Memorial Scholarship: Founded on Love and Remembrance Moved by the tragic events of the Wimberley flooding in May 2015, which affected the Charba, McComb, Schultz, and Carey families, people throughout South Texas responded in caring and compassionate ways. They provided support for those grieving the loss of their families and friends. One of the meaningful ways they showed their thoughtfulness was through the establishment of the McComb Family Memorial Scholarship at Incarnate Word Academy as a means of honoring the memory of Laura McComb and her children, Andrew and Leighton, who were lost in the Wimberley disaster. Prior to the flooding, the McComb family had been a significant part of the IWA school community for a number of years. Laura was a dedicated mother who was involved in the education of her children. She and her husband, Jonathan, were strong supporters of Incarnate Word Academy. Andrew, 6, was an active Montessori student who loved attending school and taking care of his younger sister. Leighton, 4, was also a Montessori student. She loved her teachers and looked forward to going to school each day. “She loved making progress in her ‘big book’ of math and language,” her teacher, Sister Elizabeth Close, said. “Her smile warmed the hearts of all around her.” Reflecting on his experiences at IWA, Jonathan McComb, the lone survivor of the Wimberley disaster, stated, “What the family enjoyed most was the energy and love that the teachers and aides showed the children every day; the communication between the faculty, staff, and the parents; and the feeling and knowledge that the teachers actually wanted to be there to make a difference in the lives of the children by producing an exciting, safe, educational environment.
“Most importantly, it was being able to look into the eyes of my children and see their excitement and love for their teachers and school every time I dropped them off or picked them up.” In less than six months from its inception, the McComb Family Memorial Scholarship reached permanent status and Incarnate Word Academy was able to grant the first award to a qualifying IWA freshman. “I am thankful and honored for all the donations that have come in for this scholarship,” Jonathan noted, “and I am excited to know that there will be children who will benefit from it and discover the wonderful school, teachers, and learning atmosphere IWA has to offer.” When asked what he would want to say to students who will receive the McComb Family Memorial Scholarship, he responded, “This scholarship is built on love and remembrance and continued education for future generations. Never take one thing for granted. Live life to the fullest. Never give up on your dreams and your pursuit of happiness.” As the McComb Scholarship is awarded each year to an IWA student, Laura and her children, Andrew and Leighton, will be remembered by the school community and by the student recipient who will benefit from the generous gifts of caring donors.