We are excited to share the Summer 2026 edition of The Word Magazine. This edition shares the unveiling of Founders Hall and highlights the incredible work accomplished by faculty, students and alumni at the University of the Incarnate Word.
In this issue, read about the restoration and evolution of our newest campus facility, two of the alumni muralists involved in the project, and the Erin Michelle Cumbest Memorial Scholarship.
Ask alumni about their first memories of UIW, and chances are they'll recall them with a smile. If you grew up in San Antonio, you probably remember driving by with your family on a cold December evening just to catch a glimpse of the Christmas lights. Watching in awe, you never imagined that one day you'd walk on these same grounds as a student, the very campus that lived in your childhood memories.
In 2015, UIW celebrated its inaugural Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduates from the School of Rehabilitation Sciences (SRS), formerly known as the School of Physical Therapy. These first-time graduates dedicated themselves to aiding their patients by restoring, maintaining and promoting optimal physical function. With each graduating class that followed, the University has proudly contributed to national and global initiatives to prepare high-quality health professionals who will lead with the intention to heal.
In 1954, renowned San Antonio architect Atlee B. Ayres designed an eight-story headquarters for USAA that would become a landmark of mid-century modern architecture. Situated on 10 acres along Broadway, the building featured nearly 350,000 square feet of office space and a 500-car parking garage. Overseen by then-USAA President Col. Charles E. Cheever, Sr., the $6 million project served as the company's first modern headquarters.
