05/21/2026
Over the last few weeks, students from Vernon College, Midwestern State University, and Wichita Falls ISD have walked across stages, accepted diplomas, taken photos with their family, and celebrated huge accomplishments. It’s a big moment. Not just for them, but for our entire community.
For a long time, there’s been this mindset that if you want to “make it,” you have to leave town and move to Dallas or Oklahoma City, but I refuse to believe that’s true. Wichita Falls has real opportunity. We have great businesses, strong schools, affordable living, and something bigger cities often struggle to offer: a strong sense of community.
Where else can a young professional build a career and also feel connected to the people around them? Where else can someone make an impact so early in their career? In Wichita Falls, people can actually get involved, meet community leaders, serve on boards, volunteer, and help shape the future of the city instead of just blending into the crowd.
That’s why I think graduation season is also a challenge to our business community.
How do we make these graduates want to stay?
Sometimes it’s offering internships or entry-level opportunities. Sometimes it’s mentoring young professionals. Sometimes it’s simply encouraging them and helping them see a future for themselves here. We know that young people are much more likely to stay in a community when they feel wanted and can clearly see opportunity.
And there is opportunity here! We’re growing. New businesses are opening and industries are evolving. Community organizations are working hard to improve quality of life which all helps to create energy and momentum for young people to succeed right here at home.
Most importantly, this community cares about people, and that definitely matters.
So, as we celebrate graduates from Vernon, MSU, and WFISD, let’s take a minute to think about what kind of community we want to be moving forward. Let’s be the kind of city that welcomes young talent, invests in them, and gives them reasons to stay. Because the future of Wichita Falls isn’t somewhere else, it’s sitting in those graduation caps and gowns right now.
Together,
Cindy Shafer