Alumni Blog: Kelby Davis reflects on UTPB and Community Support

Hello Falcons!

My name is Kelby Davis and I graduated from UTPB in 2009 with a BA in Psychology and in 2014 with my Masters of Public Administration in Leadership. Both of my parents are UTPB graduates, as well as my husband, so we are all proud Falcons. When I think back on my time at UTPB, there are so many fun memories to reminisce on. Some of my fondest memories come from serving on the UTPB Student Senate and UTPB Cheerleading team. I loved how both of these organizations allowed me to be involved on campus and in the community while gaining leadership skills, friendships, and being empowered to give back. My husband and I both cheered together at UTPB and made many memories together that I will carry in my heart always.

As I write this on August 31, 2020 I have been asked to reflect on the day of the August 31, 2019 mass shooting and how it affected our family. Our daughter Anderson (17 months old at the time) was shot the day of the shooting while we sat in our car at a red light right next to the UTPB campus. Thanks to God, the brave first responders, and amazing healthcare professionals that cared for us during the events and in the days since, we sit here today with beautifully happy and healthy two-year-old twins and never take one minute of watching them run and play for granted. Anderson and Rhett are our greatest blessings and we realize how different our story looks compared to the many others that lost their lives or a loved one on that tragic day. The events of that day were heartbreaking, but it is the aftermath of the event that I hope people remember and want to share with you today.

My time at UTPB taught me how important it is to be a community of people working together to support each other in all aspects of our lives. Since the shooting our family has been surrounded with a sense of community and support that is almost unimaginable. I say almost, because honestly the support we have received isn’t that surprising coming from the good people of West Texas. UTPB sits in the middle of what I would consider to be one of the most beautiful communities of people in the world. I grew up here, became a Falcon here, got married, and had kids here and I have always known that we come together as a community in good times and in bad. The way the Permian Basin community has supported our family in the aftermath of the shooting is a gift that I will carry around with me for the rest of my life. We will raise our kids knowing how good the people of our community are and how this is the village that has walked beside them during the worst of times and will be here to celebrate them during the best of times.

As UTPB continues to produce graduates who choose to work here and stay here, as we have, I believe our community will continue to thrive and be full of leaders that lead with a servant's heart and rally together when their community needs them the most. The Permian Basin is so fortunate to have a university here that not only cares about building educated, competent, and qualified graduates, but UTPB also cares about producing good humans and that is something our world needs more of.

Our family would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the people of the Permian Basin, but also our UTPB family, for all they have done since August 31, 2019 to love on, pray for, and support our family through the darkest time of our lives. We are forever grateful for your support and forever thankful to be Falcons.

Falcons Up,
Kelby Giesler-Davis
Classes of ‘09 and ‘14