‘Still changing the world’: UT, family honors 2 incoming students who died in July floods

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A flag lowering ceremony happened on the University of Texas at Austin on Friday morning to honor the lives of two incoming students who died during the July floods at Camp Mystic.

Family, friends, students and staff gathered to honor Chloe Childress and Katherine Ferruzzo near the UT Tower. The lowering of the Texas flag was performed by the ROTC, followed by those who wanted to share memories about Childress and Ferruzzo, according to a social media post from the Katherine Ferruzzo Legacy Foundation.

At least 135 people were killed in catastrophic flash flooding across Central Texas this summer, while three others remain missing.

Lauren Brindley, the aunt of Ferruzzo, spoke during the ceremony, saying Childress and Ferruzzo are “still changing the world.” Both girls, who were counselors at the camp, are among the group of girls known as “Heaven’s 27,” whose families are now pushing for reforms to honor their lives.

“We wish they were here on this earth changing it with us, but we know they’re with Jesus in heaven. We hope you can take this time to think of their lives and the courage they showed, and the bravery and the life and the fun. I hope you can pour that out on the community around you,” Brindley said.

She said it means the world to the family for everyone who showed up to the ceremony.

“We hope that you will continue to keep them in your hearts and in your thoughts, and we ask that you continue to pray for our families as we just suffer through such an enormous loss,” Brindley said.