With temperatures in the nineties and the College World Series having come and gone, we know it is summer in Nebraska territory.

Speaking of baseball, congratulations to Creighton’s baseball team. What a way to end the season! Well done, guys.

Congratulations to coach Ed Servais on being named the Missouri Valley Conference Baseball "Coach of the Year" for the second time. Not bad for someone who has been head coach for only two years.

It is appropriate, at the end of a year, to offer a word of thanks and appreciation to Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen for nurturing such a climate of success across all of our programs. This is no small accomplishment given our size and finite resources. Thanks, Bruce.

The Summer Preview programs are under way for new freshman students. The first two sessions are this week. Things look good on the enrollment front. We are projecting 970-975 first time (new) freshmen and 100 transfer students. Enrollments in the graduate and professional programs are solid or fully subscribed. The Summer Sessions have had solid participation. A word of thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the Enrollment Management team would not be premature!

Around campus the mounds (mountains?) of dirt indicate that construction is in full swing on three major sites. Remember to check the construction icon on the home page to get the latest updates. This information changes frequently.

Work on the west end of the central mall is progressing well, as is the renovation in the Skutt Student Center. Both will be completed by the start of the new academic year.

Finally, the campus is animated with the presence of 275 youngsters in the "National Youth Sports Program." Creighton has hosted this very important program for over 30 years for the disadvantaged youth of Omaha. Sports and cheerleader camps vie for the rest of the space!

Recall the refrain from Porgy and Bess, "Summertime and the living is easy..." but parking is another thing!

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July.

John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President