Month: October 2018

FAFSA now open for 2019-2020 academic year

The Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) for the 2019-2020 academic year is now open. Students and families will be able to complete the FAFSA using information from their 2017 tax returns.

Now that students can apply for financial aid packages earlier, OLLU can provide financial aid notifications earlier, ensuring that students and their families have more time to prepare for education costs and provide additional time for OLLU to offer beneficial financial aid counseling.

To complete the FAFSA, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. Use OLLU’s school code 003598 to have it sent directly to the OLLU financial aid office.

For more information, students are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid Office and speak with a counselor.

Student assists in creation of national bilingual education group handbook

Patricia Estopier, past president of the OLLU Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO), participated in a national BESO initiative to create a handbook to assist other institutes of higher education in creating their own BESO groups across the country.

Estopier worked with select BESO and Graduate Leadership Organization Bilingual Education (GLOBE) leadership in developing a handbook to encourage and support universities, bilingual education programs and student governments in the creation of new chapters.

The event took place at San Diego State University.

Political Science students participate in ‘Parliamentary Procedure’ workshop

Ten students from POLS 4316, “Globalization and Comparative Politics,” and their professor participated in the Mock Organization of American States Parliamentary Procedure Workshop at Concordia University in Austin, Texas, Sept. 21-22.

Students received training to compete with other universities in the Mock Organization of American States Summit of the Americas, which will take place Nov. 1-3. Students are serving on two teams, one representing Argentina and the other Bolivia. They will write resolutions and position papers on the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers; protections for journalists and freedom of the press; hemispheric cooperation on climate change; mechanisms for creating free and fair trade; and other transnational topics.

Those participating include Dr. Leda Barnett, Christyn Cavazos, Stephanie Garza, Rebecca Uribe, Eric Guevara, Ariel Jaimes, Michael Cisneros, Sarai Benitez, CJ Gaitan, Mariana Salazar and Alondra Martinez.

Employee comings and goings – Oct. 1, 2018

The following employees joined the OLLU community in late September:

  • Kristine Samaniego – Softball Head Coach
  • Jessica Torres – Senior Admissions Counselor/Events Coordinator-Undergraduate Admissions
  • Anthony Salvidar – Softball assistant coach
  • Kristina Orquiz – Undergraduate Admissions Counselor
  • Alejandro Ruiz – Residence Life Coordinator
  • Bert Mikosh – Systems Administrator

Thank you to the following for their service to OLLU:

  • Joanne Simpson – Graduate Admissions Counselor-Houston
  • Amelia Romo – Program Coordinator, Center for Women in Church and Society
  • Venesa Matthews – Student Success Coach

Soccer teams get two conference wins

The men’s soccer team needed just one goal to defeat Texas College 1-0 in a Red River Athletic Conference game last Saturday. On Friday, the Saints beat Jarvis Christian College 4-1 and they improve to 5-1-2 overall and 2-0-1 in conference. The women’s team also shut out Texas College 2-0. On Friday, the women dominated Jarvis Christian College with an 8-0 win. The Saints improve to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in conference. The teams will travel to Marshall, Texas, to play Wiley College on Oct. 4.

Volleyball remains undefeated

The volleyball team remains undefeated after dominating the University of the Southwest 3-0 in a Red River Athletic Conference matchup last Friday. The Saints improve to 8-7 overall and 5-0 in conference, while Southwest drops to 7-8 overall and 3-3 in conference. The Saints will travel to Austin, Texas, to play Huston-Tillotson University on Oct. 5 and to Hobbs, N.M., to play the University of the Southwest on Oct. 6.

Women’s basketball releases 2018-2019 schedule

The women’s basketball team has released its 2018-2019 schedule. This year, the Saints will compete for its sixth Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) title in seven years and its eighth trip to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. The Saints have 12 home games on the calendar and 19 away competitions. They will play each of their 10 RRAC opponents twice – once at home and away. Competing in the RRAC are Huston-Tillotson University, Jarvis Christian College, Langston University, LSU-Alexandria, LSU-Shreveport, Paul Quinn College, University of the Southwest, University of St. Thomas, Texas College and Wiley College. Head Coach Christopher Minner, returning for his 11th season, said, “Ours is one of the toughest schedules in the NAIA. Seven of our 11-preseason games are against teams that made the national tournament, including two teams that made the final four and three that made the round of eight. This schedule will prepare us for the RRAC schedule, and, hopefully, show us what we need to do to win a national championship. We also have exhibitions against Lubbock Christian University and Stephen F. Austin University. We will continue to schedule anybody, anywhere at any time.”