Month: July 2023

OLLU hosts Association of Latino Professionals for America

OLLU and President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, PhD, hosted the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and area college/university presidents and administrations last week to discuss how to better support students on their professional journeys. 

A rich and invigorating exchange of ideas occurred with ALPFA CEO Damian Rivera, ALPFA executives and the presidents and administrators.

“It was inspiring to see so many officials and presidents from universities and colleges come together to have a very honest and open dialogue,” Rivera said. “Ten years from now, we’ll look back and remember, the meeting at Our Lady of the Lake University was the seed that created so much growth. I’m very excited about it.”  

It was Rivera’s first visit to OLLU. “The campus is amazing,” he said. “The buildings are beautiful. The welcoming of faculty and staff was warm and the engagement was phenomenal.” 

ALPFA is the largest Latino professional organization in the U.S. with 47 professional chapters, 215 student chapters and more than 100,000 members. Its mission is to empower and develop Latino leaders through networking and professional development. 

Staff and Administration Benefits Fair set for Wednesday 

The Staff and Administration Benefits Fair will be held on Wednesday in Main Building, Room 311 from 9 a.m. – noon and 1-3 p.m.

Faculty Benefits Fair will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 23 in the same location from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-2 p.m.

Annual benefits enrollment provides benefit-eligible employees the opportunity to start, change or end benefits, which become effective Oct. 1, 2023. The exception is medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, which begin Sept. 1, 2023.  

All eligible employees making changes must enroll online in order to change benefits. Current benefits will carry over. The exception is the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), which require enrollment EACH year.

All full-time employees will be able to complete enrollment through Saints Connect/Employee Self-Service/Benefits. Employees wishing to make change will need to adhere to the following deadlines.

  • Staff employee enrollment period (includes administration) begins Wednesday. Deadline to enroll is Aug. 9 by 11:59 p.m.
  • Faculty enrollment period begins Aug. 23. Deadline to enroll is Sept. 8 by 11:59 p.m. 

To access the Benefits Enrollment online:

  1. Log into Saints Connect
  2. Click on Employee Self-Service
  3. Click on Review Current Benefits
  4. Click on Benefit Enrollment
  5. Please print confirmation as this is your confirmation your enrollment is complete.

Save the date: Sign up for ‘Taste of the West Side’

The West Side Treasure Hunt (self-driving) activity is a faculty development activity that will take place on Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The place-based activity will begin at OLLU and will take participants to multiple local businesses on the West Side of San Antonio. The purpose of the Taste of the Westside activity is to provide faculty and staff with an opportunity to learn about the West Side community and to connect with local businesses. This activity will also be a fun and engaging way for faculty to learn about place-based learning. 

Agenda

Time  Description 
9-10 a.m.   Ramiro Gonzalez, Prosper West
10:15-11 a.m.  2023-2024 Moody Professor, Deborah Vasquez – Intro to Mural Walking Tour sponsored by San Anto Cultural Arts
11:10 a.m.-Noon  Cristina Ballí, Executive Director, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
12:30-1:30 p.m.  Analco Gonzalez, Our Community, Inc., a social  
    Lunch with OCI Group
1:45-3 p.m. Jaime & Dorothy Macias, Jaime’s Place-Aquas Frescas and Paletas

Questions? E-mail – Syevans@ollusa.edu

Deadline to sign up is Aug. 1. Sign up HERE https://ollusa.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etEoBkyh2yXQOQm

Valdez named MVP of Music City Collegiate League

Saints softball player Cassandra Valdez has been named the Most Valuable Player this summer for the Music City Collegiate League (MCCL) in Nashville, where she competed for the Smoky Mountain Rain.

The MCCL is comprised of players from universities throughout America, and this season marks the first time a league has been represented in the ACL from Tennessee. 

Valdez shined in league play by throwing six innings with 12 strikeouts to lead the squad to the regular season championship. She also hit three RBIs in the game and smashed five home runs during the season. Prior to winning the championship, Valdez pitched the first shutout ever in the league. Her accomplishments during the competition led to her being named MVP.

Valdez commented, “I’ve been enjoying my time in Tennessee with my team. The team selection was random, but we all clicked in our first game together and they have been making this experience fun. I always bring the energy and I think it rubs off on my teammates and the OLLU culture. It was great to be recognized as the MVP after my offensive and defensive performances. My goal is to get noticed by professional scouts while playing in the league. I also want to note that playing in the NAIA doesn’t mean I can’t compete against higher divisions. I’m honored to represent my community, OLLU softball and the NAIA.”

Valdez has set multiple records and earned prestigious awards during her career at OLLU. Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, “We couldn’t be prouder to watch Cassandra represent Texas and OLLU in such a great way on a national stage. She really stood out amongst a league of college players from around the country. She has a commitment to get better in what will be her last collegiate year. We are excited to see what this experience means to her as we pursue another championship here at the lake.”

Volleyball announces 2023 Freshman Class

The OLLU volleyball program recruited eight freshmen for the upcoming season. The Saints are coming off an undefeated Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular season championship in 2022 and will vie for a national title.

Head Coach Scott Mattera led the squad to a 16-0 conference mark and 21-5 overall record last year. The campaign featured 10 sweeps and ended in a tough five-set loss in the RRAC championship match. Familiar faces will return for the Saints as the lone senior graduated in May. Mattera commented, “I’m really excited about this class coming in. They bring a level of fight and fire to the court while also being great teammates. This class brings a high level of athleticism to the table.”

Arianna Moreno arrives from William Howard Taft High School and the San Antonio Elite Volleyball Club. She is praised for her athleticism and defensive style as a setter. Moreno earned Second Team All-District honors during her junior and senior seasons. She also made the Academic All-State Team with an honorable mention in her final year.  

Makaelyn Perez joins the team from Belton, Texas, where she played at Belton High School and Waco Juniors Volleyball Club. Perez is a highflying middle with great energy and will help fill the void after Tijana Kruta graduated. She was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2021-2022 and Offensive MVP in 2022-2023.

Defensive setter Mia Perez is a spark plug that is known for keeping points alive and being a great teammate. She graduated from Banquete High School in Banquete, Texas, and plays for Prime X Volleyball Club. Perez made First Team All-District, Academic All-District and was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year, among other honors.

Daniella Saenz was scouted by Mattera during a camp in Victoria, Texas, and he noted that she was an instant fit for the Saints. Saenz brings a mature energy to the court and has the frame to be a point scorer in the front row. She went to Cuero High School and competed with the Texstar Volleyball Club. Saenz garnered Defensive Player of the Year recognition while in high school.

Amaya Thompson hails from Paetow High School and Houston Juniors Volleyball Club. Thompson was recruited by OLLU’s track and field program and will be a multi-sport athlete. She will be a high jumper in track and field, which translates to vertical potential for the volleyball team. Thompson will compete as a middle and earned Academic All-District honors at Paetow High School.

Victoria Urbanczyk is ready to contribute immediately as an outside hitter and defensive specialist. She brings stability while presenting a balanced and vertical attack. Urbanczyk played at Pleasanton High School and Alamo Volleyball Club. She was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year and earned MVP in 2023.

Chanisty Villarreal-Bermea played locally at Harlandale High School while also competing for Warriors Volleyball Club. She has one of the highest verticals in the program as a defensive specialist. Villarreal-Bermea can hit in addition to her smooth and explosive movements on defense in the back row.

Deandra Ybarra wraps up the incoming freshmen class. Ybarra joins the team from Alice High School and Corpus Christi Storm Volleyball Club. She’s a confident setter who can organize and run a court on her own, and yet is still hungry to learn more. Mattera commented that Ybarra is the type of player who will have coaching opportunities in the future.  

The volleyball team begins the 2023 season by hosting the Alamo City Volleyesta from Aug. 17-19. Fans can watch live streaming throughout the season by clicking here.  

In the News

Recent media coverage that brought attention to OLLU:

On July 20, a story on Catholic Television San Antonio about the one-year anniversary of OLLU President Abel Chávez:

On July 19, a story on KSAT-12 about alumna and new Corazon Ministries CEO Erika Borrego:  

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/07/20/new-leader-for-nonprofit-that-helps-the-homeless-has-a-heart-for-service/

Volleyball earns first USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced that OLLU has earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award this season. This marks the first time the Saints have been honored for their academic achievements by the AVCA. The award, initiated in the 1992–1993 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.

The 2022 Saints earned a 3.47 GPA.

“The commitment our coaches make to help their student-athletes pursue the best versions of themselves is evident in the academic accomplishments highlighted today,” said AVCA CEO Jaime Gordon. “Achievement on the court has always been closely tied to success in the classroom which is reflected by the number of championship programs honored.”

The Saints won the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular season after posting a 21-5 overall record and 16-0 in conference. The team also earned the NAIA Scholar Team award this year.