Lake Weekly will be down for maintenance the week of July 31. Lake Weekly will resume publication on Monday, Aug. 7.
A reminder: All stories for Lake Weekly must be submitted no later than Thursday at 5 p.m.
Month: July 2023
Staff and Administration Benefits Fair set for July 26
The Staff and Administration Benefits Fair will be held on July 26 in Main Building, Room 311 from 9 a.m.–noon and 1-3 p.m.
The Faculty Benefits Fair will be held on Aug. 23 in Main Building, Room 311 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 changes will need to adhere to the following deadlines.
- Staff employee enrollment period (includes administration) begins July 26. 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:
- Log into Saints Connect
- Click on Employee Self-Service
- Click on Review Current Benefits
- Click on Benefit Enrollment
- Please print confirmation as this is your confirmation your enrollment is complete.
CTE offers face-to-face and virtual Helpdesk support for faculty
Face-to-face Helpdesk support is available for faculty from the Center for Teaching Excellence every Friday from 8 -11 a.m. in Main Building, Room 321.
Virtual Helpdesk support is available every Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. on Teams.
To register, visit this link or scan the QR code in the flyer below.
OLLU celebrates achievements of softball team
OLLU celebrated the accomplishments of the softball team from the 2022-2023 season during the virtual 11th Annual Big Blue Athletics Banquet.
The season was highlighted by the team’s first-ever NAIA World Series participation. The Saints won the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular season and tournament. They went on to win the San Antonio Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round and earned their first trip to the NAIA World Series. The team also won the NAIA Scholar-Team Award, and the coaching staff was selected as the NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
Cassandra Valdez and Madison Nunn were both selected to the NFCA-NAIA All-American First Team, while Valdez earned NAIA All-American First Team honors and Nunn received NAIA edam, earned a bevy of awards throughout the season.
In addition, Nunn was named OLLU’s Big Blue Top Saint Female Athlete of the Year.
OLLU celebrates accomplishments of baseball team
OLLU recognized the achievements of the baseball team from the 2022-2023 season during the virtual 11th Annual Big Blue Athletics Banquet.
The season was highlighted by the many accomplishments of freshman Jackson Kalisky. He was named to the All-Conference Second Team and was the Freshman of the Year. In addition, Alec Martinez was named OLLU’s Big Blue Top Saint Male Athlete of the Year. He earned All-Conference First-Team and All-Tournament honors.
The season also featured the men winning the NAIA Scholar-Team and ABCA Team Academic Excellence Awards.
OLLU men’s basketball hosts Spurs overnight camp for first time
The OLLU men’s basketball program, in conjunction with the San Antonio Spurs, recently hosted a youth camp at Mabee Gymnasium. The overnight event, held July 9-14, included 63 players ages 14-18 who received the full college experience, from dining at the cafeteria to staying in the Flores Residence Hall.
Saints Head Coach Chris Dial and Assistant Coach David Smith worked with various staff members from the Spurs to host the camp. Spurs Vice President of Youth Sports Joe Clark and Associate Director of Camps and Clinics Austin Peebles work with youth camps year-round and helped bring the clinic to OLLU for the first time. This season marks the 50th anniversary of the camps.
Clark and Peebles have been with the Spurs for many years and bring a wealth of knowledge to the participants. Clark started as an intern in ticket sales for the Spurs and has been with the organization for 38 years. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin prior to joining the program. He commented, “This was the first time we were able to work with the university to put together this camp. We have a great relationship with Head Coach Chris Dial and the men’s basketball staff. OLLU President Chávez (Abel Antonio Chávez, MBA, PhD) supported this idea to bring the Spurs brand to the community. We teach values off the court including being a good teammate and having respect for the game and opponents.” Clark added that players from throughout the United States and different countries are attending the camp.
Peebles has 15 years of experience and started as a coordinator. He also worked with the Chicago Bulls prior to joining the Spurs organization. The Illinois native handles setting up the coaching staff for the camps, managing the equipment, player appearances and more. He notes that having a solid structure of coaches helps the sessions run smoothly.
In The News
Recent media coverage that brought attention to OLLU:
On July 14, a story about the Ukrainian School at OLLU:
On July 14, a story on KENS-5 about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
On July 14, a story in La Prensa Texas about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
On July 13, a story in the San Antonio Report about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
On July 13, a story on news4sanantonio.com about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
On July 13, a story on Texas Public Radio about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
On July 13, a story in usa2.topnews.media about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
On July 13, a story on Univision 41 about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
On July 12, a story in the San Antonio Express-News about the passing of alumna Belle Ortiz:
A story on July 11 in the San Antonio Express-News about the failing health of alumna Belle Ortiz:
Thirteen students named Charles Butt Scholars
Thirteen new OLLU students have been chosen to receive the prestigious Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers, an award of $8,000 per year for each student who works toward teacher certification.
The Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers – one component of the Raising Texas Teachers initiative – is designed to support promising students to consider a future in the teaching profession.
The 13 new scholars join 13 returning scholars who were selected in previous years.
“We are excited to congratulate the 2023 cohort of OLLU Charles Butt Scholars,” said Alycia Maurer, PhD, Associate Professor of Education and Education Department Chair. “We look forward to supporting them on their path to teacher certification. And we are confident they will become outstanding teachers.”
This year’s recipients are: senior Kevin Baker, sophomore Kaitlynn Burket, freshman Nayeli Cordova, sophomore Marissa Escamilla, junior Emma Maltos, senior Caroline Martinez, junior Richard Martinez, senior Madelyn Miller, junior Zenneth Ortiz, senior Leyla Perales, sophomore Blanca Rodriguez, freshman Lizette Rodriguez and junior Nicholas Salas. .
Every Charles Butt Scholar has committed to teaching in majority economically disadvantaged Texas public schools or in hard-to-fill subject areas, such as math and science, special education or bilingual education.
In addition to the financial award, each scholar will receive professional development opportunities, mentorship from public school educators and will participate in a statewide aspiring teachers network facilitated by the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation.
New t-shirts available at Bookstore
A new inventory of Saints t-shirts are available at the OLLU Bookstore for $32 each.
The bookstore has plenty of other items in stock as well, including blankets, books, sweatshirts and OLLU swag.
Items may be purchased during summer hours or online at: OLLUShop.com
Lake Weekly to go on short hiatus
Lake Weekly will be down for maintenance for one week, starting on Monday July 31. Lake Weekly will resume publication on Monday Aug. 7.
A reminder: All stories for Lake Weekly must be submitted no later than Thursday at 5 p.m.