The women’s cross-country team participated in the Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) Qualifying Meet on Oct. 26. The event was held at Olmos Basin and hosted by TAMUK.
OLLU won the dual meet with a score of 15, while TAMUK marked 40.
Leading the way for the Saints was Valeria Pena, who ran the two mile with a time of 12:07 for first place. Pena set the OLLU record in the two mile.
Leilani Leza finished second with a time of 12:20, followed by Jocelynn Reyes with a time of 12:29 for third place, Sierra Ramirez with a time of 12:36 for fourth place and Daylah Vega with a time of 13:25 for fifth place.
What’s next
The Saints will get set for the Red River Athletic Conference Championships hosted by Texas A&M University – Texarkana on Friday.
The Staff and Faculty Halloween Social and Costume Contest will be held Tuesday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the MARC Ballroom. Refreshments will be served.
Costume Contest categories include:
Most Original Funniest Scariest Best Group Costume
Current OLLU students who need internet access or a laptop can check them out from the Sueltenfuss Library. Check out is available for one semester.
The laptop and mobile hotspot check out program was made possible through a $2.2 million grant the university received through the Connecting Minority Communities grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. For more information, or to check out a laptop or hotspot, please visit: https://library.ollusa.edu/laptops.
At the request of the Staff Assembly, President’s Council has approved the following additional days off for the 2023-2024 academic year:
Friday, Dec. 22 – Extension of Christmas holidays
Tuesday, Jan. 2 – Extension of Christmas holidays
Friday, March 15 – Friday of Spring Break
Thursday, March 28 – Holy Thursday
Friday, July 5 – Extension of July 4th holiday
As announced previously, President’s Council also approved Wednesday, Nov. 22, as a day off as an extension of the Thanksgiving holidays. All university offices will be closed on these days off.
Give to OLLU’s annual United Way Charitable Workplace campaign by Friday to be entered into a drawing for a $25 Chartwells gift card. Ten gift cards will be given away.
Employees are encouraged to give to one of the United Way’s impact areas or to a specific United Way agency partner. Any donation helps the United Way strengthen individual and family well-being, and to provide a safety net of emergency assistance for our neighbors in urgent need.
Support OLLU’s United Way Employee Charitable Campaign
Contributions support over 80 community agencies and focus areas.
You have the option to designate your pledge to a specific Impact Partner on the E-Pledge drop down menu.
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar county is one of the most efficient and effective non-profits in the country
Employees are encouraged to make their donation online using the United Way E-Pledge portal: www.giveuw.org/OLLU
Use your OLLU email as your log in and your employee ID# without any proceeding zeros as your password
Once you have signed in, you will be asked to create a new password prior to making your donation
Pledge Options include: Payroll Deduction, Credit/Debit Card, Check, or Direct Bill.
Should you decide to use the payroll deduction option, your donation will begin on Jan. 1, 2024.
Be recognized by United Way for donations of $250 or higher — Emerging Leadership ($250-499) & Leadership Level ($500 or higher)
Wings Up to Living our OLLU values of Service and Community!
Community – We are a community that values inclusivity and embraces:
Respect for diversity of thought, culture, creative expression, and experiences; and Compassionate support for each other’s successes and challenges.
Service – We are called to:
Use our time, talent, and knowledge for the benefit of others; and Advocate for social justice which embraces equity, access, and care of creation for the common good.
For questions about the campaign, contact Mary Scotka, Interim Vice President for Administration and the United Way Campaign Chair, at mscotka@ollusa.edu.
The ‘All Saints Day’ Liturgy (a Holy Day of Obligation) will be held Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel.
Prepare for Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead by:
Bringing framed photos of departed loved ones to Elliott House by Tuesday to have them used in the decoration of our altar at the Grotto. Please make sure to write your name and a contact number on the back of the frame. Frames will be available for pick up after the event in Elliott House on Nov. 7.
Join our Dia de los Muertos Celebration on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Grotto. The event will have live music featuring Mariachi de Los Santos, aguas frescas, pan de muerto, and a service dedicated to our loved ones who have gone before us.
Add names of departed loved ones to our Book of Life
Attend our All Souls’ Day Mass on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel. Names can be personally written in the Book of Life before or after Mass this day while it is on display in the chapel.
FOR RGV, HOUSTON, ONLINE, AND ALUMNI COMMUNITY: Enter names through our Microsoft form by Tuesday which will then be transferred to the Book of Life. https://forms.office.com/r/svmZB1v0j2
“Sandra’s Return,” an acclaimed documentary by OLLU Professor Renelinda Arana, PhD, and her husband Colin Bressler, will be shown on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Main Building, Room 204.
The film, which has won recognition at multiple film festivals, follows Sandra who fled Nicaragua 30 years ago for a better life in the United States. The documentary explores identity, memory and if you can ever go home again.
The event is sponsored by the Center for Women in Church and Society, the Sociology Program, and the Honors’ Program. No RSVP is required for the virtual screening.
The Division of Mission and Ministry invites the OLLU community to celebrate Founder’s Week from Nov. 5-11. Founder’s Week honors the living legacy of OLLU’s founders, the Sisters of Divine Providence.
During Founder’s Week, students can spend time with our Sisters at the CDP Bingo and Ice Cream Social on Nov. 8, from 2-3:30 p.m. in Regan Community Room (OLL Convent). Students who wish to participate must RSVP by emailing vuc@ollusa.edu.
The OLLU community is also invited to share a statement of encouragement or appreciation to our founders. It is through their efforts that our Catholic faith and trust in Providence is expressed throughout our core values, academic programs and student activities. Submit your appreciation notes here: https://forms.office.com
OLLU was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, a religious order begun in 18th century Lorraine, France, by Blessed John Martin Moye. The order continues as the sponsoring organization of the university.
Renowned educator Laura I. Rendón will speak at OLLU on Nov. 6 presenting one session for faculty and staff, one for faculty and one for students.
SESSION I — “Fostering Success for Low-Income, First-Generation Students“ Open to all faculty and staff Nov. 6 12:30-1:45 p.m. MARC Ballroom Register online This session is designed to help faculty and staff work with low-income, first-generation students. The focus will be on the importance of validating students as capable learners, recognizing and leveraging student assets, and employing a sentipensante (sensing/thinking) approach to teaching and learning that also connects to issues related to equity and justice.
SESSION II — “Designing A Culturally-Validating Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking Pedagogy)” Open to faculty, registration required. Nov. 6 3-5 p.m. MARC Ballroom Register online (required)
This workshop will feature an overview of contemporary pedagogies that can foster inclusion, equity, justice and well-being. In particular, Rendon will explain the basic tenets of operating with Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy to address the interconnection and rhythmic balance between intellectual, social, emotional and inner-life skill development. Rendón will feature videos of faculty who foster deep learning while employing prácticas de conocimiento/illuminative knowledge tools (i.e., autoethnography, socially-driven art, photography, guided imagery, audio narratives, music and periods of reflection).
SESSION III — “Overcoming Challenges and Employing Strengths to Succeed in College“ Open to all students Nov. 6 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Thiry Auditorium No registration required
This session will present the key challenges first-generation, low-income students face in college and how students can overcome them. Students will also learn personal strengths which can be employed to succeed in college, the importance of establishing validating relationships, and the need to learn the college learning culture.
The McNair Scholars Program, Center for Mexican American Studies and Research, Center for Women in Church and Society, HuSS Department, Title V PODER Grant, THECB Grant, and 1st Gen. and Tri Alpha Student Organizations are sponsoring Dr. Rendon’s visit.
