The Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism, the Center for Student Involvement, and Mission and Ministry invite you to volunteer to help put on Bingo for our founders, the Congregation of Divine Providence.
CDP Bing will be held Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. in the Elliott House and will end at 3:30 p.m.
Volunteers will meet at the Elliott House at 1:45 p.m. and walk to the Convent. To volunteer, email vuc@ollusa.edu
ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED FOR COVID.
Fall Fest 2023 will be held on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the library side lawn. Classes will be dismissed from 1:45 p.m. until 5 p.m. to allow students and staff to enjoy the fall festivities. Stay tuned for more details!
This annual festival is hosted by The Center of Student Involvement and brings our campus community together by offering games, food trucks, drinks and fun for all.
For more information, contact csi@ollusa.edu
The vibrant spirit of Halloween came alive on Saturday Oct. 21 in La Feria as OLLU-RGV hosted its 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat event. This family-friendly celebration left an indelible mark on the community, showcasing a delightful blend of creativity, fun, and unity.
Trunk Decorations That Dazzled:
Participants spared no effort when it came to decorating their car trunks in imaginative and kid-friendly themes. From movie themes, Western front to classic Halloween scenes, the attention to detail and creativity were truly commendable.
Candy, Snacks and Treats Galore:
Safety and enjoyment were at the forefront as participants provided a delightful array of pre-packaged candies and treats for the eager trick-or-treaters. Families strolled from trunk to trunk, indulging in sweet surprises.
Community Spirit in Full Display:
The heartwarming sense of community was palpable throughout the event, with laughter, smiles, and shared moments. It was a reminder of the power of togetherness and the joy of celebrating as a community.
Kid-Friendly Costumes Rule the Day:
Participants and attendees alike embraced the Halloween spirit by donning kid-friendly costumes, enhancing the atmosphere of warmth and joy.
OLLU-Houston was front and center at the Annual Boo to the Flu Halloween observance on Oct. 14, hosted by neighbor Texas Children’s Health (TCH)Plan Women’s Center in Greenspoint.
More than 500 people attended the third annual event featuring Halloween costumes, carnival rides, giveaways, and lots of treats. OLLU-Houston distributed OLLU goodie bags containing coloring books, candy, and a note reminding children that “Education is the Best Treat.” The event helped promote the Psychology Department’s soon-to-open Houston Relationship Clinic.
“I love it when the children and parents ask, ‘What do you do’?” said Stacey Winters, OLLU-Houston Operations Manager and Boo to Flu Project Leader. “It’s our chance to talk about learning and how we need them to do well in elementary school so that we can help them learn when it’s time for college.” She added, “Boo to Flu is also great exposure for OLLU-Houston as a community partner and being a good neighbor to TCH.”
Boo to the Flu is for TCH clients and their families. It connects them with resources and emphasizes the importance of making healthy decisions. Ultimately, the event highlights how it takes all partners — whether Houston Police Department, which was next to OLLU, or other nonprofit agencies — to create a healthier, happier, and safer community.
A spirited gathering of more than 50 students, prospective students, alumni and community members attended OLLU-Houston’s observance of ‘Spirit Day’ on Oct. 14.
“Self-care” was the focus of OLLU-Houston’s student success workshop, honoring Spirit Day. The Houston site was transformed into a series of walkable stations where participants engaged in self-directed activities designed to promote positive mental health practices.
Prayer cards, featuring quotes from Father Moye, were available in the Providence Refuge Room, where students reflected on the OLLU mission before venturing to the journaling station. There were also areas emphasizing school spirit which included the lanyard decorating station, the “Wings Up” selfie station, and a “Know Your OLLU” trivia station.
In the spirit of a fall festival, attendees also engaged in pumpkin decorating, yoga and seasonal treats, including cookie decorating.
“I really enjoyed the chance to celebrate being an OLLU Saint with my classmates on Spirit Day,” said Tamara Atkins, a second-year transfer student into the Marriage and Family Therapy Program. “The staff put in so much effort to make the campus festive and make everyone feel included.”
The Houston-based celebration has focused on building community and connecting Houston students with traditions observed at the San Antonio campus.
“We understand the necessity of creating a supportive community for our students in order to promote student retention,” said Jamina Scippio-McFadden, OLLU-Houston Executive Director. “Spirit Day is an example of how we creatively extend experiences from San Antonio to our Houston students, especially with partners like the Student Government Association.”
OLLU-RGV celebrated its 15th anniversary on Sept. 28 with a ribbon cutting ceremony on its La Feria campus, an event that showcased a decade and a half of academic excellence and community impact.
Esteemed members of the OLLU-RGV community, local dignitaries and invited guests attended.
The ribbon cutting celebration reflected OLLU-RGV’s unwavering commitment to providing quality education and making a meaningful difference in the community. Over the past 15 years, the campus has grown into a beacon of academic excellence, nurturing holistic growth in students, and contributing significantly to the Rio Grande Valley’s educational landscape.
As announced earlier this year, the university is discontinuing the use of ConvergePoint software for housing policies. A new Policy Bank, housed in SharePoint, is now available and can be accessed at this link: https://ollusa.sharepoint.com/sites/OLLUPolicies.
Any links you or your department have to ConvergePoint policies, procedures, guidelines or statements no longer work and should be relinked to the Policy Bank. Access to ConvergePoint will be cut off on Nov. 1.
If you need additional information, please contact Mary Scotka at mscotka@ollusa.edu.
As part of the university’s ongoing efforts to protect OLLU’s information and technologies, all employees must complete information security training by Nov. 23.
Failure to complete the training will result in loss of access to the OLLU network, including email, MicroSoft Office, etc. This is a security compliance requirement.
All employees should have received an email from notifications@securityiq-notifications.com. This is a legitimate email and should not be deleted. Follow instructions in the email to complete your training. Employees will receive reminder emails until the training is complete. If you have not received the email, please search your junk email folder or contact the Help Desk.
The training involves a series of videos on a variety of security topics. The videos do not have to be viewed all in one session, but all training must be complete by the deadline.
The OLLU men’s basketball team fell to Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) 70-67 to open the season. The Aggies improve to 2-0 while the Saints start 0-1.
Basics
Both teams shot over 45 percent from the field in the first half. The Aggies grabbed 13 more rebounds than the Saints and Rob Gil had seven points. The score was knotted at 36-36 heading into halftime. The Saints forced four turnovers by the Aggies in the first frame.
Missed free throws and being outrebounded stung the Saints in the second half. The Saints shot better than OPSU from the field but only hit 3-of-7 free throws. The Aggies shot 75 percent from the free-throw line and made timely free throws when the Saints were forced to foul late in the game. Breion Powell, Trey Law and Gil finished with double-digit points.
Offensive/defensive standouts
Gil led the Saints with 12 points. Powell grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Three different Saints players had two assists each.
The OLLU volleyball team swept both matches against Huston-Tillotson University (HTU) this weekend. The Saints improved to 16-11 overall and 13-1 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). The Rams drop to 4-18 overall and 3-9 in conference.
First match (Oct. 27)
The Saints opened the weekend series against the Rams with a sweep. OLLU held the Rams to under .100 hitting in the second and third set. Six different Saints recorded at least one kill and Lauren Reynard assisted on 36 plays. The Saints had six service aces and Tina Trevino tallied double-digit digs. The Rams came back from a six-point deficit in the second frame, but the Saints were able to hold on to win 25-23.
Second match (Oct. 28)
The Saints honored seniors Analisa Fernandez, Madalyn Gonzalez, Ashleigh Ramirez, Tory Rodriguez and Madelynn Strzelczyk prior to the match on Saturday. OLLU swept the Rams again and forced 21 errors by HTU. The Saints hit over .300 in the second and third set. The Rams were limited to -.179 hitting in the first set and .000 in the final frame. The Saints will host Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) for a pair of matches starting on Wednesday to close the regular season.
