The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) for the 2025-2026 academic year is now open. You can complete the online application to apply for financial aid to assist with your tuition at OLLU.
The 2025-2026 FAFSA® is for attendance from July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. Financial aid for the upcoming spring semester which begins in January 2025 is covered under the 2024-2025 FAFSA®.
Students planning to attend school in summer or fall 2025 are encouraged to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA® early to ensure you are ready for the next academic year.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to the OLLU Financial Aid Office at finaid@ollusa.edu or visit the office at Walter Center.
OLLU sophomore Heather Hinds won the Stegall/Frederick Award for Outstanding Diplomacy at the Summit of the Americas competition held Nov. 8-10 in Waco. The diplomacy award is one of the top awards presented at the competition and is granted to the top student who uses collaboration, critical thinking, and writing skills to form consensus, write amendments, and move forward during moments fraught with difficult obstacles.
The competition, organized by the Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States (ESMOAS), is an academically centered program with over 25 years of history bringing the nation’s best and brightest college students together to debate the issues facing the Western Hemisphere (North, Central, and South America with the Caribbean).
The OLLU delegation represented Argentina and developed position papers and resolutions on behalf of the country based on a wide array of economic, political, diplomatic, and foreign policy positions. Students collaborated as a group and also individually developed original resolutions based on the perspective of Argentina and debated them with student peers from various universities from Texas and México.
OLLU was represented by Political Science majors Myra Hall, Head Delegate representing Argentine President Javier Milei; Monica Rodriguez, serving as a delegate for Argentina on the Security and Integral Development Committee to debate Constructing Sustainable Nations through Natural Resource Management; delegate Arely Palomo representing Argentina in the Multidimensional Security Committee, debating her resolution on Reinforcing Territorial Sovereignty to Alleviate Migration Challenges; and delegates Heather Hinds and Valentina Baffoni, representing Argentina on the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs to Combat Corruption to Ensure Free and Fair Elections.
The judges commended the work of OLLU students, giving special acknowledgement to them for their performance, as well as their role in hosting the Parliamentary Procedure Workshop in September.
All are invited for the Community Christmas Tree Decorating on Dec. 3, from at 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mall Area. Write a holiday message on an ornament and hang it on the tree. Hot chocolate and desserts will be served.
A special tree lighting and blessing will begin at 1 p.m. with a performance by Mariachi De Los Santos!
OLLU will celebrate the 89th annual Candlelight on Dec. 6 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel.
Dating back to 1935, Candlelight is a long-standing tradition to take a moment to pause and reflect on themes of the Advent season – a time of waiting and joyful anticipation. The OLLU community gathers at this event to welcome the season of Advent and prepare to close the semester.
The prayer service will include an appearance of Mary and Joseph as they remind us to prepare for the arrival of the Lord. Upon completion of the service, the community sings Silent Night and processes with lit candles to Moye Rotunda. Gathering on all four floors of the rotunda, we will join in singing Christmas carols which will be led by our Candlelight Choir, an amazing group of OLLU faculty, staff, students, and alumni volunteers. A reception will follow on the first floor of Moye Rotunda with cookies and hot chocolate, and tamales graciously donated by OLLU alumna, Valerie Gonzalez Handly of Delicious Tamales.
If you would like to join the Candlelight Choir, please register by accessing the registration form online. Rehearsal will take place on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. and again on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel.
There is still time for students to learn more about the Study Abroad Program to Costa Rica scheduled in spring 2025. The study tour, sponsored by OLLU’s Business Programs Department, will take place March 27-April 6, 2025, and will explore Costa Rica’s culture and agriculture. It includes a river safari, visits to sustainable farms, beach visits and a tour of the country’s coffee and chocolate manufacturing.
The cost is $4039.70 (double occupancy) and includes airfare, transportation, hotel, meals, expert guides, cultural excursions and travel insurance. There are limited spots on the tour. If interested, email Professor John Phelps at jcphelps@ollusa.edu.
Elizabeth Longoria, OLLU’s Director of Campus and Community Engagement, gave a presentation at the Texas Festivals and Events Association annual conference which was held in San Antonio last week. Longoria’s session was titled, “Sprinting to Success – Adding Runs and 5Ks to Events.” The session covered the logistics of organizing runs for fundraising and community engagement while maximizing participation.
Staff employees are reminded that there is a one-year, carry-over limit on accrued vacation time. The “use-it-or-lose-it” date is Dec. 31.
Employees cannot carry over beyond this date more than the number of annual vacation days for which they are currently eligible. If work or medical conditions prohibit the employee from taking their accrued vacation by Dec. 31, the chief administrator of that division can request an extension of one additional year. The chief administrator and the employee must make every effort to schedule and use the accrued vacation in the coming year as additional extensions will not be permitted.
Contact a Human Resources team member or call 210-431-3970 for more information.
The men’s basketball team continued its undefeated season by racing past Jarvis Christian University (JCU) 96-86 on Nov. 23. The Saints improve to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). The Bulldogs fall to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in conference.
History The Saints were 21-7 against the Bulldogs. Last season the Saints split the series losing the first game 70-73 and winning the second one 78-70.
Basics The Saints shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and had two players with double digits. Trey Law totaled 11 points and Trevon Dennis had 13. Rob Gil created two turnovers, and the Saints hit 19-of-22 free throws. They scored 51 points in the half while the Bulldogs marked 42. The teams combined for 24 fouls and the Saints finished the frame with nine assists.
Jarvis shot better in the second half, but the Saints were able to keep up. Lonzo Rand and Kenyon Elliott had eight points apiece and both teams committed seven turnovers. The Bulldogs shot 40 percent from three-point range but were only able to get to the charity stripe three times. The Saints won by 10 points to remain undefeated. The Saints had 26 points off turnovers, which doubled the amount JCU was able to gather.
Offensive/defensive standouts Elliott led the Saints with 16 points, followed by Law with 15. Four different players had four rebounds each. Wahkil Lopez led the squad with five assists.
Jarvis was led by Caleb Thompson with 17 points. Jorden Clark led the squad with five rebounds. Three different players had two assists apiece for the Bulldogs.
Inside the box OLLU combined for 34-of-64 from the field for a percentage of 53.1. They shot 6-of-23 from three-point range for 26.1 percent and hit 22-of-27 free throws for 81.5 percent. Jarvis shot 33-of-61 for a percentage of 54.1, 8-of-25 three-pointers for 32 percent and 12-of-16 free throws for 75 percent. OLLU added 29 rebounds to JCU’s 25, while the Bulldogs committed 15 turnovers, and OLLU had 14.
Up next The Saints play at Texas College Tuesday at 4 p.m.
