As we kickoff Hispanic Heritage Month and have been celebrating National Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) week, there has been news coming from the federal Department of Education. Funding for HSIs as well as for programs such as the TRIO program that help First Gen students have been eliminated or redirected to other colleges and universities. It is indeed disheartening, yet, we have been a Hispanic Serving Institution before there were any executive orders to support them. Our values: integrity, trust, community, and service are values that are synonymous with being Catholic, living a life in service to others, to being and doing good. These values have been part of our mission since 1866 when the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence first arrived in Texas. We are committed to these values regardless of other beliefs. “E pluribus unum — out of many, one” is a reminder that unity in diversity is our nation’s strength and it is OLLU’s identity. Whether you are a Sister, a staff member, a faculty member, a student, an Armadillo, or a Saint, remember that we are resilient. We are OLLU. I feel extraordinarily humbled to represent you. We have been here 130 years and it is my intention to keep us going for another 130.