Month: September 2025

OLLU’s Hrafns Recognized With First RRAC Women’s Soccer Award Of The Season

In RRAC women’s soccer, Our Lady of the Lake notched a win in its first game of the season on Friday with a freshman goalkeeper in net, but the Saints and Xavier are the only teams in the win column this season.

TAMUT and OLLU players were recognized as the weekly award winners for Aug. 18-24:

RRAC Offensive Player of the Week – Brooklyn Lattier, Texas A&M-Texarkana
Lattier found the net with the Eagles’ only goal in a 5-1 loss to NAIA No. 2 Keiser University (Fla.). The junior midfielder from Shreveport, La., was a first-team all-conference selection last year.  

RRAC Defensive Player of the Week – Salka Hrafns, Our Lady of the Lake
Hrafns collected the win in a 1-0 shutout victory over Schreiner University (Texas). The freshman goalkeeper from Akranes, Iceland, was making her first college appearance for the Saints.

Additional RRAC women’s soccer weekly nominees: Layla Anaya (A&M-Texarkana), Sacha Backus (LSU Alexandria), Sara Garza (Our Lady of the Lake), Yanira Herraez (LSU Alexandria), Laura Kucharz (LSU Shreveport).

2025 RRAC women’s soccer weekly selections:

DateOffensive Player of the WeekDefensive Player of the Week
Aug. 19-25Brooklyn Lattier (TAMUT)Salka Hrafns (OLLU)

This week in the RRAC

Both OLLU and Texas A&M-Victoria will host Oklahoma City University for matches, and LSU Shreveport is on the road at William Carey tonight. Texas A&M-San Antonio will have a crosstown match-up with Trinity, while OLLU will play St. Mary’s.

Tuesday, Aug. 26 – Mobile at Xavier, Lubbock Christian at Southwest, LSU Shreveport at William Carey

Wednesday, Aug. 27 – Tennessee Southern at LSU Alexandria, Texas Wesleyan at Jarvis Christian

Thursday, Aug. 28 – Oklahoma City at Our Lady of the Lake, Eastern New Mexico at Southwest, North American at Texas Southern

Friday, Aug. 29 – Texas A&M-San Antonio at Trinity

Saturday, Aug. 30 – Oklahoma City at Texas A&M-Victoria, North American at Paul Quinn, LSU Alexandria at Texas Wesleyan, Texas A&M-Texarkana at Nelson, LSU Shreveport at USAO

Sunday, Aug. 31 – St. Mary’s at Our Lady of the Lake, Schreiner at Southwest

OLLU Saints Softball Enters New Era with Jody Armijo Jr. as Head Coach

Jody Armijo Jr. brings over two decades of elite experience in fastpitch softball to his role as a coach, mentor, and program leader. A former competitive athlete himself, Armijo has spent the last six years as Assistant Coach at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), where his influence has helped transform the softball program into a national powerhouse. Under his guidance, the Saints have captured multiple conference championships, made two NAIA World Series appearances, and secured the 2024 NAIA National Championship.

A specialist in pitcher and catcher development, Armijo combines advanced data analysis, film breakdown, and modern training techniques to sharpen mechanics, improve pitch selection, and enhance in-game decision-making. His coaching has produced multiple standout athletes, including Conference Pitchers and Catchers of the Year, and notably, the 2024 NAIA National Pitcher of the Year. Beyond the field, he plays a critical role in scouting, recruiting, team operations, facility oversight, and travel planning—contributing to every layer of the program’s ongoing success.

With a rich background in men’s fastpitch softball at the state, national, and international levels, Armijo’s competitive drive and deep understanding of the game were forged through years of playing as a pitcher and infielder alongside some of the sport’s best. That same commitment now fuels his coaching. Currently studying Communications, he remains focused on developing as a leader while continuing to shape athletes and build programs rooted in excellence and growth.

“Our program is defined by a commitment to excellence and development, and Jody embodies that at every level,” said Athletic Director Tom Norris. “His leadership, work ethic, and knowledge of the game have played a major role in putting OLLU Softball on the national map.”

Armijo himself puts it simply: “My goal is to continue growing this program year after year, building on our success, and ensuring that our athletes and teams are prepared to achieve even greater things in the seasons ahead.”

Saints Start Strong: OLLU Soccer Sweeps Season Openers Against Schreiner

Our Lady of the Lake University opened its soccer season with a commanding display from both the men’s and women’s teams, earning shutout victories over Schreiner University on Thursday night. The Saints set the tone for the year with dominant performances that left little doubt about their readiness for the new campaign.

The women’s team struck first, notching a 1-0 victory behind an unrelenting offensive push and airtight defense. Sara Garza led the attack with an impressive five shots, all on target, eventually breaking through for the game’s only goal. The assist came from Monica Sanchez, who placed the ball perfectly to set up Garza’s finish. Despite the narrow margin on the scoreboard, the Saints controlled much of the match, outshooting Schreiner 25-4 and keeping the Mountaineers under constant pressure. Sixteen of OLLU’s shots were on goal, and their 60% possession reflected their command of the game. In goal, London Suarez and Salka Hrafns split time, each holding the Mountaineers scoreless to secure the clean sheet.

Momentum continued to build into the men’s game, where OLLU delivered a powerful 4-0 statement win. Cade Ryan opened the scoring with one goal on two shots on target. Alessandro Sierra was clinical with his opportunity, scoring on his lone shot. Andres Rocha proved to be a standout, netting two goals on three shots and constantly putting the Schreiner defense on its heels. Rocha’s first goal came in the 40th minute off a sharp assist from Nicolas Murgas, who found him in stride to double the Saints’ lead before halftime. Goalkeeper Zak Averns played the full 90 minutes and recorded two saves to preserve the clean sheet. OLLU’s men launched 14 shots compared to Schreiner’s two, with eight on target.

Both teams now turn their attention to building on these opening wins, already showing promise and discipline on both ends of the pitch. Both the men and women soccer teams will play at home Thursday, August 28th against the Oklahoma City Stars at 1:00 and 3:30 PM CDT.

Discover Deals at The Lake Yard Sale – Office Essentials & More at OLLU!

Looking to refresh your office or home office space, furnish a study area, or score some great tech deals? Our Lady of the Lake University invites you to the highly anticipated Lake Yard Sale, where you’ll find a wide variety of office furniture and electronics at unbeatable prices!

Whether you’re a student, faculty member, staff member, or part of the local San Antonio community, this is your chance to shop for items at a fraction of the cost. From sleek desks and ergonomic chairs to computers, there’s something for everyone.

📅 Event Details:

  • Dates: September 12–14 & September 18–20 (Taco Food truck available on 9/14)
  • Time: Starting at 8:00 AM each day
  • Location: 411 S.W. 24th St., San Antonio, TX

🪑 💻What’s Available:

  • Office chairs and hutches
  • Desks and tables
  • 5-piece sofa sets
  • Monitors and computers
  • MacBooks and other tech accessories
  • Plus more surprise items!

💳 Payment & Pickup Info:

  • Payment Methods: Cash and digital payments accepted
  • Pickup Policy: All items must be picked up on the same day of purchase

📣 Why You Should Come Early:

Inventory is limited, and items are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Arriving early gives you the best chance to grab the most popular items before they’re gone. Whether you’re furnishing a new office or upgrading your tech setup, this sale is a budget-friendly way to get what you need. If you would like to schedule a sneak peek of the items before the first sale date, RSVP by contacting the Chief of Staff’s office at chiefofstaff@ollusa.edu before the September 11th Preview Day.

Mark your calendar and spread the word—The Lake Yard Sale is your destination for deals this September!

🍴 You Spoke, We Listened: Welcome to CRAVE – OLLU’s New Dining Experience! 🍴

We Want to Hear From You!

Hey Saints! Your feedback is super important to us. As we continue testing the new ordering system in CRAVE, we want to make sure your voices shape the improvements. Remember—this system is only temporary. Soon, you’ll be able to order through GrubHub mobile and kiosks, making things faster and eliminating cafeteria wait times.

Thanks to your input, we’ve already made some changes:
✅ Larger portion sizes on many items
✅ More protein options in bowls
✅ BBQ sandwiches now come with sides (same price!)
✅ Breakfast all day

For now, here’s how the temporary ordering works:

  1. Pick from one of five menus at the end of the hall
  2. Mark your choice with a marker
  3. Write your name on the order slip
  4. Hand it to the cashier
  5. Grab your meal from the cubbies at the end of the line
  6. Enjoy! 🎉

Now we’d love to hear more from you—take a few minutes to fill out the survey and let us know what you think. Your feedback = a better dining experience for everyone!

Take The Survey Here

For more menu options, click here.

OLLU’s Dr. Christopher Rose Receives MEOC 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award

The Middle East Outreach Council (MEOC) has named Dr. Christopher Rose, Assistant Professor and Program Head of History at Our Lady of the Lake University, as a recipient of its 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor recognizes his scholarship, leadership, and more than two decades of dedicated service to the Council and the field of Middle Eastern Studies.

Dr. Rose is a nationally recognized historian whose work focuses on the social history of medicine in the Middle East. His current book project, Home Front Egypt: Famine, Disease, and Death during the Great War, examines how wartime policies in colonial Egypt fueled hunger and disease—research supported by a Fulbright U.S. Scholars grant. He has published widely on topics such as cholera, pandemic flu, and public health policy, and at OLLU he shares this expertise through his teaching in world history and mentorship of students.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Rose has had a long and impactful career in educational outreach. From 2000 to 2016, he served as Assistant Director at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he expanded outreach programming, developed curriculum resources, and conducted educator workshops across the country. A public historian, he has also co-hosted podcasts, organized study tours, and developed innovative ways to make Middle Eastern history accessible to educators and students alike.

Within MEOC, Dr. Rose has served in numerous leadership roles—including President (2014–2018), Past President, Treasurer, and Nominations Chair—where he played an instrumental role in supporting initiatives such as the annual MEOC Book Awards program. His leadership and commitment have helped strengthen the organization and advance its mission of promoting accurate, engaging resources on the Middle East for classrooms nationwide.

Dr. Rose will be honored during MEOC’s virtual General Business Meeting on Tuesday, September 2. OLLU is proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of his scholarship, leadership, and service.

MEOC’s website is: www.meoc.us