Faculty and staff are reminded to please RSVP by accepting the calendar invitation for the Special Announcement Celebration taking place on Thursday, January 22, from 12:30–1:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Sueltenfuss Library.
This special celebration will recognize an important milestone in support of Our Lady of the Lake University. Lunch will be provided, and we encourage all invited employees to attend.
If you have not yet responded, please be sure to accept the calendar invite to help us plan accordingly. We look forward to celebrating this exciting moment together as a campus community.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the beautiful sounds of Campanas de América at this special concert benefiting student scholarships at Our Lady of the Lake University.
This beloved annual performance has been a sold-out event in previous years, so attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets early. Tickets are available online only and will not be sold at the door.
Proceeds from the event support the Sisters of Divine ProvidenceLegacy Scholarship, which helps provide critical financial assistance to OLLU students. By attending, you’re not only enjoying an unforgettable musical experience—you’re also making a meaningful investment in our students and their futures.
A Comfort In The End Art Exhibit Featuring Visual Arts Professors:
Professor Tori Quemada, MAE
Professor Mark Anthony Martinez, MFA
A Comfort In The End is a two-person exhibition, featuring works that speak to the inevitability of change.
Here, Professors Tori Quemada, MAE and Mark Anthony Martinez, MFA; combine concepts from two separate bodies of work that encourage their audiences to brace for inevitable change. Changes that can come with health scares, evolving relationships, or even growth! Acknowledging that change is not necessarily a bad thing; but to recognize change as a fact of life that we must all contend with – however it arrives.
Through Quemada’s animal portraits, the photos are taken in the final days (sometimes moments) of a subject’s life. Here, moments of strength and care are captured before the ultimate passing of the beloved pet. Quemada solemnly renders in black and white, a testament of an enduring love beyond the animal’s lifetime.
Additionally, this exhibition also highlights joys of reflection and potential for evolution after a moment of crisis or grief.
This can be seen in Martinez’ “asteroid forms” wherein these forms are rendered in neon magenta. A color that, while intense, can be perceived as festive and attention grabbing – intended to root an audience in their present moment. Indeed, the forms themselves may remind an audience of a certain food item enjoyed in youth (the hint being the boot shape).
The hope of the exhibition is that we share levity behind a phenomenon so heavy as change.
The International Folk Culture Center (IFCC) at Our Lady of the Lake University is excited to welcome Xelena Gonzalez as its Spring 2026 Artist in Residence.
Xelena Gonzalez is a published author, speaker, and healing arts practitioner whose work centers on writing, movement, and embodied connection. During her residency at OLLU, Xelena will explore and experiment with movement and dance as tools for healing, using her project Lotería Remedios as a creative and cultural framework. This work serves as the foundation for an embodied movement practice that invites participants to reflect, move, and connect through shared experience.
The campus community is invited to meet Xelena and learn more about her work at a Welcome Reception and Lotería Night, where she will introduce her residency project, participate in a brief Q&A, and engage attendees through games, prizes, and light refreshments.
Xelena’s residency also kicks off an exciting season of movement, dance, and community gatherings hosted by the IFCC throughout the spring semester.
As part of this programming, the IFCC invites students, faculty, and staff to take a break, get moving, and connect during Spring Dance Demos, held in the Mall Area during community hour.
In addition to the weekly dance demos, the IFCC has a full lineup of Spring 2026 events, including:
Bridgerton Regency Wear Workshop
February 14 – Contra Dance
February 14 – Bridgerton Tea & Dance
March 7 – The Gatherings Art Workshops & Talks
March 27–April 1 – Selena Fiesta
April 7–10 – Spring Dance Programming
Whether you’re curious about embodied healing practices, interested in cultural dance traditions, or simply looking for a joyful way to connect with the OLLU community, the IFCC invites you to join us this spring.
Welcome back Saints, Spring 2026 is officially underway! If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time to jump in and secure your schedule. Whether you’re finalizing your plans or making last-minute adjustments, registering now can help you:
Avoid full courses
Stay on track for graduation
Secure the schedule you want
Log in and register today – don’t wait until it’s too late!
Our Lady of the Lake University will participate in the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration on January 19, 2026, and volunteers are still needed to join the OLLU delegation.
This year’s theme, “March to Keep the Dream in Motion,” invites students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to come together in unity and service.
Counseling and Wellness Services invites the OLLU community to join us for an Open House and Zen Room Launch this January. Stop by to learn more about Counseling & Wellness Services, including support available through Uwill, take a tour of the new Zen Room, and learn how to book a session.
Event Details:
Friday, January 16
1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Walter Student Service Center, Room 206
Light refreshments will be provided, including snacks, tea, and coffee — plus swag bags while supplies last.
All students, faculty, and staff are welcome. Come take a break, recharge, and check out this new wellness resource on campus.
Our Lady of the Lake delivered one of its most resilient performances of the season, erasing a 20-point deficit to defeat LSU Alexandria in a dramatic comeback that showcased composure, toughness, and collective belief. Trailing by double digits for much of the game, the Saints refused to fold, steadily chipping away until momentum fully swung in their favor down the stretch.
The comeback reached its defining moment in the final seconds. With 2.3 seconds remaining, Mike Aiken rose and knocked down a contested, high-difficulty shot to give OLLU its first lead of the closing stretch, a clutch basket that capped the Saints relentless push and ultimately sealed the outcome. The shot punctuated the momentum OLLU had built over the final minutes and underscored the confidence the Saints played with despite the early deficit.
Jaydin Morin-Bishop led the offensive effort with 24 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting performance, converting all 12 of his free-throw attempts. His ability to attack the rim and consistently finish at the line kept OLLU within reach and set the stage for the late-game surge. Barack Holland provided a spark off the bench with nine points, while Davonte Durst and Arthur Celestin Jr. contributed valuable minutes during the rally.
Defensively, the Saints elevated their intensity as the game progressed, forcing 16 LSU Alexandria turnovers and contesting shots down the stretch. OLLU’s aggressiveness translated to the free-throw line, where the Saints attempted 37 shots and converted 24, using patience and poise to control the tempo during the comeback.
LSU Alexandria was paced by Jordan Decuir’s 20-point performance and shot efficiently overall, but OLLU’s persistence ultimately proved decisive. Down by as many as 20 points, the Saints stayed connected, trusted their system, and responded possession by possession until the comeback was complete.
The victory stands as a defining moment of resilience for Our Lady of the Lake, highlighted by Aiken’s late-game heroics and a team-wide commitment to fight until the final buzzer. The Saints will be back in action against Louisiana Christian Saturday at 3:00 PM CDT. It will be Youth Day at Mabee Gymnasium.
Our Lady of the Lake men’s basketball delivered a statement victory over rival Texas A&M University–San Antonio, pulling away late for a 100–89 win powered by efficiency, balance, and poise at the free-throw line. The Saints shot 47.6 percent from the field and a sharp 45 percent from three-point range, turning a competitive matchup into a decisive result down the stretch.
Jaydin Morin-Bishop led all scorers with 24 points, showcasing a confident shooting night that included six three-pointers on nine attempts. His perimeter scoring stretched the defense early and often, giving OLLU consistent momentum. Devontae Da Costa added 15 points on an ultra-efficient 4-of-5 shooting performance while also converting six of seven free throws, helping the Saints maintain control whenever TAMUSA threatened a run.
OLLU’s frontcourt presence was steady and physical. Arthur Celestin Jr. posted 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Isaiah Moore chipped in 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Wahkil Lopez made his impact felt defensively with four blocks to go along with eight points and six rebounds, anchoring a Saints defense that forced 18 turnovers.
Depth proved to be a major factor as the Saints reserves consistently contributed on both ends. Santiago Ochoa scored 11 points and dished out five assists, providing a steady hand off the bench, while Barack Holland added nine points and strong perimeter defense. In total, OLLU recorded 18 assists and turned defensive pressure into scoring opportunities throughout the night.
The difference came at the line and in overall execution. OLLU converted 31 of 37 free throws, capitalizing on nearly every opportunity, while also protecting the ball well enough to offset TAMUSA’s rebounding edge. With balanced scoring, timely shooting, and disciplined play in key moments, the Saints closed out their rivals and secured a convincing win that underscored their growth and confidence as a unit. The Saints will be back in action this Thursday against LSUA at home at 7:30 PM CDT.
In celebration of National Peanut Butter Day on January 24, Our Lady of the Lake University is coming together to make a meaningful impact—one jar at a time.
From January 20–23, OLLU will host a Campus Peanut Butter Drive to support the Salud Center, which provides emergency food assistance to members of the OLLU community and our neighbors on the Westside. Peanut butter is one of the most requested and essential items for food pantries nationwide, making this drive both timely and deeply impactful.
Sponsored by the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism and the Salud Center, the drive will feature daily tabling in the Mall during Community Hour, making it easy for Saints to give back. Donations will also be accepted at the Salud Center office in Worden Hall, Room 23, and on-campus pickup can be arranged for larger contributions.
This initiative is made even stronger through the generous support of our partners. The National Peanut Board, Texas Peanut Producers’ Board, and Wilco Peanut—a Pleasanton-based peanut processor—have stepped up to sponsor the drive. The National Peanut Board has donated peanut-themed swag to help promote the event, while the Texas Peanut Producers’ Board and Wilco Peanut will each contribute peanut butter donations. Even better, Wilco and the Texas Peanut Producers’ Board will match all campus donations, doubling the impact of every jar given.
As a thank-you, donors who contribute two jars of peanut butter will receive a free peanut-themed swag bag while supplies last.
This drive reflects OLLU’s commitment to service, solidarity, and caring for our community. Together, Saints can turn a simple staple into nourishment, support, and hope. 🥜💙💛
