Author: OLLUNewsletter

UPDATE: Grubhub Ordering Goes Live December 3

Grubhub mobile ordering officially launches on campus Wednesday, December 3. Students, faculty, and staff will be able to place orders from campus dining locations — and select off-campus restaurants — directly through the Grubhub app.

As part of the rollout, self-service ordering kiosks will be available across campus this week to make grabbing meals even faster and more convenient.

The new system is designed to make dining at OLLU more flexible and efficient. To learn more about the partnership, click the link below!

Read The Full News RELEASe

OLLU Welcomes New Alumni Director, Cynthia Rocha

Our Lady of the Lake University is pleased to welcome Cynthia Rocha as the new Alumni Director.

Rocha brings extensive experience in community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and relationship building, most recently serving through her work with Lifelong Legacies, where she partnered with organizations to strengthen alumni networks, elevate storytelling, and foster long-term donor and volunteer connections.

In her new role at OLLU, Rocha will lead efforts to engage alumni, expand outreach programs, and create meaningful opportunities for Saints to stay connected with the university and with one another.

Learn More about Cynthia Rocha

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Aundrea Culliver Returns to San Antonio to Serve Her Community

Our Lady of the Lake University proudly highlights the journey of Aundrea Culliver, OTD, OTR/L, a 2020 Kinesiology alumna whose passion for service, healing, and lifelong learning has taken her across the country—and now back home to San Antonio.

Building a foundation at OLLU

Culliver graduated from OLLU with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology (Health Science concentration), where she was also a dedicated student-athlete. She credits the university’s close-knit environment and the mentorship of faculty and coaches—especially Dr. Hall and Coach Smith—for shaping both her academic success and personal growth.

“My time at OLLU was defined by strong community and lasting relationships,” she shared. “I valued the camaraderie and family-like environment within the athletic program, which encouraged me to excel both in academics and in sports.”

From OLLU to a Doctorate in Occupational therapy

After graduation, Culliver was accepted into the University of St. Augustine, where she earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD). Throughout her doctoral training, she completed multiple clinical rotations and developed a deep commitment to helping individuals regain independence and meaning in their everyday lives.

Her capstone project—a scoping review on neurofeedback within occupational therapy for clients with substance use disorders—allowed her to explore innovative behavioral health interventions. She also implemented occupational therapy practices at The Arbor Behavioral Health Addiction Treatment Center in Georgetown, Texas.

Culliver graduated with her OTD in August 2023 and passed her national board certification in February 2024.

A Career of service and travel

Shortly after becoming licensed, Culliver began working as a travel occupational therapist, taking on 3–6 month contracts across the country. Her work focuses on helping patients recover from stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and other conditions that affect daily independence.

“The most rewarding part of my career is witnessing my patients’ progress and helping them rediscover confidence and purpose.”

Her career has also allowed her to explore new places, including international travel during breaks between assignments.

Returning home

Now on her fourth travel assignment, Culliver has returned to San Antonio to work at Methodist Texsan Hospital, where she is grateful for the chance to serve the community that shaped her.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to serve my own community and give back to the place that shaped me to be where I am today!”

Giving back through mentorship

Passionate about lifting up the next generation, Culliver welcomes OLLU students who are curious about the field of occupational therapy.

“If anyone is interested in learning more about the field of occupational therapy or seeking shadowing opportunities, I would be happy to share my experiences, offer insight, and provide mentorship to those pursuing this rewarding career.”

Contact & follow!

To get in touch with Dr. Culliver or follow along her journey, use the contact information below.

Phone – 512-971-0619
Email – aundrea.culliver23@gmail.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dr.ottraveler/

OLLU Announces New Unified Commencement Ceremony Tradition

Beginning Spring 2026, Our Lady of the Lake University will debut a new tradition: one unified Commencement Ceremony that brings together all graduating students in a single, memorable celebration. This change aligns with OLLU’s commitment to elevating the student experience and honoring graduates as one united community.

What You need to know
  • Graduation is the formal awarding of a degree after all academic requirements are completed.
  • Commencement is the spring ceremony where OLLU recognizes graduates alongside their families, friends, faculty, and staff.
  • Participation in Commencement does not confirm graduation—students must meet all degree requirements for the term in which they applied to graduate.

This new approach—One Lake, One Ceremony, One Celebration—creates a shared moment for every graduate to be honored together and marks an exciting evolution of OLLU’s commencement traditions.

Multiple Saints Earn NAIA Scholar-Athlete Honors

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) proudly announces the 2025 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for fall sports. This honor recognizes student-athletes in each of the fall sports who have excelled academically, including football, men’s cross country, men’s soccer, women’s cross country, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball.

To qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year. This year, the list features an impressive number of student-athletes who have met these rigorous standards.

Women’s soccer highlights the field with 1,606 scholar-athletes, ahead of men’s soccer (1,345), women’s volleyball (1,231), football (1,129), women’s cross country (617) and men’s cross country (558). Twenty-nine Saints across these sports received NAIA Scholar-Athlete Honors.

  • Angela Garcia Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Anisia Serrano Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Cade Ryan Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Men’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Carly Dossett Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Women’s Volleyball Red River Athletic Conference
  • Chloe Conn Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Women’s Volleyball Red River Athletic Conference
  • Cristian Govea Mireles Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Men’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Danilo Marinho de Figueiredo Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Men’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Eleonora Diversi Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Gabrielle Deleon Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Gabrielle Pace Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Grace Reed Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Jordan Betterton Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Men’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Juan Hernandez Salamanca Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Men’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Julia Anguiano Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Volleyball Red River Athletic Conference
  • Kaitlyn Olivas Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Katherine Delgadillo Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Kevin Zamora Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Men’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Kira Brown Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Lauren Reynard Our Lady of the Lake University Graduate Student Women’s Volleyball Red River Athletic Conference
  • Leah Tapia Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Madison Perez Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Cross Country Red River Athletic Conference
  • Mariana Medrano Sanchez Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Mia Perez Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Volleyball Red River Athletic Conference
  • Mikayla Arce Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Women’s Volleyball Red River Athletic Conference
  • Romualdo Gonzalez Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Men’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Sabastian Moreno Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Men’s Cross Country Red River Athletic Conference
  • Sadie Rios Our Lady of the Lake University Sophomore Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference
  • Samantha Watson Our Lady of the Lake University Junior Women’s Volleyball Red River Athletic Conference
  • Sara Garza Our Lady of the Lake University Senior Women’s Soccer Red River Athletic Conference

OLLU Community Shares Holiday Generosity Through Thanksgiving Basket Drive

This year, the OLLU community came together to spread holiday cheer by assembling fully stocked Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. Each basket included essential holiday meal items—such as stuffing, vegetables, rolls, mashed potatoes, and a gift card for a turkey or ham—with many departments adding extra touches like table settings and festive décor.

After being thoughtfully decorated and shared with the campus, the baskets were voted on by the OLLU community. While a few friendly winners were named — Chartwells (1st Place), OLLU Police Department (2nd Place), and the Department of Business and CISS (3rd Place) — the real impact of this effort lies in how these contributions will be used.

All baskets will be donated to the Madonna Center and the Lackland Fisher House, where they will help brighten the holiday season for local families, service members, and individuals experiencing hardship.

Thank you to every office, department, and individual who contributed. Your generosity reflects the heart of the OLLU mission and brings warmth and hope to our community during this season of gratitude.

Basket Delivery Gallery

Celebrating Innovation: OLLU Joins Maestro Event Supporting Small Business Growth

The recent Maestro Entrepreneur Center event held on Friday, November 14th, brought together entrepreneurs, community partners, and business leaders to celebrate the transformative spirit of innovation that drives small businesses forward. As champions of opportunity and empowerment, Our Lady of the Lake University was proud to support and participate in this event, which aligns deeply with our values and mission.

Entrepreneurship reflects the very heart of the OLLU story—vision, determination, and the courage to create something meaningful for our community. For more than a century, OLLU has been a place where individuals with bold ideas and strong purpose come to grow, learn, and lead. Events like Maestro remind us that small businesses are more than economic engines; they are sources of creativity, resilience, and community identity.

The OLLU School of Business stands committed to preparing the next generation of ethical, community-minded entrepreneurs. Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world business experiences, we empower students to turn their ideas into action and to contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

The Maestro Event served as a powerful reminder that when education and entrepreneurship intersect, our communities grow stronger. OLLU proudly continues to support local innovators and to cultivate a learning environment where business leadership is rooted in service, responsibility, and impact.

This is what it means to be a part of the OLLU community—where every great business story begins with purpose.

OLLU Biology Students Complete Community Water-Quality Project, Share Findings with Local Seniors

Last month, Our Lady of the Lake University highlighted a meaningful collaboration between OLLU Biology students and Building Hope Together, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting low-income senior citizens. As part of this community-engaged project, students visited the homes of elder residents to test water quality and assess environmental health concerns that may impact daily life.

We are proud to share that the project is now complete — and the students are ready to bring their findings back to the community they served.

To honor this partnership and ensure transparency in the scientific process, OLLU students will present their results during a community report-back event on Tuesday, November 18, at 8 a.m. in Metz 305. Seniors who participated in the study, leaders from Building Hope Together, and the student research teams will all be in attendance.

This gathering is more than a presentation; it is a celebration of shared learning, mutual respect, and the university’s commitment to community-rooted research. By engaging directly with local elders, students experienced firsthand how science can uplift and empower communities — a value deeply embedded in OLLU’s mission.

All who are interested are warmly invited to attend and support our students as they present the impact of their work.

Alum Spotlight: Byanka Ramos, LCSW – Amplifying Latinx Voices in Social Work

Our Lady of the Lake University proudly celebrates alumna Byanka Ramos, LCSW (BSW ’18), whose passion for advocacy, healing, and representation is making a meaningful impact in the field of social work.

Byanka Ramos, LCSW (BSW ’18)

Byanka began her journey at OLLU, earning her Bachelor of Social Work in 2018. She credits her time on our campus—and the faculty who guided her—for shaping both her professional path and personal mission. One mentor in particular, former OLLU professor Cynthia Medina, played a transformative role. In her newly published book chapter, Byanka honors Professor Medina as “a catalyst” who inspired her to believe in her voice, her potential, and the power of culturally rooted social work.

After completing her BSW, Byanka continued her education at the University of Texas at San Antonio, earning a Master of Social Work degree. She has since achieved her clinical social work license, expanding her ability to serve individuals, families, and communities through therapeutic practice.

This year, Byanka reached an exciting new milestone: the publication of her chapter in Latinx/e in Social Work, Volume 3, a recognized anthology highlighting the stories, struggles, and triumphs of Latinx professionals in the field. Her contribution uplifts the lived experiences of Latinx communities while inspiring the next generation of social workers to share their stories without fear or hesitation.

By using her platform to amplify underrepresented voices—and by honoring those who mentored her along the way—Byanka exemplifies the OLLU spirit of service, leadership, and community commitment.

Congratulations, Byanka! You continue to make OLLU proud.