The $3 million renovation of the historic auditorium at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is back on track following a crucial $1.82 million grant from Bexar County. The project had been stalled since September 2025, when a portion of the federal funding originally secured in 2022 was canceled. This new county support, drawn from the general fund and strictly earmarked for construction costs, effectively bridges the financial gap that halted the restoration.
Slated for completion by the spring of 2027, the renovation will modernize the 5,600-square-foot space while preserving its historic character. The restored auditorium is expected to become a vibrant hub for the San Antonio community, hosting small business development activities, workforce training, regional events, and tourism initiatives.
The total funding package for the project also includes $815,000 in federal funds, with the final $365,000 to be covered by institutional resources and private donations. University officials emphasized the space’s long history as a site for community engagement—dating back to the 1960s—and noted that the updated facility will significantly enhance OLLU’s capacity to host large-scale public service events.
Our Lady of the Lake University is proud to share that Dr. Valerie Martinez has been appointed by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones to serve on San Antonio’s Diez y Seis Commission.
(Left to right) Dr. Valerie Martinez and Mayor Pro Tem and Councilwoman for District 5 Teri Castillo
This appointment recognizes Dr. Martinez’s leadership and her commitment to advancing cultural celebration and community engagement in San Antonio. The Diez y Seis Commission helps support Hispanic Heritage Month programming and related cultural initiatives throughout the city.
We congratulate Dr. Martinez on this meaningful appointment and look forward to the impact she will continue to make through her service and leadership.
Our Lady of the Lake University proudly recognizes the faculty and staff honored at this year’s Awards Ceremony for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the OLLU community.
This celebration highlighted the many ways our faculty and staff strengthen the university through leadership, service, teaching, and community building. The awards were presented to their recipients during last Wednesday’s (4/28) celebration.
Robert Davis Community Building Award: Austin Bergstrom Rosemary Saenz for Customer Service Award: Francisco Frade Sr. Jane Ann Slater Leadership Staff Award: Dr. Jessica Quintero Sr. Jane Ann Slater Leadership Faculty Award: Dr. Kelly Roberts-Cooper Moye’s Legacy University Award: Dr. George Williams
Excellence in Service-Learning Faculty Award: Dr. Jacob Friesenhahn 2025-2026 Moody Professor: Dr. Christopher Rose Francine Fleming Endowed Award for Teaching Excellence: Dr. Deborah Healy
OLLU also recognized faculty retirements, including Maria Linan, MS, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, for 25 years of service and dedicated contributions to the university.
The ceremony also acknowledged the service of the 2025–2026 Faculty Assembly leadership, including President Jessica Hajek, PhD; President-Elect Brittany Chozinski, PhD; Past President and Parliamentarian Kathryn Anderson, PhD; and Recording Secretary Chloe Lash, PhD. We thank the outgoing assembly members for their commitment and welcome the new members who will carry this work forward in 2026.
Congratulations to all award recipients and honorees. Your dedication helps make OLLU a stronger community each day.
Our Lady of the Lake’s postseason run came to a halt in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament second round, as the Saints fell 5–2 to Texas A&M–Texarkana in the Final Four. Despite the result, OLLU remains in the conversation for a potential at-large bid to the NAIA Opening Round, though their postseason fate is not yet certain.
The Saints (34-18 overall, 19-8 RRAC) entered the matchup with momentum and a strong body of work, but ran into a composed Texarkana squad. OLLU showed flashes of resilience throughout the contest but ultimately could not overcome the Eagles.
Texas A&M–Texarkana struck early pressure against OLLU starter Noah Ferraro, who had been dominant throughout the season entering the game with an 8-1 record. Ferraro worked through six innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out five. The damage largely came via the long ball, as Austin Kerns and Tobin Jones each delivered home runs to give Texarkana a narrow but significant edge.
Offensively, the Saints generated seven hits but struggled to string together consistent rallies. Brett Atkinson provided a standout performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 and serving as a catalyst for much of OLLU’s offense. Diego Zuniga delivered the Saints biggest highlight with a solo home run, accounting for one of the team’s two runs, while Joshua Milton added an RBI to keep OLLU within reach.
Trailing 3-2 entering the late innings, OLLU remained in contention before Texarkana extended its lead in the seventh inning. A brief relief outing from Xavior Salazar saw the Eagles push across two additional runs, creating separation that proved difficult to erase. Nolan Nicholson stabilized things on the mound, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts to keep the deficit from growing further.
While the loss is not the storybook ending to the conference tournament, OLLU’s season remains notable for its consistency and competitiveness within the RRAC. With 34 wins and a strong conference record, the Saints have positioned themselves as a potential candidate for an at-large berth in the national tournament. If selected, they will have an opportunity to extend their season and build on an already successful campaign.
If not, the Saints conclude the year with a 34-18 record, reflecting a season of growth, resilience, and competitive play at the top of the conference standings. Regardless of the outcome, OLLU demonstrated throughout the year that it can compete with the best in the RRAC and beyond, setting a solid foundation for the program moving forward.
The Our Lady of the Lake Saints delivered a composed and timely performance to defeat the Louisiana Christian Wildcats 6–3, advancing to the next round of the Red River Athletic Conference Championship. With the win, the Saints now turn their attention to a matchup against the Texas A&M Texarkana Eagles.
Our Lady of the Lake set the tone early with consistent offensive production, tallying nine hits and six runs. Leading the charge was Arianna Alejandro, who produced a standout performance at the plate. Alejandro went 2-for-3, including two doubles, while driving in three runs and scoring twice. Her ability to deliver in key moments proved pivotal in separating the Saints from Louisiana Christian.
Additional offensive contributions came from Novalee Gloria and Caitlin Casas, who each recorded two hits, while Marisa Rosales and Alyssa Guzman added runs to maintain pressure on the Wildcats pitching staff. The Saints showed discipline throughout the game, drawing five walks and striking out zero times—an indicator of their poised approach at the plate.
In the circle, Annika Litterio was instrumental in securing the victory. She pitched 6.1 innings of shutout softball, allowing just four hits while working around five walks. Her control and composure limited Louisiana Christian’s scoring opportunities and kept momentum firmly on the Saints’ side. Valeria Vielma closed out the game despite a late push from the Wildcats, who scored all three of their runs in the final inning.
With this victory, the Saints continue their postseason run with growing momentum. Their balanced combination of disciplined hitting and steady pitching positions them as a formidable contender heading into their next matchup against Texas A&M Texarkana.
Following are the members of the 2026 Red River Athletic Conference Baseball All-Conference Team and individual award-winners as voted by the conference’s coaches.
Following are the members of the 2026 Red River Athletic Conference Softball All-Conference Team and individual award-winners as voted by the conference’s coaches.
The Our Lady of the Lake Saints remain in the hunt for a Red River Athletic Conference Championship title despite a 15–1 setback against the Texas A&M–Victoria Jaguars, and will now prepare to face the loser of the matchup between the LSU–Shreveport Pilots and the Texas A&M–Texarkana Eagles in an elimination game.
While the final score did not reflect their potential, the Saints showed flashes of competitiveness against a high-powered Jaguars squad. Jack Kalisky led the way offensively with a strong 2-for-3 performance that included a double and a stolen base, consistently applying pressure when given opportunities. Brett Atkinson also contributed with the team’s lone RBI, while CaliEvan Billela-Barstow added the Saints run after entering as a pinch runner.
The Saints pitching staff faced a challenging task against one of the conference’s most productive lineups. Despite the outcome, reliever Manuel Flores provided a steady presence out of the bullpen, limiting damage during his outing and helping stabilize the game in the middle innings. The staff also recorded eight strikeouts, demonstrating the ability to compete and miss bats against a disciplined offense.
Defensively, Our Lady of the Lake executed a key double play, highlighting their ability to respond under pressure and maintain composure in difficult moments.
Texas A&M–Victoria capitalized on timely hitting and plate discipline, but the Saints now turn their focus forward with an opportunity to respond. Their next game carries significant weight, as they look to extend their postseason run against either LSU–Shreveport or Texas A&M–Texarkana.
With their season on the line, the Saints will aim to build on their strengths, tighten execution, and deliver a complete performance. Their resilience throughout the season positions them well to compete, and they will look to carry that determination into the next round of conference tournament play.
Sean Lin is majoring in Kinesiology and Health Professions with a minor in Psychology. At OLLU, he has combined academics with leadership and performance, earning recognition as a two-time Red River Athletics track and field conference champion, a 2024 third-place finisher at the NCA/NDA Game Day Championships, a 2025 first-place winner, and the 2026 Champion of Character.
His impact reaches across campus and the San Antonio community through his involvement in the OLLU Drumline program, track and field team, and Student Government. Sean says his participation has helped him connect with a wide range of people, use his voice to encourage others, and inspire involvement from those who might not otherwise engage.
After graduation, Sean plans to take a gap year to prepare for a Doctor of Physical Therapy program and eventually open his own clinic. His advice to others is simple: get involved, because being present can lead to opportunities you never expected.
As we work together to make Fall 2026 as successful as possible, we want to celebrate our shared progress and keep moving forward with purpose. Our current enrollment number is 953, and this reflects the incredible effort of our entire OLLU community.
Enrollment is a shared responsibility, and every interaction with students matters. Together, we can continue to build momentum by:
Recruiting future students by sharing your OLLU experience.
Retaining the amazing OLLU students who are already here.
Engaging and collaborating across campus with everyone you encounter.
Each registration strengthens our mission and brings us closer to our goal of 1,800 students for Fall 2026. You will continue to see the enrollment thermometer displayed across campus as we track our progress together. With unity, focus, and urgency, we can create a vibrant, welcoming environment where students thrive and our community succeeds.
