Author: OLLUNewsletter

OLLU women’s tennis signs Haley Darbonne from Cypress Lakes

Haley-TennisThe women’s tennis team has announced the signing of Haley Darbonne to its 2014-2015 squad. Darbonne attends Cypress Lakes High School in Cypress Lakes, Texas. At Cypress Lakes, Darbonne was the team’s No. 1 girl’s singles player for all four years of her high school career. The Saints play a handful of tennis matches during the fall semester and will play the bulk of their competitions in spring 2015. OLLU competes through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the tennis teams are unaffiliated with a conference. Read full article online.

OLLU men’s golf signs four to its 2014-2015 squad

OLLUGolf2014OLLU welcomed a packed room of guests and families to its first men’s golf signing for the 2014-2015 season. Joining the team are: Ian Berrigan (O’Connor High School), Jeremy Gordon Clark High School/Texas State University), Merrick Ramos (O’Connor/Ranger College) and Christopher Schriedel (O’Connor High School/Midland Junior College). Head Coach Alan Baxter said, “I am honored to announce the signing of these four men. Not only are they great golfers, they are accomplished students who will undoubtedly excel in the classroom first and foremost.” The four will join returning senior Tommy Xu, who transferred to OLLU from Schreiner University last year and is a graduate of Reagan High School. Xu received all-conference this year at the Red River Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. Joining Baxter will be assistant coach Arnie Martinez, who played for the Saints in 2008-2009. Martinez has won several tournaments as an amateur golfer, and he recently joined the pro circuit. The Saints will play a handful of tournaments during the fall semester, but will play the bulk of their schedule in spring 2015. Read full article online.

OLLU announces the hiring of Terry Smith as assistant coach for cross-country and track & field

Terry-Smith-2014OLLU has announced the hiring of Terry Smith as the Assistant Coach for men’s and women’s cross-country and men’s and women’s track & field. Smith comes to OLLU from the University of the Incarnate Word (2012-2014), where as a graduate assistant/assistant coach, his areas were sprints, jumps and hurdles and his specified events were hurdles, strength and conditioning. In his first year at UIW, both the men’s and women’s 4×100 relay teams won conference titles and ran the NCAA Division II National Championship meet. Prior to UIW, Smith coached at McMurry University from 2011-2012. There, his areas were sprints, jumps and hurdles and his specified events were hurdles, strength and conditioning. He also was on the staff of the 2012 NCAA Division III Men’s National Track and Field Team Champion. OLLU began competing in cross-country in 2009 through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Red River Athletic Conference. Although OLLU has competed in track & field’s long-distance events the past two years, 2014-2015 will be the University’s first season as a full competitor in the sport. Read full article online.

OLLU’s Brittany Stone selected to Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team

2014BrittanyStone-3OLLU received notice that Brittany Stone has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. Capital One has been the entitlement rights holder to CoSIDA’s Academic All-America teams programs since 2011. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s games at their positions. No student-athlete is eligible until he/she has completed one full calendar year at his/her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility. Stone is a junior from Helotes, Texas, and a graduate of O’Connor High School. She is majoring in Biology and Chemistry. She finished the 2013-2014 school year with a 3.51 GPA. Read full article online.

Volleyball announces dates for summer camp

VolleyballCamp2014-finalThe OLLU volleyball team will hold its annual summer camp for beginners and intermediate players. Dates for the two separate sessions are June 16-20 and July 28-Aug. 1. The camp on Monday-Thursday will be from 9-11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m.-noon and again from 12-2 p.m. On Friday, the camp will run from 9-11:30 a.m. Admission is $160, or $140 if the camper brings a friend, sibling or teammate. For additional information, visit http://www.ollusaintsathletics.com/f/Summer_Volleyball_Camp.php.

Community invited to open forums for Writing Center Director candidates

The OLLU community is invited to attend the open forums to meet the candidates for the Writing Center Director position. Candidates will introduce themselves to the community and will be available for questions after a community presentation. The schedule to meet the candidates is as follows:

  • Tuesday – Kirsten Komara – 11 a.m. – Providence Hall, Blue Room
  • Tuesday – Kristina Gutierrez – 3 p.m. – Providence Hall, Blue Room

Concert to Benefit Victims of Ovarian Cancer

Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and OLLU graduate Patricio Espinoza (BA Mass Communication 2013) is raising money to fight ovarian cancer. A concert featuring jazz vocalist Ken Slavin will be held on Saturday night at the Oblate School of Theology to benefit women who are battling ovarian cancer, including Espinoza’s wife, Bernessa Jakle.

The concert — called “A Healing Serenade” — begins at 7 p.m. Doors open with a cash bar at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and may be purchased at the door, 285 Oblate Drive, or online (http://www.healingserenade.eventbrite.com).

Espinoza and Jakle have a powerful and inspiring story, which you can read in this Light From The Lake blog.

First cohort finishes Staff Leadership Academy

Staff_Leadership_Academy_2014_4The inaugural cohort of the Staff Leadership Academy completed a semester-long program on May 9. The Staff Leadership Academy was created as part of the “To Lead” initiative under the strategic plan. Participants included:

  • Richard Keilholz – Clinical Counselor
  • Carmen Ramirez – Director of the Student Business Office
  • Anne Gomez – Director of Marketing and Communications
  • Moses Porras – Housekeeping Supervisor
  • Betty Galvan – Registrar
  • John Sanchez – Director of Advancement Services and Annual Giving
  • Veronica Reyna – Director of Graduate Admissions
  • Kimberly Gibson – Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in Online Learning
  • Esme Flores – Director of Financial Aid

A new cohort is scheduled to begin fall 2014.