Author: OLLUNewsletter

OLLU-Houston holds annual blessing ceremony and Mass

Members of the OLLU-Houston campus kicked off the fall 2024 semester with the fourth annual blessing ceremony and Mass. This special event fills the campus with hope and encouragement, offering spiritual blessings to guide students, faculty, and staff throughout the academic year. 

This year’s program participants included University Chaplain, Father Kevin Fausz, and Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Gloria Urrabazo. Dozens of students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community members attended the event during a break between morning and afternoon classes on Saturday. 

Father Kevin’s sermon emphasized the importance of love and compassion, highlighting their powerful ability to uplift the community and extend beyond it. 

CMASR to host Refusing To Forget Roundtable

The Center for Mexican American Studies and Research (CMASR) will host the award-winning public history organization Refusing to Forget to discuss their work in bringing light to state-sponsored anti-Mexican violence in the early 20th century in South Texas and beyond. The event will be held
Tuesday, Sept. 17
12:20 p.m.
Main Building, Room 311

Refusing to Forget members who will be in attendance include:

  • Dr. Trinidad Gonzales, South Texas College
  • Dr. John Moran Gonzalez, University of Texas
  • Juan Carmona, South Texas College and Donna High School
  • Dr. Benjamin Johnson, Loyola University-Chicago
  • Dr. Christopher Carmona, Our Lady of the Lake University

The university community is invited to join the discussion and meet members of the important effort to combat the erasure of this history.

Learn more about Refusing to Forget at www.refusingtoforget.org.

For information on the event, contact Dr. Carmona at ccarmona@ollusa.edu.

Reminder: Join free workout classes offered by the Kinesiology program

The Kinesiology program continues to offer a variety of free workout classes for students, faculty and staff. Classes scheduled for September are:
Mondays – Total Body Tone – 5:15 p.m. – UWAC Aerobics Room
Tuesdays – Walking Club – 7 a.m. – Meet at Library Circle
Wednesdays – Rock Your Core – 5:30 p.m. – UWAC Aerobics Room
Thursdays – Fitness Flow – 6 p.m.—UWAC Aerobics Room
Fridays – Mindful Movement – Noon – Online

Classes are organized by Fitness Coordinator Alyssa Garcia, whose position was made possible through a Title V grant received by the Kinesiology program last year. For additional information, email Garcia at kinesiology@ollusa.edu.

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take advantage of the workout classes.

Walter Center offices to offer limited services on third Tuesday of each month

To allow for staff training, the following offices will offer limited services on the third Tuesday of each month from noon to 5 p.m. this fall:

  • Financial Aid Office
  • Registrar’s Office
  • Student Business Office

Please be assured that the offices will remain open, however, there will be limited services in the afternoon on the dates indicated below.

  • Sept 17, 2024
  • Oct 15, 2024
  • Nov. 19, 2024
  • Dec. 17, 2024

McNair Scholars program accepting applications

The McNair Scholars program is currently accepting applications. The program is seeking curious students who ask good questions and want to pursue a graduate degree following their time at OLLU. The McNair Scholars program will host an informational session on Sept.18 during community hour in the McNair Lab in Lower Level Moye Hall. Signing up for the informational session will guarantee a meal, so sign up today.

Eligibility criteria to be a McNair Scholar include:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Have at least 45 credit hours.
  • Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • Be a first-generation student with limited income or underrepresented in graduate education.
  • Be committed to attending graduate school and earning a doctoral degree.

Stop by the McNair Lab or email mcnair@ollusa.edu with questions. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Women’s Tennis Concludes Play at Kimbell Memorial Invitational

The women’s tennis team competed at the Kimbell Memorial Invitational hosted by St. Mary’s University (StMU) on Sept. 6-7. The Saints opened fall play against Schreiner University (SU), Texas Lutheran University (TLU), Lubbock Christian University (LCU), Western New Mexico University (WNMU), Trinity University (TU), Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) and St. Mary’s University. 

Freshman Ely Laure won her consolation bracket in the top singles Flight 1. Sofia Gonzalez also won her consolation draw in singles. She played doubles with Marie Peters and they took home the doubles consolation championship in Flight B.

Head Coach Dave Watts said, “The ladies did a very good job this weekend. I was impressed with our new freshman, Ely Laure. She did a great job and won the consolation bracket on Flight 1. She gave the No. 1 seed from Trinity University a tough time in her first match. I thought she played a great tournament and had a great attitude. Sofia Gonzalez won her consolation draw and also won the consolation draw in doubles with Marie Peters. The group had a good tournament and there’s a lot to work on, especially in the doubles. It was a good tournament for the ladies.”

Full results:
DOUBLES
Sofia Gonzalez/Marie Peters (W2/L1): lost to De Bernardo/Jacquemin (LCU) – 1-6; defeated Griffin/Grunberg (SU) – 6-2; defeated Montero/Kastell (WNMU) – 6-2

Ely Laure/Alexandra Mille (W1/L2): lost to Kondo/Wu (StMU) – 0-6; defeated Beville/Lindstrom (TLU) – 6-1; lost to Noll/Tocci (TAMUK) – 1-6

SINGLES
Ely Laure (W2/L1): lost to Hill (TU) – 2-6, 6-7; defeated Wang (WNMU) – 6-1, 6-0; defeated Reyna (SU) 6-0, 6-4

Marie Peters (W1/L1): defeated Lindstrom (TLU) – 6-3, 6-1; lost to Hughes (TU) 2-6, 2-6

Alexandra Mille (W0/L2): lost to Turolo (TAMUK) – 5-7, 6-7; lost to Levy (TU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-10

Sofia Gonzalez (W2/L1): lost to Jokanovic (TAMUK) – 4-6, 0-6; defeated Webb (TLU) 6-0, 6-0; defeated Arnautu (WNMU) 7-5, 6-4

Up next
The Saints face Trinity University on Friday at the Butch Newman Tennis Center.

Men’s Tennis Competed at Brother AI Invitational

The men’s tennis team participated in the Brother AI Invitational hosted by St. Mary’s University (StMU) on Sept.6-7. The Saints battled opponents from Schreiner University (SU), Texas Lutheran University (TLU), Lubbock Christian University (LCU), Western New Mexico University (WNMU) and St. Mary’s University. 

David Ekpenyong and Jarosolav Majsajdr won all three doubles matches to win the championship in Flight A, which was the top bracket in the tournament. Ekpenyong also won the Flight 1 singles bracket and finished the tournament with a 6-0 record. Joshua Alarcon won the Flight 6 singles consolation bracket.

Head Coach Dave Watts commented, “We did a good job and I was impressed with how Caleb Olen competed all tournament. He’s improved a lot from last season. The big one for us was David Ekpenyong. He won his top flight singles bracket and beat a lot of top tier NCAA D2 players. He did a great job playing doubles with Jaroslav Majsajdr and they won the doubles Flight A as well. Joshua Alarcon did a great job winning the consolation bracket in Flight 6. The freshmen looked excited to play and they just have to get more experience on the court. This was a positive start to the season.”

Full results:
DOUBLES
David Ekpenyong/Jaroslav Majsajdr (W3/L0): defeated Romero/Rebois (WNMU) – 6-4; defeated Vigneron Scattarregia/De Los Rios Kolejewska (LCU) – 6-1; defeated Ghedin/Giese (LCU) – 7-6

Paulo Goncalves Ceolin/Joshua Alarcon (W1/L1): defeated Salinas/Salinas (TLU) – 6-2; lost to Freire/Koth (StMU) – 4-6

Caleb Olen/Luis Jimenez Arzate (W1/L2): lost to Castillo-Sanchez/Baldonado (StMU) – 0-6; defeated Leslie/Randall (TLU) – 6-2; lost to Anton/Hauer (StMU) – 2-6

SINGLES
Kyllian Savary (W1/L1): defeated Soler (StMU) – 6-4, 6-1; lost to Ghedin (LCU) – 3-6, 6-3, 4-10

David Ekpenyong (W3/L0): defeated Nava (SU) – 6-2, 6-2; defeated Giese (LCU) – 4-6, 6-3, 11-9; defeated Ghedin (LCU) – 7-6, 5-7, 10-5

Jaroslav Majsajdr (W1/L2): lost to Fabbri (StMU) – 6-4, 2-6, 8-10; defeated Morales (SU) – 6-1, 6-0; lost to Matheu Baldor (StMU) – 2-6, 0-6

Luis Jimenez Arzate (W1/L2): lost to Anton (StMU) – 0-6, 1-6; defeated Pogue (SU) – 4-6, 7-6, 10-2; lost to Moninger (TLU) – 4-6, 6-7

Oliver Hopper (W0/L2): lost to Georgiev (LCU) – 4-6, 2-6; lost to Moninger (TLU) – 6-3, 3-3 (ret.)

Caleb Olen (W1/L2): lost to Kolejewska (LCU) – 1-6, 0-6; defeated Houee (WNMU) – 7-6, 6-4; lost to Duvinage (WNMU) – 6-4, 2-6, 6-10

Paulo Goncalves Ceolin (W1/L1): defeated Figueroa (TLU) – 6-0, 6-2; lost to Freire (StMU) – 5-7, 3-6

Joshua Alarcon (W2/L1): lost to Koth (StMU) – 0-6, 4-6; defeated Thomas (SU) – 6-1, 6-3; defeated Lawler (SU) – 6-4, 7-5

Up next
The Saints play Trinity University on Friday at the Butch Newman Tennis Center.

COVID reminders/protocols for fall 2024 semester

With an uptick in COVID cases being reported across the country, the following information about OLLU COVID protocols is being provided to help keep our community healthy and safe. These protocols also apply to the flu and other respiratory viruses.

OLLU community members are asked to follow the recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing the spread of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other respiratory viruses.

In order to protect yourself and others, the CDC recommends the following for individuals experiencing respiratory viruses:

  • Stay home and away from others when ill – for people with COVID or flu there are treatments available that can lessen symptoms.
  • Return to normal activities when you see an improvement of symptoms over a period of at least 24 hours. If fever was present, it should be gone for 24 hours without medication before returning to normal activities.

 Once you return to normal activities, the following prevention strategies are recommended for at least five days:

  • Take steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or gathering outdoors
  • Enhance hygiene practices by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
  • Wear a well-fitting mask.

OLLU Protocols
The following protocols should be followed by students, faculty and staff who are ill with a respiratory virus such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

 Residential Students: Must submit a Self-Report Form when ill with a respiratory virus. They also must notify their professors of their absence and use the CDC guidelines to determine when they can safely return to normal activities. 

 Athletes: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form when ill with a respiratory virus (unless they live in a residence hall); however, they must notify their professors and coaches of their absence and use the CDC guidelines to determine when they can safely  return to normal activities.

 Commuter Students: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form but must notify their professors of their absence and use the CDC guidelines to determine when they can safely return to normal activities.

 Employees: Are not required to submit a Self-Report form but must notify their supervisors of their absence and use the CDC guidelines to determine when they can safely return to normal activities.

 Accessibility Services
Students who will be absent due to COVID or other illnesses are encouraged to contact OLLU’s Accessibility Services Office immediately for support and temporary accommodations.

The Virtual Care Group Available for Students
Reminder:  All OLLU students have access to free on demand medical and mental health telehealth services through The Virtual Care Group (VCG).

  • Services are provided 24/7/365
  • On-demand and scheduled medical care offered
  • On-demand in the moment emotional support and scheduled counseling appointments
  • You can set up an appointment here or by downloading The Virtual Care Group (VCG) app
  • VCG’s Customer Support can be reached at 866-533-1827 if any issues are experienced while registering

Updates
COVID and respiratory virus protocol updates are posted at https://www.ollusa.edu/campus-safety/index.html

See schedule of September workout classes

The Kinesiology program continues to offer a variety of free workout classes for students, faculty and staff. Classes scheduled for September are:
Mondays – Total Body Tone – 5:15 p.m. – UWAC Aerobics Room
Tuesdays – Walking Club – 7 a.m. – Meet at Library Circle
Wednesdays – Rock Your Core – 5:30 p.m. – UWAC Aerobics Room
Thursdays – Fitness Flow – 6 p.m.—UWAC Aerobics Room
Fridays – Mindful Movement – Noon – Online

Classes are organized by Fitness Coordinator Alyssa Garcia, whose position was made possible through a Title V grant received by the Kinesiology program last year. For additional information, email Garcia at kinesiology@ollusa.edu.

The fitness classes are part of OLLU’s recent designation as an Exercise Is Medicine (EIM) campus through the American College of Sports Medicine. OLLU is the only EIM campus in San Antonio. The distinction recognizes OLLU’s dedication to improving the health and wellness of the university community through education and physical activity.

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take advantage of the workout classes.

The official kick off for the Exercise Is Medicine campus program took place last week. Under the EIM umbrella there will be classes, research and other activities to help get the members of the OLLU community working toward fitness goals and improving health and well-being.