Author: OLLUNewsletter

Professor Friesenhahn releases new book on spirituality

Jacob Friesenhahn, PhD, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, has released a new book, “Introduction to Spirituality: A Contemporary Guide,” that explores the diverse philosophies and practices that shape modern spiritual life.

The textbook provides readers with a detailed look into the ways spirituality is woven into various aspects of life, addressing how individuals and communities interpret and integrate spiritual beliefs and rituals in a contemporary context. 

To buy the book: https://titles.cognella.com/introduction-to-spirituality-9798823307369

Save the date: Benefits Fair and Open Enrollment set for July 24

A Staff and Administration Benefits Fair will be held on Wednesday, July 24 in Main 311 A & B from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

A Faculty Benefits Fair will be held on Wednesday, August 14 in Main 311, A & B from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Annual benefits enrollment provides benefit-eligible employees the opportunity to start, change or end benefits, which become effective Oct. 1, 2024. The exception is medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, which begin Sept. 1, 2024.  

All eligible employees making changes must enroll online in order to change benefits. Current benefits will carry over. The exception is the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), which require enrollment EACH year.

All full-time employees will be able to complete enrollment through Saints Connect/Employee Self-Service/Benefits. Employees wishing to make changes will need to adhere to the following deadlines.

  • Staff employee enrollment period (includes administration) begins Wednesday, July 24. Deadline to enroll is Aug. 6, by 11:59 p.m.
  • Faculty enrollment period begins Aug. 14. Deadline to enroll is Aug. 27 by 11:59 p.m. 

To access the Benefits Enrollment online:

  1. Log into Saints Connect
  2. Click on Employee Self-Service
  3. Click on Review Current Benefits
  4. Click on Benefit Enrollment
  5. Please print confirmation as this is your confirmation your enrollment is complete.

In The News

Recent media coverage that brought attention to OLLU:

On July 12, a story in the San Antonio Report about living in the Creamery District by Stacy Ybarra, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence: 

https://sanantonioreport.org/author/stacy-ybarra

On July 10, a story in the Pleasanton Express about OLLU athletes from Pleasanton who were recognized as Scholar-Athletes:

https://www.pleasantonexpress.com/articles/locals-recognized-amongst-ollu-scholar-athletes

On July 7, a story in the Beeville Bee-Picayune about Sinton baseball player and OLLU signee Nick Flores being named Player of the Year of the 2024 South Texas News High School Baseball Super Team: 

https://www.southtexasnews.com/beeville_bee_picayune/sinton-s-flores-gets-player-of-year-honor/article_c23c5c1c-385a-11ef-b338-6b89c18d0fdb.html

On July 6, a story in MSN.com about five Trailblazing Latinas features alumna Rosie Castro:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/5-trailblazing-latinas-who-paved-the-way/ss-BB1ptCHY#image=3

Lake Day Orientation continues on Friday

The OLLU community is excited to welcome incoming freshmen and their families to Lake Day Orientations on Friday. Please help us in welcoming them!

Lake Day Orientation (LDO) is a full-day program designed to introduce students and their families to life at OLLU. At LDO, students and families will:

  • Make connections with faculty, staff, upperclassmen, and other incoming students
  • Learn about the OLLU mission and culture
  • Learn about OLLU’s support services
  • Talk directly with professors and learn about the requirements of your intended majors and minors
  • Have multiple opportunities to have any financial and advising questions answered

Lake Day Orientation Schedule:

  • 8 – 8:40 a.m. – Check-in and Light Breakfast
  • 9 a.m. – Welcome and University Mission
  • 9:45 a.m. – Saints Connection Sessions
  • 10:30 a.m. – Break
  • 10:45 a.m. – Student Support Resources
  • 11:30 a.m. – Academics 101
  • 11:50 a.m. – Lunch and Athletic Meeting 
  • 1:10 p.m. – Academic Exploration Session 1
  • 1:45 p.m. – Academic Exploration Session 2
  • 2:10 p.m. – Resource Fair
  • 2:30 p.m. – Check Out and Task Time

Academic sessions will be held in various classrooms within the Main Building, while the other sessions will take place in Chapel Auditorium.

Graduation application deadline set for Aug. 1

The fall 2024 Graduation Application is available in the “Graduation” tile on Saints Connect. If you plan to graduate at the end of the fall 2024 semester, please submit the graduation application before the Aug. 1 deadline.

If you have any questions about your degree requirements, please reach out to your adviser for assistance. If you have any questions regarding the application, please reach out to graduate@ollusa.edu.

Please note, once the graduation application is submitted in Saints Connect, the $100 graduation fee will be added to your fall balance.

OLLU congratulates a record 224 Scholar-Athletes

OLLU proudly announces that 208 of its student-athletes have been honored with the prestigious Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Scholar-Athlete recognition. An additional 16 student-athletes who were on non-RRAC sanctioned cheer, dance and drumline teams also earned Scholar-Athlete recognition, bringing the total to 224, who earned a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

This recognition is awarded to student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance while actively participating in their respective sports. This remarkable feat not only surpasses any other school in the conference but also sets a new record in OLLU’s history, underscoring the university’s unwavering dedication to academic excellence in its athletic program.

A RRAC member since 2008, OLLU led the RRAC with 208 student-athletes (18 are dual sport athletes), in addition to the 16 who were on non-RRAC sanctioned teams. The 224 total marks the most student-athletes in school history to earn scholar-athlete recognition. The cumulative GPA total for OLLU’s student-athletes was 3.20.

Athletic Director Tom Norris commented, “In the last five years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of scholar-athletes with 224 earning this recognition. We are very proud of the academic success of our student-athletes. They continue to break records and establish new standards for success academically and athletically. Our coaches recruit academically, so they, too, share this honor. This growth is a testament to our commitment to academic excellence in athletics and inspires hope for even greater achievements in the future.”

Baseball’s Zuniga named RRAC Etier Character Athlete of the Year

OLLU catcher Diego Zuniga has achieved a remarkable feat, earning the esteemed title of the 2023-2024 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Etier Character Male Athlete of the Year, a recognition of unparalleled honor and prestige.

Now in its eighth year, the award is given annually to one male and one female RRAC student-athlete who best represents the tenets of the NAIA Champions of Character program (respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship, and servant leadership).

The awards were posthumously named for Betty Etier, an NAIA/RRAC Hall of Famer, RRAC Eligibility Chair for 18 years, and an associate professor and faculty athletics representative at Huston-Tillotson University (Texas). 

Zuniga, who just completed his sophomore year, is a junior from McAllen, Texas, and a two-year starter. He holds a 3.1 GPA in Kinesiology and was selected to be a member of the McNair Scholars Program because of his characteristics as a student-athlete and his excellence in the classroom. 

The McNair program is federally funded and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, preparing Zuniga for post-graduate work through his participation in academic and community-related activities. Zuniga was installed as a catcher when he arrived at OLLU due to his leadership and the example he sets for his teammates. He plans on completing his final two years on the baseball team at OLLU before exploring a career in athletics.