Category: News

Restoring History, Celebrating Community: OLLU Unveils Revitalized Treaty Mural

On Saturday, OLLU and our neighbors and partners celebrated the unveiling of the Treaty Mural. This beautiful piece of Chicano art was painted in 1980 by Community Cultural Arts, the pioneers of public muralism in our city. While the piece has stood proudly for 45 years, it has become weathered by time and over the course of this semester, students from the OLLU Visual Arts class “Barrio Art and Popular Culture” partnered with the original artists to restore it to its glory. They did so with many partners, including the Segundo de Febrero Committee at OLLU, Opportunity Homes, City District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo, the OLLU Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism, and a whole crew of volunteers from across the OLLU and Westside communities.

This Saturday, we celebrated this success with an unveiling ceremony and blessing. The event was from 11 to noon and included addresses from Visual Arts professor Suzy Gonzalez, original mural artist Tache Torres, Amber Ortega from the International Folk Cultural Center and Segundo Committee, and representatives of the Councilwoman and Opportunity Home. The event culminated in a blessing presided over by Sister Rose Kruppa, the Superior General of our Congregation of Divine Providence.

Speakers at the event highlighted its historic importance, not only as an early example of Chicano muralism but also due to its link to Segundo de Febrero. This event commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848, which ended the Mexican-American War and marked the political birth of the Mexican-American people. This transformative event has had repercussions that continue over the centuries. OLLU was among the first organizations in the nation to recognize the significance of this event, and this mural restoration is part of a revival of that tradition this semester.

Others spoke to the importance of intergenerational connections between the original artists and today’s art students, to the crucial role that public art has in uplifting our community and the special role the public housing plays in creating a just society.

OLLU has committed to continuing this partnership and will be seeking pathways for restoring more murals and uplifting their presence in San Antonio and beyond.

Full story from TPR click here.

Easter Weekend OLLU Campus Closed — April 2-6

Please be advised that Our Lady of the Lake University will be closed from April 2 through April 6, 2026. During this time, all on-campus operations will be suspended. We will return to normal operating hours on April 7th.

Faculty and staff are reminded to:

• Set their email and voicemail greetings to out of office to reflect the campus closure.
• Disconnect and empty any perishable items in office mini fridges.
• Unplug any office space heater
• If any faculty members need to come to campus during the closure, they must notify Campus Police before arrival to ensure proper access and safety.

If any faculty members need to come to campus during the closure, they must notify Campus Police before arrival to ensure proper access and safety.

As a reminder, OLLU partners with Uwill to provide students with 24/7 emotional support, scheduled counseling, and urgent medical care via telehealth. Students can access these services at https://medical.uwill.com.

Please note the adjusted hours of operation for on-campus dining locations during Easter Weekend.

From Thursday, April 2 through Monday, April 6, the Market will be open with modified hours, while all other dining locations—including Annie B’s, SBX, Crave, and the Sub Shop—will be closed.

For more information on dining at OLLU, click here.

📱 Safety Reminder:
Download the InformaCast app to receive important campus emergency alerts and safety notifications.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Wishing you a joyful Easter break and a restful holiday season.

From Insight to Action: A Focused Differentiation Progress Report

By now, many of you have seen or heard the results of the Focused Differentiation Survey that was shared a couple of weeks ago.  The results of that survey helped us see that we are, by a majority,

  • aligned on the student populations we should prioritize
  • accept (again by majority) that we will have to deprioritize certain student segments as long as we do it based on data
  • agree on the attributes that differentiate us
  • and believe that we are not yet ready; not disciplined enough to execute a focused strategy

Focused Differentiation is a strategy defined by businessman, author and Harvard professor Michael Porter.  It identifies an approach that accepts that you can’t be everything to everyone and promotes the idea of identifying something that you do better than anyone else and that others (the competition) would find hard to copy.

The survey results show that we are in line with who will be our target market: First-generation Hispanic undergraduates from South Texas.  We will not be everything to everyone.  That’s not to say we won’t accept other students; it just means that first-gen Hispanic undergrads from South Texas are who we will spend valuable marketing dollars on to recruit. 

The results also show that we believe we are good at having

  • strong career pipelines in select industries
  • accelerated pathways (3-year degrees, flexible scheduling)
  • personalized, high-touch advising model
  • and small-class, faculty-mentored environment

We will have to ‘focus’ more on these attributes if we want to make them so strong that the competition would not be able to replicate them.

The overwhelming response was that we are not yet ready to execute a focused strategy.  We are not yet disciplined enough.  That is true.  Some people may see it as defeating; but this is where Providence and resilience kicks in.  It is Easter season after all. We are preparing for our rebirth by making changes and improvements.  We are re-evaluating current practices and assessing tools such as software that we no longer need.  We are identifying skills that will be needed in this renaissance.

While some will be excited about this refreshing change, there will be some that will be concerned about a change.  That is natural.  “Change” involves human behavior; and humans involve emotions.  Below is a chart that we will discuss at our University Community Convening on April 22nd.  The top row shows that in order to have successful change, you need to have Vision, Skills, Incentives, Resources and a Plan.  If any of these five items is ignored, then you can see in the blue column the effect that it could cause.    Take a look at it.  Think about it.  Be prepared to discuss it at our convening.

OLLU Women’s Tennis Stays Steady At No. 16

Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) picked up ground on No. 1 Keiser (Fla.) by capturing three first-place votes in the fourth regular-season NAIA Women’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll of the 2026 campaign, as the top six teams remained unchanged in the final March edition of the Top 25. 

The Blue Raiders are No. 2, behind the top-ranked Seahawks, with two big jumps, one in the top 10 as SCAD Savannah (Ga.) climbed from No. 11 to No. 7. The other, also a four-spot move, sent Morningside (Iowa) to No. 17, from No. 21. One new team entered the poll – Coastal Georgia at No. 25 – replacing William Woods (Mo.).

Submit Your Nominations for the 2026 Staff & Faculty Awards

Staff Assembly is seeking nominations for the annual Staff and Faculty Awards!

The award descriptions and full eligibility criteria are available on the submission form links below. Please refer to each one for the specific criteria. All OLLU community members (staff, faculty, students, trustees, and alumni) are welcome to submit nominations.

Nomination forms are submitted electronically and must be received by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. Selected recipients will receive recognition and a monetary award during the Staff and Faculty Awards Reception (more details to come).

Awards

Sister Jane Ann Slater Leadership Award (Faculty & Staff)

Our Lady of the Lake University encourages the recognition of performance excellence and high achievement. Each year, a member of the OLLU staff and a member of the OLLU faculty are selected by a committee to receive the Sister Jane Ann Slater Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals who have had a positive impact on the university by building unity and community through their generosity of spirit and heart, exceptional leadership, enthusiasm, respect, and optimism.

Eligibility Details
  • All full-time and half-time staff and faculty members are eligible for this award.
  • Previous award winners are not eligible for nomination.
  • Nominees must be in good standing with the university.

Rosemary Saenz Award for Customer Service

This award recognizes a person that has understood that the work of the University needs willing hands and is the type of person that you think of when you need help, even when it is outside of their department or area of expertise. They provide excellent customer service to all constituencies.

Eligibility Details
  • OLLU staff employees must have completed one year of full-time or half-time employment, through March 1, to be eligible for consideration.
  • Only staff who are in good standing with the University will be eligible for consideration. The selection committee chair will verify that the employee is in good standing with the multiple departments in which staff have employees or business transactions.
  • Additionally, the employee should not have received a written warning, initiated through the Human Resources Office, during the recognition year.
  • Recipients of the Rose Mary Saenz Award within the last three years are ineligible to receive the Rose Mary Saenz award this year.

Robert Davis Award for Community Building

This award recognizes the importance of teamwork for OLLU, goals of customer satisfaction, and employee harmony. The award is given to a staff member who participates in community building across divisions and departments. This person should exemplify the spirit of thanksgiving for the contributions that every OLLU job makes toward the whole wellbeing of the University. Robert “Bubba” Davis led several efforts in support for staff morale initiatives which helped employees cross the threshold from being just an eight-to-five employee to really being part of the OLLU family. Through attitude and action, he thought that having fun and social support are important for a happy employee environment.

Eligibility Details
  • OLLU staff employees must have completed one year of full-time or half-time employment, through March 1, to be eligible for consideration.
  • Only staff who are in good standing with the University will be eligible for consideration. The selection committee chair will verify that the employee is in good standing with the multiple departments in which staff have employees or business transactions.
  • Additionally, the employee should not have received a written warning, initiated through the Human Resources Office, during the recognition year.
  • Recipients of the Robert Davis Award within the last three years are ineligible to receive the Robert Davis award this year.

Thank you for taking the time to recognize the outstanding contributions of our wonderful staff and faculty members! If you have any questions, please contact your Staff Assembly representative or email sac@ollusa.edu.

Men’s Tennis No.11 In Latest NAIA Coaches Poll

The top four remained unchanged and Georgia Gwinnett was unanimous at No. 1, highlighting the fourth edition of the 2026 NAIA Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll No new teams entered the Top 25, but one – Huntington (Ind.) – cracked the top 10, up two spots from No. 12. Two teams moved up three spots, as Coastal Georgia moved to No. 15 and Arizona Christian to No. 21. 

The next regular-season poll is set for April 8.

OLLU Baseball Takes Down Prairie View In Slugfest

Our Lady of the Lake delivered a statement performance Tuesday, outlasting Division I opponent Prairie View A&M in a high-scoring 13–10 victory fueled by relentless offense and timely pitching.

The Saints piled up 21 hits across 45 at-bats, showcasing depth throughout the lineup and an ability to respond to every Prairie View surge. Jackson Kalisky led the charge with a dominant 5-for-6 performance, scoring three runs and consistently setting the tone at the plate. Drew Saucedo added three hits and two runs, while CaliEvan Billela-Barstow matched that output with three hits and two runs of his own.

Production came from every corner of the order. Brett Atkinson delivered one of the game’s biggest swings, driving in three runs while collecting both a double and a triple. Joshua Milton contributed two RBIs, and Jacob Cueva added a hit, an RBI, and a walk in a balanced offensive effort. Juan Garcia provided a key highlight with a home run, accounting for one of the Saints 11 RBIs on the day. Even in situational moments, the Saints executed, with Benjamin Hovda producing two sacrifice flies to bring runners home.

Prairie View A&M kept the pressure on throughout. Hunter Ham powered their offense with three hits and three RBIs, including a pair of doubles. Ryland Duson added four hits and two RBIs, while Basilio Williams contributed two runs and an RBI, highlighted by a triple. The Panthers drew seven walks and capitalized on opportunities, but ultimately could not keep pace with the Saints offensive volume.

On the mound, Our Lady of the Lake used a committee approach to secure the win. Ethan Garza earned the victory with 4.1 innings of work, allowing four runs while stabilizing the middle innings. Nolan Richardson closed the door despite a late push from Prairie View, striking out four over 2.2 innings to earn his second save of the season.

The Saints set the tone early and weathered multiple rallies, answering Prairie View’s six-run late-game surge with enough cushion built from earlier innings. Their ability to string together hits and produce with runners in scoring position proved decisive, as they left only nine runners on base despite the high offensive output.

Prairie View’s pitching staff struggled to contain the Saints after the early innings. While Ty Pankonin delivered two scoreless frames with five strikeouts, the bullpen as a whole surrendered 12 earned runs, allowing Our Lady of the Lake to break the game open in the middle innings.

In total, the contest featured 33 combined hits and constant momentum swings, but Our Lady of the Lake’s consistency at the plate and resilience on the mound ultimately secured an impressive win over a Division I opponent.

OLLU Men’s Golf Wraps Up Play At The Battle

At Laughlin Ranch Golf Club in Bullhead City, the Our Lady of the Lake University men’s golf team competed in a three-round NAIA event hosted by Wayland Baptist University. The tournament brought together a competitive field and required sustained consistency across all three rounds, with scoring conducted through a paperless official system.

OLLU was led by Niall Langley-Brook, who finished tied for 17th with a three-round total of 222. He opened with rounds of 76 and 76 before closing with a 70, one of the stronger final rounds in the field. His ability to improve in the final round demonstrated effective adjustments and a composed approach on a course that challenged players to maintain precision.

Ozil Trey Salinas finished tied for 68th with a total of 235, recording rounds of 77, 78, and 80. His scoring remained steady through the first two rounds before encountering a more difficult final round. Juan Limon followed with a 236 total, posting rounds of 77, 81, and 78, reflecting consistent play throughout the tournament. Alex Marshall recorded a 240 total with rounds of 81, 82, and 77, showing improvement in the final round. Fernando Limon rounded out the lineup with a 247 total, carding rounds of 82, 80, and 85.

At the top of the leaderboard, Patrick Neal of MidAmerica Nazarene University secured the individual title with a total of 212, highlighted by rounds of 74, 69, and 69. 

Overall scoring trends reflected the demands of Laughlin Ranch, where maintaining momentum across multiple rounds proved challenging for much of the field. While several players recorded sub-70 rounds, fluctuations were common, particularly in the final round.

For OLLU, the event provided a clear assessment of performance against a strong NAIA field. The Saints finished T-19 in a very competitive field which happened to have the number one ranked team in the nation in Keiser.

Saints Softball Continues To Climb, No. 8 In Latest Coaches Poll

The latest NAIA Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll painted a familiar picture at the top which was dominance from the state of Oregon but just beneath that surface, a different story of steady excellence and rising credibility continued to unfold in Our Lady of the Lake University.

While Eastern Oregon claimed the No. 1 position, followed closely by Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon, the national conversation remained heavily focused on the shifting hierarchy among those top contenders. Yet, OLLU continued to do what it has done all season which was win games, build momentum, and quietly establish itself as one of the most consistent and dangerous teams in the country.

Ranked No. 8 with a 21-4 record, Our Lady of the Lake University stands not only as one of the top programs in Texas, but as a legitimate national contender. Unlike some of the programs at the very top that have fluctuated in recent weeks, OLLU has demonstrated a level of stability.

The poll itself reflects how competitive the NAIA landscape has become. Programs such as Oklahoma City and Southeastern University continue to draw first-place attention, while teams like Madonna University and Marian University remain firmly in the mix. However, OLLU’s presence in the top ten signals more than just a strong season, it reflects a program that has built a culture capable of sustaining success against elite competition.

What distinguishes Our Lady of the Lake University is not just its record, but the way it has earned it. Competing week after week, the Saints have shown resilience in close contests and composure under pressure. Their performance suggests a team that is positioning itself for a deep run in the postseason.