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Category: News
OLLU’s First Dental Day of 2026
Attention OLLU Students! Counseling & Wellness Services will host the first Dental Day of the year on Friday, February 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the University Wellness and Activities Center. Students can receive a free teeth cleaning with no out-of-pocket cost for those insured through Wellfleet Student Insurance.
Students should check their @ollusa.edu email for a survey link from counselingandwellness@ollusa.edu to schedule an appointment. Appointments are required, and space is limited.
If you have questions or need to join the waitlist, don’t hesitate to contact Counseling & Wellness Services at counselingandwellness@ollusa.edu.
Credit Human 2026 Scholarship Now Open
Credit Human is now accepting applications for its 2026 Scholarship Program. This scholarship opportunity supports undergraduate and returning students who are continuing their educational journey and investing in their future.
Eligible applicants must be Credit Human members—or the child, grandchild, or spouse of a member in good standing for at least one year—hold a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher, and plan to enroll full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college or university for the upcoming academic year. Students graduating in December 2026 may qualify for half of the scholarship award. High school seniors and students enrolled in trade, technical, or vocational programs are not eligible.
Applicants must submit a complete official transcript as part of the application process. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April, and selected recipients must complete additional steps to accept the award and verify enrollment.
In addition to the scholarship program, Credit Human partners with Our Lady of the Lake University to offer free, on-campus financial wellness workshops. These sessions help students build practical skills around budgeting, credit, and long-term financial planning, supporting students as they work toward a stronger financial future.
Learn more about eligibility requirements and apply at credithuman.com/scholarship.
Resiliencia Student Exhibition Opens This Week
Visual & New Media Arts is proud to present Resiliencia, a group exhibition by the Barrio Art & Popular Culture class commemorating Segundo de Febrero.
Students enrolled in Barrio Art & Popular Culture were tasked with creating a 2-D work of art that answers the question, “What does resilience look like?”
They studied the history of Segundo de Febrero events and read pamphlets from the OLLU archives from early organizing efforts in the 1980s. They found the original intentions behind the commemoration of Segundo de Febrero to still be relevant today.
While creating their projects, students considered themes of resilience in the face of adversity, the birth of the Chicano, La Candelaria, Indigenous Blessings of the Seeds, and living in the Borderlands.
Each student approached their work in a distinct manner, and incorporated materials that would best get their point across.
This semester, Barrio Art & Popular Culture is working with the Service-Learning Department to help restore the historic mural, The Treaty, at Cassiano Homes with the original artists that painted it in 1980, Anastacio (Tachi) Torres and Juan Hernandez. They are looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with our Westside community and getting hands-on experience with mural painting.
We invite you to the opening on Wednesday, February 4th at 5pm in the Sueltenfuss Library Community Room. For more information, please contact Professor Gonzalez at sbgonzalez@ollusa.edu.
Important Update for OLLU Employees Receiving Overtime: New Information on Your 2025 W‑2 Form
An important reminder for all OLLU employees who may have earned overtime pay in 2025 from the payroll department:
Starting with your 2025 Form W‑2, a few employees may notice a new entry in Box 14 labeled “Qual OT.”
This entry will appear only for employees who received Qualified Overtime in 2025 under federal overtime rules.
This amount represents the premium portion of your overtime pay (the extra half‑time required under federal law) and is being provided to help you take advantage of a potential tax benefit created by recent federal legislation.
Key Points to Know
- Not all employees will see this entry. Salaried employees who are exempt from overtime and hourly employees who did not earn any Qualified Overtime in 2025 will not have a “Qual OT” amount on their W‑2.
- This amount does not affect your taxable wages or your paycheck.
- It is provided for informational purposes only to assist you when filing your 2025 federal tax return.
- You may use this figure when determining eligibility for the new overtime deduction on your federal return.
If you have questions about how this information may affect your tax filing, please consult a qualified tax professional or visit IRS.gov for more details.
Thank you for reviewing this update. We are committed to keeping you informed about changes that may benefit you.
The Best Valentine’s Present? Campanas de America’s St. Valentine’s Day Serenata
When Belle Ortiz (Class of 1971), known as the Godmother of Mariachi, returned to Our Lady of the Lake University over two decades ago, she contributed a gift that has since become a tradition.
Belle had a passion for educating young people on their culture and traditions. In 1970, she started the first high school mariachi program at Jefferson High School and after graduating from OLLU with a B.A. in Performance and Music Education, she extended her talents to other west side high schools, including her alma mater Lanier. Now, over 2,500 school districts, colleges and universities throughout the world offer their students mariachi education.
In 1978, she and co-founder Juan Ortiz renamed their mariachi group to Campanas de America. It was an act of love. Their name “Campanas” being a translation of Belle’s name. They married four years later.
Over twenty years ago, Belle brought the Campanas de America Valentine’s Day serenata to OLLU to help raise funds for scholarships. That tradition continues.
This year, Campanas de America will perform their Valentine’s Day Serenata on Saturday, February 7 at Thiry Auditorium. Tickets range from $25 to $35. Keeping it affordable so that people of all ages can share in Belle’s passion and commitment to education.
You can purchase your ticket online through this link while they still last. Bring all your loved ones to this beautiful performance.
New Next Level Prime Healthcare Benefits for OLLU Group Medical Plan
OLLU employees who are currently enrolled in the OLLU Group Medical Plan now have access to Next Level Prime, an added set of benefits designed to make healthcare more convenient, accessible, and personalized.
Through Next Level Prime, members now have access to:
- 45+ Next Level clinic locations with care available 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Primary, preventive, chronic, and urgent care, including annual physicals, sick visits, labs, X-rays for acute injuries, and more
- 24/7 telemedicine and care navigation, even outside clinic hours
- Health and wellness coaching focused on nutrition, exercise, and long-term healthy habits
- Emotional wellness counseling, with support for stress, anxiety, depression, work-life challenges, and more
- Weight loss solutions, including access to GLP-1 medications for qualifying members
The easiest way to get started is by downloading the Next Level mobile app, where employees can schedule appointments, connect with care navigators, and access virtual services.
For a full overview of services and how to take advantage of this benefit, employees are encouraged to review the attached Next Level Prime Overview.
Campus Important Numbers and Staff Faculty Directory Rebuild Completed
IT and HR have completed the rebuild of the university’s Campus Important Numbers and staff faculty directory. The helpful numbers are publicly accessible on the university webpage and ensure the best communication path when contacting the university.
The staff and faculty directory is located on the Saints Connect portal and on HR’s internal SharePoint site. This information is accessible only when logged into the OLLU network, as a measure to protect it from misuse. A Departmental Directory is also available on a separate tab next to the University Directory, allowing you to easily find direct departmental front desk numbers when needed.
Directory updates are made automatically as individuals are onboarded or offboarded. If you need to request changes to your personal information or departmental listing, please submit a Help Desk ticket to HR so updates can be made in Colleague or Dialpad, as appropriate.
Super Bowl Sunday Mass Update
In observance of Super Bowl Sunday, Mass at Our Lady of the Lake University will be celebrated at 3:00pm in order to allow members of our community to attend both Mass and Super Bowl gatherings.
Updated Mass Details:
- Date: Sunday, February 8
- Time: 3:00 p.m.
- Location: Sacred Heart Chapel
All students, faculty, staff, and community members are warmly invited to join us for this special afternoon Mass. We look forward to celebrating together before the evening’s festivities begin.
For questions or additional information, please contact University Ministry at ministry@ollusa.edu.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Westerdijk Martin Named RRAC Defensive Player of the Week
Alexandra Westerdijk Martin of Our Lady of the Lake University was named the Red River Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for games played Jan. 19–25, recognizing a performance that was both statistically dominant and nationally significant. The senior guard anchored the Saints’ defense in a 53–51 victory over the University of North Texas at Dallas, producing a game-high 11 rebounds and a game-high seven steals in one of the lowest-scoring, most defensive-oriented contests of the week across the conference.
Westerdijk Martin’s rebounding effort included four offensive rebounds and seven defensive boards, providing OLLU with critical extra possessions and limiting UNTD’s second-chance opportunities in a two-point game. Her seven steals disrupted offensive rhythm throughout the night and were a central factor in OLLU’s ability to control tempo and close out the win.
On the season, Westerdijk Martin continues to distinguish herself as one of the most productive defensive players in the conference. She leads OLLU with 201 total rebounds and ranks second on the team with 214 points. In conference games, she leads the RRAC with 101 defensive rebounds, and across all games she is first in the conference in offensive rebounds. Nationally, she ranks first in the NAIA with 201 total rebounds, averaging 10.6 rebounds per game.
Westerdijk Martin’s consistency and defensive impact have been constant. Her ability to influence games through rebounding, steals, and positional defense continues to set her apart within the RRAC.