Category: News

Commencement season at Our Lady of the Lake University was filled with pride, gratitude, and joyful celebration as we honored the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2026.

The celebration began with the Ring Blessing Ceremony, where graduates received a meaningful symbol of their academic journey and lifelong connection to OLLU. Surrounded by classmates, faculty, family, and friends, students embraced a tradition rooted in faith, community, and accomplishment.

During the Graduation Liturgy, OLLU graduates gathered for a prayer service, giving thanks for their academic journey and asking God’s blessing on their future. The liturgy marked graduation as a faith-centered rite of passage, grounding each accomplishment in OLLU’s mission of service, community, and leadership beyond the classroom. Graduates who received their master’s degrees, also participated in hooding themselves during the ceremony.

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At Commencement, excitement filled the air as graduates crossed the stage, marking the culmination of years of dedication and hard work. Each moment reflected the spirit of the Saints: resilience, excellence, and unwavering support from the OLLU family. Graduates were heard giving advice to themselves as freshmen.

We proudly congratulate our graduates who now begin their professional careers and those continuing their educational journeys. Wherever their paths lead, they carry forward the values and traditions that define Our Lady of the Lake University.

📸 View highlights from Commencement in our photo gallery below.

Congratulations, Class of 2026 — the future is bright, and the Saints legacy continues.

Dear OLLU Community,

As we work together to make Fall 2026 as successful as possible, we want to celebrate our shared progress and keep moving forward with purpose. Our current enrollment number is 1,143, and that reflects the incredible effort of our entire OLLU community.

Enrollment is a shared responsibility, and every interaction with students matters. Together, we can continue to build momentum by:

• Recruiting future students by sharing your OLLU experience.
• Retaining the amazing OLLU students who are already here.
• Engaging and collaborating across campus with everyone you encounter.

Each registration strengthens our mission and brings us closer to our goal of 1,800 students for Fall 2026. You will continue to see the enrollment thermometer displayed across campus as we track our progress together.

With unity, focus, and urgency, we can create a vibrant, welcoming environment where students thrive and our community succeeds.

#WingsUp

May 5, 2026

Dear OLLU Family,

In recent weeks, we have shared moments that reflect both our promise and our true potential. From the $1.82 million investment by the Bexar County Commissioner’s Court to complete the renovation of the Auditorium beneath Sacred Heart Chapel, to an extraordinary soon-to-be announced $1 million gift from philanthropist Harvey Najim to honor Trustee and former Board Chair Roy Terracina, these milestones reflect growing momentum and belief in our University.

You have also seen it firsthand: faculty and staff across our university coming together with renewed focus to advance Fall 2026 registration and enrollment and reach our goals. This alignment is the result of commitment, collaboration, and a shared belief in our mission.

All the while, we must be clear—higher education is changing rapidly. Expectations are shifting, competition is intensifying, and the path forward demands discipline, focus, execution, accountability, and alignment from all of us. Today’s higher education environment requires institutions to adapt with urgency, discipline, and an unwavering focus on students.

As the semester and the academic year conclude and we celebrate commencement, let’s certainly pause and take pride in what we have accomplished, while keeping what lies ahead in our sights. We will continue building a university that serves students with greater focus, responsiveness, excellence, and distinction.

I believe in our university. I believe in our mission. And most importantly, I believe in you.

Our students and their futures remain at the center of this work.

Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D.

Good news, Saints: Grubhub at OLLU is offering a $1 discount, giving students, faculty, and staff an easy way to save a little money while grabbing a meal on campus. It is a simple perk that makes ordering ahead even more convenient, whether you are heading between classes, on a lunch break, or looking for a quick meal option.

OLLU Finals Week Promo! Use promo code “FINALS” to earn $1 off at any on-campus location during Finals week (May 4-7).

Take advantage of the savings and enjoy the convenience of ordering from campus dining locations through Grubhub. For the most up-to-date operating hours and location details, visit OLLU Dining Services at dineoncampus.com/ollu/locations.

Dear OLLU Community,

As we work together to make Fall 2026 as successful as possible, we want to celebrate our shared progress and keep moving forward with purpose. Our current enrollment number is 1,059, and that reflects the incredible effort of our entire OLLU community.

Enrollment is a shared responsibility, and every interaction with students matters. Together, we can continue to build momentum by:

• Recruiting future students by sharing your OLLU experience.
• Retaining the amazing OLLU students who are already here.
• Engaging and collaborating across campus with everyone you encounter.

Each registration strengthens our mission and brings us closer to our goal of 1,800 students for Fall 2026. You will continue to see the enrollment thermometer displayed across campus as we track our progress together.

With unity, focus, and urgency, we can create a vibrant, welcoming environment where students thrive and our community succeeds.

#WingsUp

Dear OLLU Community,

We are excited to launch a new tool to better support our students, and we want you to help us give it a personality. We’re inviting the entire OLLU community to submit name ideas for our new chatbot, along with a short rationale for your choice.

The process is simple:

• Open Submissions: Submit your name idea here and why it fits OLLU.
• Finalists Selected: A committee will select the top 3–5 names.
• Community Voting: The community will vote to choose the winner.

Please submit your suggestions by July 1. We look forward to seeing your creativity as we shape the future of student support together!