News – Page 3 – Lake Weekly

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.

McNair Scholar Earns Top Honors at TSHA Convention

McNair Scholar Alessandra (Alice) Orosco presented her research at the 2026 Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) Convention in Fort Worth, TX. In addition to being accepted to present her work at the state level, Alessandra was also recognized with the Best Student Poster Award.

Orosco is a Communication Sciences and Disorders major and is expected to graduate in Spring 2026.

Her research, “Exploring Teacher Perceptions of Students Receiving Speech Services in Rural, Low-Socioeconomic School Districts,” investigates how K–5 teachers in rural, low-socioeconomic school districts perceive and address the educational and developmental needs of students receiving speech-language services.

Through semi-structured interviews with 3–5 educators, the qualitative study aims to highlight teacher insights, challenges, and strategies used to support these students.

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.

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.).

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.

From Grief to Strength: OLLU Community Rallies Around Student Athlete’s Family in the Pursuit of Justice

Nearly four months after the tragic loss of 29-year-old Edward Trejo, his family continues to seek justice—while his memory lives on in powerful ways through the Our Lady of the Lake University community.

Trejo was killed in December following a confrontation that escalated from a noise complaint on San Antonio’s West Side. While an arrest was initially made, a grand jury later declined to move forward with charges, leaving his family searching for answers and accountability.

In the face of this heartbreak, something remarkable has emerged: unwavering support.

At OLLU, where Trejo’s sister, Ananna Trejo, is a student-athlete on the softball team, teammates, coaches, and the broader university community have come together in solidarity. What could have remained a private grief has instead become a shared commitment—to uplift, to support, and to ensure that Edward’s life is not forgotten.

Described by loved ones as someone who “had a big heart” and always showed up for others, Trejo’s legacy is now reflected in the very spirit of the team that surrounds his sister. Whether through moments of silence, visible tributes on the field, or simply showing up for one another day after day, the OLLU community has turned pain into purpose.

This story is not only about loss—it is about resilience. It is about a university living its mission of compassion and service. And it is about the enduring power of community to carry one another forward, even in the most difficult moments.

While justice has yet to be served, Edward Trejo’s name continues to echo—not only in calls for accountability, but in every act of support, unity, and love shown by those who refuse to let his story fade.

To watch the full story click here

Women, Art, and Legacy: OLLU Students Paint Alongside the Sisters This Women’s History Month

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) continues a meaningful spring tradition that brings art, community, and legacy together. Each year, Painting I students step outside the classroom and into the serene Sisters’ Peace Garden near the CDP buildings, transforming the space into an open-air studio filled with creativity and connection.

This season, the experience takes on even greater significance. As students paint among the flowers and quiet pathways, they are joined—often unexpectedly—by the Sisters themselves, women whose lives reflect a deep commitment to service, education, and artistic expression. Their presence adds a living layer of history and inspiration, creating moments of shared reflection across generations.

Rooted in creativity and community, this experience reflects the power of art to bridge stories, celebrate women’s voices, and bring people together in meaningful ways.

OLLU warmly invites the Sisters and campus community to join Painting I students for outdoor painting sessions in the Sisters’ garden in celebration of Women’s History Month

📅 Dates/Time: Monday, March 23 & Wednesday, March 25 from 1:45 – 3:00 pm.
📍 Location: Sisters’ Garden near the CDP Buildings
🎨 Experience: Live student painting, artistic exchange, and community connection

Come enjoy a peaceful, creative atmosphere and celebrate the artistic spirit and enduring legacy of women at OLLU.

Restoring History, Reclaiming Community: OLLU Joins Effort to Revitalize Historic Treaty Mural

On Saturday, March 21, the corner of San Nicolás and South Hamilton came alive with color, purpose, and community as students, staff, and faculty gathered at Cassiano Homes to help restore the historic Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo mural—a powerful symbol of culture, memory, and identity.

Under the bright South Texas sun, volunteers worked side by side to breathe new life into this significant example of Chicano Muralism. What began decades ago as a visual expression of history and resilience is now being carefully preserved for future generations.

At the heart of the effort were service-learning students from Barrio Arts and Popular Culture, whose hands-on involvement reflects a deeper commitment to community engagement and cultural stewardship. Working alongside the original artists, students didn’t just repaint a wall—they helped restore a story, reconnecting the past with the present.

The mural, which depicts themes tied to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, stands as a reminder of the region’s layered history and enduring spirit. Through this restoration, participants honored both the artistry and the lived experiences it represents.

More than a service project, the day was a living example of education in action—where learning extends beyond the classroom and into the heart of the community. Together, OLLU reaffirmed its mission of service, cultural preservation, and meaningful impact—one brushstroke at a time.