News – Page 36 – Lake Weekly

Four-Day Course on Mexican American Rondalla – Join Now!

Discover the Soul of 18th Century Mexico Through Song: Join the Mexican American Rondalla Course

The International Folk Culture Center, in collaboration with the OLLU Music Program, is proud to host an extraordinary cultural and musical experience this semester: a special four-day course on Mexican American Rondalla, led by renowned Chicano music scholar and original member of El Teatro Campesino, Robert Ojeda.

About The Course

Titled Mexican American Rondalla, this engaging course introduces participants to the soulful, poetic tradition of rondalla music, which originated in 18th-century Mexico. Students will delve into the rich musical heritage of the era through traditional songs and ensemble singing.

Whether you’re a seasoned musician or simply curious about cultural music, this course offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from a master of the genre.

About The Instructor

Robert Ojeda brings decades of experience in Chicano theatre and music. As an original member of the revolutionary El Teatro Campesino, Ojeda has used music and performance as tools for storytelling, education, and cultural preservation. His guidance will give participants both historical context and hands-on learning.

Course Details:

When: Four-day session (dates to be announced soon)
Where: MARC Ballroom, OLLU Campus
Who Can Attend:
- Free for OLLU students, faculty, staff, and alumni
- $30 course fee for community members
What You’ll Learn
- Perform traditional songs from 18th-century Mexico
- Explore musical techniques and cultural history
- Collaborate in group singing and ensemble performance

Registration

Space is limited! Reserve your spot by filling out the registration form here:

Important Changes to the University Tuition Discount Program Effective Fall 2025:

The University is implementing updates to its Tuition Discount Program, effective Fall 2025, to better align with strategic priorities and program offerings. Please review the following important changes:

Tuition Waiver Policy Update

Spouses and Dependents:
- No longer eligible for tuition waivers on master’s degree programs.
- Still eligible for tuition waivers on undergraduate programs.
- Currently enrolled spouses and dependents receiving a master’s waiver may continue under the current waiver until they complete their program, if continuously enrolled.
Employees:
- Remain eligible for tuition waivers on both undergraduate and master’s degree programs (per current policy).
- For national online programs through the third-party vendor:
  - Will receive a 50% tuition waiver, up to 7 credit hours, for both undergraduate and master’s programs.
  - Those currently receiving full waivers can continue under that arrangement until completion, if continuously enrolled.
Spouses and Dependents remain ineligible for any tuition waiver on national online programs, consistent with current policy.

OLLU Wins 10th RRAC All Sports Award

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) Saints reclaimed the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) All-Sports award as announced by the league office on Thursday. The award is the 10th for OLLU, a conference record. The Saints won nine consecutive awards, but Xavier claimed the top spot during the 2023-24 season to break the streak.

The All-Sports Award is given annually to the RRAC athletic program that performs best across the conference’s sports in a given academic year. Points are awarded to the top five teams in regular season conference standings using a 10-8-6-4-2 scoring system, while results in conference tournaments and championship events merit additional points on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis. In sports such as tennis, track & field, golf and cross country, postseason team finishes are awarded regular season and postseason points. A sport must have at least four schools participating and conduct a RRAC tournament to qualify for inclusion in point calculations.

The Saints compiled 122 points to take back the crown, separating themselves from Xavier who scored 102 points.

OLLU had a strong start to the season in the fall as both the men’s and women’s cross country teams claimed conference championships. Volleyball placed second in the regular season but won the conference tournament. The spring was equally as impressive for the Saints as women’s tennis and softball each earned conference championships.

“I am very proud of the hard work our student-athletes and coaches have put in this year to earn the RRAC All-Sports award, says OLLU Athletic Director Tom Norris, who is in his second year as head of the program. “To earn the award for the 10th time is a testament to the culture of excellence that has been established at Our Lady of the Lake.”

For the latest news, updates, and information on the OLLU Saints, fans can visit ollusaintsathletics.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Saints news by following @ollusaintsathletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Upcoming Downtime for Colleague Due to Fiscal End of Year Close

The Finance Department will close the fiscal year at 6:00 am on Tuesday, May 20th. To perform this task, all staff who use Colleague will not be able to log in to the system until 8:00 am for Finance to complete this process. After the process is complete, an email will be sent out so that users will know Colleague access has been reopened.

Women’s Golf Wraps Up First Round at NAIA Championships

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) women’s golf team finished round one of the NAIA Women’s Golf Championships on Tuesday. The Saints carded a 341 in the first round and sit in 25th place heading into Wednesday’s round two at Eagle Crest Golf Club.

Kendall Ward was the top-finisher for the Saints as she turned in a first-round score of 83. Ward finished with eight pars and a birdie in the first 18 holes.

Samantha Garcia, Grayson Weiler, and Annabelle Reyna all turned in scores of 86 in the first round.

British Columbia leads the field after day one, shooting a nine-over 297.

Women’s Tennis Defeats Oakland City for First-Ever NAIA Championship Victory

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) women’s tennis team earned its first-ever victory at the NAIA National Championships on Tuesday as they defeated Oakland City University by a score of 4-1. The Saints dropped the doubles point and went on to win four singles points to secure the victory, advancing them to the second round of the National Championships.

OLLU earned wins at their first four singles line to clinch the victory over the Mighty Oaks.

Millie Wileman (OLLU) def. Maria Trembach (Oakland City), 6-3, 6-4

Alexandra Mille (OLLU) def. Tiana Sparks (Oakland City), 7-5, 6-1

Marie Peters (OLLU def. Cristina Hurtado (Oakland City), 6-1, 6-2

Ely Laure Ah-sou (OLLU) def. Melissa de Jong (Oakland City), 6-1, 7-6

The Saints will now face No. 3 Lindsey Wilson at 8:00 CT on Wednesday.

Men’s and Women’s Tennis Ready for NAIA National Championships

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) men’s and women’s tennis teams begin play at the 2025 NAIA National Championships tomorrow in Mobile. Both teams qualified for the National Championships after winning their respective conference tournament in April.

The women’s team will enter the tournament as the 14th seed in their first NAIA Championship appearance and will take on Oakland City University, the 19th seed. Oakland City competed in the River States Conference and earned their bid after winning the RSC Tournament. The two teams will square off at 9:00 a.m. with the winner taking on the third-seed Lindsey Wilson on Wednesday.

On the men’s side, the Saints have had a historic season, earning the fourth overall seed at the Championships. OLLU will have a bye in the first round and await the winner of Cumberlands (Ky.) and Tennesee Southern. Wednesday’s second round match for the Saints is set for 1:00 p.m.

Ryan Showman Named Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is excited to announce the hiring of Ryan Showman as the new head women’s basketball coach. Showman will officially begin his role with OLLU on Monday, May 19.

“I want to start off by thanking Dr. Chavez, Athletic Director Tom Norris, Assistant Athletic Director Haley Holzem, and the entire search committee for selecting me to lead the OLLU Women’s Basketball program,” said Showman. “I am humbled and grateful to be the next head coach at Our Lady of the Lake University. OLLU Women’s Basketball has rich tradition and a storied history. I am excited about the challenge to try and get us back to that level. Jenni, Kinsleigh, Ryleigh and I are excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to get to San Antonio and immerse ourselves in the culture of not only the University, but also the city.”

Showman comes to San Antonio after a successful run at Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU). At KWU, Showman just finished his 18th season on the bench for the Coyotes, spending the last 13 as the head coach. His teams compiled a 250-151 record during his tenure as head coach including a 184-93 mark in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play. Showman was named the Lonnie Kruse KCAC Women’s Coach of the Year during the 2020 and 2025 seasons. In 2020 he was chosen as a WBCA Regional Coach of the Year and was selected as the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Women’s 4-Year College Coach of the Year.

In his latest season with the Coyotes, Showman led them to their second outright KCAC Championship, earning his team a bid into the NAIA National Tournament. The Coyotes were the only 15-seed to win an Opening Round game as they knocked off the host in MidAmerican Nazarene.

“I am excited to welcome Ryan, Jenni, Kinsleigh, and Ryleigh to the OLLU family,” said OLLU Athletic Director Tom Norris. In a very deep and talented pool, Coach Showman stood out throughout the process with his energy and vision for the OLLU women’s basketball program. Coach Showman’s success on the court speaks for itself, but during his career he has always had high-performing academic teams, which speaks to the culture of excellence he has established during his career. I look forward to watching our program return to where it once was under Coach Showman’s leadership.”

Showman becomes the seventh coach in program history.

The Learned Responsive Leadership Academy – Free for Students & Faculty

Learner Responsive Leadership Academy

June 16-20, 2025
Our Lady of the Lake University | Main 311

*OLLU Faculty and Staff can attend for free. Simply click on pay by invoice!!!

Come join us in person at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX, USA for a transformative leadership experience. Our academy focuses on developing and enhancing the leadership skillset of K-20 educators, administrators, school board members, and advocates such as curriculum writers, academic coordinators, and decision-making personnel who are adaptable, empathetic, and innovative. Through presentations, interactive workshops, group discussions, and hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to lead with authenticity and respond effectively to challenges at your institution. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and network with like-minded individuals. Register now and take the first step towards becoming a more effective and impactful leader!

RSVP & See Detailed Schedule of Events

Sponsored by the Jinny Chalmers Fund for Education Justice

New Strategic Partnership to Enhance Campus Facilities

We are pleased to share an exciting development regarding the future of our campus facilities. Beginning June 1, 2025, Our Lady of the Lake University will enter a new strategic partnership with SSC Services for Education to manage our custodial services.

After a thorough evaluation, it became clear that SSC is the right partner to help us enhance our campus’s presentation, condition, and overall care. With a strong national reputation and extensive experience serving educational institutions, SSC brings unmatched expertise in custodial services. They also share our core values of integrity, trust, community, and service, making this collaboration a natural and exciting fit.

This transition will also create meaningful opportunities for our custodial team. SSC is committed to professional development, offering new tools, training, and career growth pathways within their organization. Their vision aligns with our dedication to supporting every member of our community and fostering an environment of excellence
In the months ahead, we’ll share more about the improvements and innovations SSC will bring to campus. We are confident this partnership will enhance the daily experience of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Please direct all questions by emailing chiefofstaff@ollusa.edu.