Category: News

This past Saturday, April 25, saw the fruition of a year-long collaborative project.  On a patch of land between the softball field and Elmendorf Lake, OLLU students and employees, along with community partners, erected a 16-foot-tall chimney swift tower.  Chimney swifts are for birds whose numbers are in severe decline in San Antonio due to a lack of nesting sites.  Traditionally, birds nest within chimneys, but with more metal chimneys these days, birds can’t find safe places to roost.  The chimney swift towers are essentially tall, wooden boxes with textured perches built inside to satisfy the birds’ needs.

OLLU’s new campus chimney swift tower was born out of a collaboration with the Bexar County Audubon Society.  Last Fall, the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism partnered with faculty from the Department of Mathematics and Sciences to write an Audubon community mini-grant to fund birdhouses and educational materials on campus. 

The grant request included the tower on our campus and also traditional nestboxes for OLLU and our neighbors’ campuses: Rodriguez Montessori Elementary School, Little Flower School, and the Las Palmas public library.  In addition, the grant allowed for binoculars and educational materials developed in our biology laboratory classes for the children and the public.  The new OLLU Audubon student club was involved with the planning and logistics of this project every step of the way.

The construction of the tower took many hands as lots of partners lined up for the project.  The cutting of the wood and pre-assembly of different tower modules was completed at Sidney Lanier High School by students in the Career and Technical Education program with their teacher, Mr. Benjamin Rodrigues.  The outer skin of the tower was then painted with a colorful mural depicting a rosary, chimney swifts, flowers and the word “OLLU” in a collaborative event last week by students in the Art Ink and Alliance clubs along with faculty from the Visual & New Media Arts program.  Also last week, students from the TExAS FAST Scholars program stepped up to help lay the foundation in time for it to properly cure for Saturday.

All of this came together with the final assembly of the tower this past weekend which included OLLU students involved in the vOLLUnteer Unity Council, faculty from Environmental Science and Sustainability, and high school students.  All of it came together not just physically but on a deeper level when the participants were joined by Sisters Rose and Anita from the Congregation of Divine Providence who helped bless the tower and recognize its importance as a tool for rebuilding and caring for fragile landscapes.  

Everyone is invited to walk down the path on Elmendorf Lake Park or cross 24^th Street across from the Chapel and stroll down the road to take a look at how OLLU is helping the environment.   

We’re making an important update to the Lake Weekly schedule. Beginning next Tuesday, 5/5 (Cinco de Mayo), Lake Weekly will be distributed on Tuesday mornings instead of Monday. Regardless of the schedule, the deadline will remain on Thursdays by 5 pm.

This change allows our MarComm team to step away from Sunday production work and have that day as a true day of rest, while still continuing to create engaging and meaningful stories for the OLLU community.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we make this positive adjustment.

April 20, 2026

Dear OLLU Family,

I am writing to share with you some exciting news.  Today, Bexar County Commissioner’s Court approved our proposal for a grant of $1.8M for the completion of the Chapel Auditorium’s restoration.

This grant will fulfill our mission that started in 2023.  The auditorium, below Sacred Heart Chapel, was started in 1886 and took 28-years to complete, opening its doors in 1925.  The auditorium was once the convening place for over 200 nuns receiving orientation.  More recently, the auditorium was also the host for orientation for our students.

When completed, in late 2027, with modern technology, the auditorium will host career fairs, health fairs, small business forums, and, yes, orientations for our students.

We will share this news with the larger San Antonio community in a few days.  But, for now, I wanted to share this exciting news with you first to show you that we are making progress in our efforts; and to thank you for your cooperation and support.

Conceptual Rendering of Chapel Auditorium

With gratitude,

Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D.

Our Lady of the Lake University brought Fiesta energy to campus during its annual Confetti 5K Run/Walk, welcoming students, employees, alumni, families, and community members for a morning focused on wellness, school spirit, and community connection.

Participants gathered on campus to run and walk the 5K route through Elemendorf Lake, celebrating one of OLLU’s official Fiesta events. Runners of all experience levels joined the event, from competitive racers to first-time participants, creating a strong campus turnout.

The event recognized the fastest runners across divisions while also highlighting OLLU’s Fiesta spirit, with participants showing school pride through festive attire, confetti-filled celebrations, and team participation.

The Confetti 5K continues to serve as a campus tradition that brings the university and surrounding community together during Fiesta season. The event reflects OLLU’s commitment to student engagement, health and wellness, and community celebration.

OLLU extends its appreciation to all participants, volunteers, and sponsors whose support made this year’s Confetti 5K Run/Walk possible.