Please join us in welcoming Andrew “Drew” Shelnutt as OLLU’s Director of the Center for Student Involvement. Drew joined the university on September 14.
In this role, Drew leads the Center’s work with student organizations, student leaders, and campus programs. He will support opportunities for students to connect, develop leadership skills, and build a sense of belonging at OLLU.
Drew comes to OLLU after eight years at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Most recently, he worked in the Alvarez College of Business Student Success Center, providing career guidance and professional development support to undergraduate business students. He graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, in 2008 and from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in 2011.
Before his work at UTSA, Drew served as Director of Faith Formation at St. Helena Catholic Church in northeast San Antonio. He also spent many years volunteering as a catechist for learners ages 8 to 88. If you would like to nerd out about Catholic theology or simply say hello, stop by and meet Drew in Main 123!
Our Lady of the Lake University has received new federal funding to expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in special education, school psychology and social work while helping address workforce shortages in San Antonio and across Texas.
The funding includes $1.25 million over five years from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs for Project RISE—Research-Informed Interdisciplinary Scholar Preparation in Evidence-Based Practices.
Project RISE will provide need-based scholarships to approximately 54 students across three cohorts preparing to become special education teachers. Scholars may pursue Special Education Specialist EC–12 certification through undergraduate, accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Education pathways. Participants also will receive clinical residency experience and preparation in evidence-based practices, co-teaching and inclusive instruction, with an emphasis on preparing graduates to serve high-need school districts.
OLLU will also participate in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) Program through a five-year, $177,302 subaward from the University of the Incarnate Word. The funding will support two long-term graduate trainees each year—one in School Psychology and one in Social Work—who will each receive a $10,000 annual stipend and complete at least 300 hours of interdisciplinary training. School Psychology faculty members Kristin O’Donnell, Ph.D., and Marlo Mitchell-Gonzales, Ph.D., will help mentor trainees and support specialized training, autism diagnostic clinics, and curriculum development.
Portrait of young female teacher helping group of little kids doing test work in school classroom copy space By Seventyfour
“These awards reflect the strength of OLLU’s academic programs and our faculty’s commitment to preparing graduates for professions where highly trained practitioners are urgently needed,” Provost Alan Silva, Ph.D. said. “They also give our students meaningful opportunities to learn across disciplines, gain substantial clinical experience and translate that training directly into service for children, families and communities.”
We are excited to invite you to participate in our upcoming Heritage Day Celebration on Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Moye Retreat Center, 600 London Street, Castroville, Texas 78009. This special event is an opportunity to honor the history, mission, and legacy of the Congregation of Divine Providence while serving our community and connecting with others.
The Sisters of Divine Providence would love to have your help throughout the event. Volunteers are needed to assist with event preparation, welcoming guests, food service, raffles, activities, tours, and cleanup. Opportunities are available before, during, and after the event.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up using the link below:
Please also feel free to share this opportunity with friends, classmates, fellow students, alumni, parents, or anyone who may be interested in serving. Heritage Day is a great way to earn volunteer hours, gain service experience, and be part of a meaningful community event.
For 39 years, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation has presented its annual Hispanic Heritage Awards to honor achievement, cultural pride, and visionary leadership across a range of fields. The awards were established by the White House in 1988 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month and are recognized as “America’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.”
This year, San Antonio’s own Congressman Joaquin Castro received thePublic Service Award in recognition of his longstanding commitment to public service and his advocacy for immigrant families and other communities. Castro, who represents San Antonio in Congress, has spoken out on the treatment of immigrants and has advocated for greater oversight and humane treatment of detained families.
Other 2026 recipients included:
• Social Justice Award: Singer-songwriter Mon Laferte
• Music Award: Mexican singer-songwriter, activist, and actress Ximena Sariñana
• Legend Award: Venezuelan singer and musician Oscar D’León
• Inspira Award: Latin GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum artist Eladio Carrión
• Humanitarian Award: The People of Minnesota
This year marked the first time in the awards’ history that the event was held outside of Washington, D.C. The ceremony took place at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 10. Minnesota was selected to receive the Humanitarian Award in recognition of the collective strength, resilience, compassion, and community action of its people.
The evening featured performances by Eladio Carrión, Mon Laferte, Ximena Sariñana, and the legendary Mexican American band Los Tigres del Norte. Comedian and entertainer Anjelah Johnson-Reyes served as host. The full ceremony will be broadcast on the local PBS station, KLRN on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 8 p.m.
To learn more about the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, explore the 2026 awardees, or see a list of past recipients, visit Hispanic Heritage Awards 2026
This past summer, OLLU Biology major, Environmental Science and Sustainability minor, and TExAS FAST Scholar Alondra Garcia participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) through the Department of Pharmacology at UT Health San Antonio.
During the intensive 10-week program, Garcia gained hands-on laboratory experience in the research lab of Lynette Daws, Ph.D., professor of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at UT Health San Antonio. Working alongside researchers studying the brain, Garcia contributed to an ongoing pharmacology project and gained deeper insight into careers in biomedical research.
Garcia’s research focused on neurotransmitters and the brain’s response to amphetamine. Her work supported research aimed at improving understanding of—and developing treatments for—amphetamine use disorders. Through the experience, she strengthened her scientific research, critical-thinking and communication skills while growing as a future STEM professional.
Opportunities such as SURF allow OLLU Biology students to apply their classroom learning, gain meaningful research experience and explore the many career pathways available in science and health-related fields.
Hear Garcia describe her summer research experience in her own words by watching her video:
President Abel A. Chávez conceived bold new phrase celebrating the university’s Hispanic heritage, history and impact on San Antonio
Three words. Two languages. One unmistakably San Antonio identity.
Somos San-Anto Saints.
The phrase developed by Our Lady of the Lake University President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D., is more than a tagline. It is a declaration of who OLLU is, where it comes from and the role generations of Saints have played in shaping San Antonio and South Texas.
For Chávez, the words came together naturally.
“My brain thinks in rhythms, almost poetically,” Chávez said. “It is who we are as an institution.”
OLLU has long been grounded in the mission of the Congregation of Divine Providence and has a history filled with groundbreaking achievements. The university was an early leader in bilingual education, established the first school of social work in South Texas and was the birthplace of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
Yet Chávez believed OLLU needed a fresh way to communicate that history and identity: something distinctive, energetic and unapologetically connected to the community it calls home.
“We have so many firsts and such an incredible history, but I felt we were missing some edginess, that punch,” Chávez said. “Institutions that don’t have that strong identity can struggle in a crowded higher education landscape.”
That thinking led to Somos San Anto Saints.
“Somos,” Spanish for “we are,” reflects OLLU’s identity as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and its multicultural and multilingual community. “Saints” proudly represents the OLLU community. And “San Anto” brings a distinctly local voice to the phrase.
For Chávez, who grew up in Colorado, “San Anto” has a personal connection dating back decades.
His father restored old cars purchased at auction, and one vehicle still had a cassette tape inside with recordings from San Antonio radio. On the tape was legendary Tejano radio personality Johnny Ramirez broadcasting on the former 107.5 FM and greeting listeners with phrases such as, “¿Qué onda, San Anto?” and “¿Q-Vo, San Anto?”
The phrase stayed with Chávez as an authentic expression of San Antonio’s Tejano and Hispanic culture.
Years later, as president of a university deeply rooted in San Antonio’s West Side, the words took on new meaning.
“We are San Anto,” Chávez said. “Through our alumni, our university has helped shape this city and this region. We have impacted culture, economy and the lives of generations of families. We are San Anto, and we are Saints.”
The response has demonstrated the power of connecting institutional history with a contemporary sense of pride and belonging.
Now, Chávez hopes Somos San Anto Saints becomes part of the visual and cultural fabric of OLLU, appearing on banners, shirts, stickers, bumper stickers, athletic facilities and other merchandise. He has even imagined hearing the phrase recorded by legendary Tejano musician Little Joe.
The possibilities are part of what Chávez sees as creating excitement and a movement around the university’s identity.
“It celebrates the cool things about us and gives that identity a fresh feel,” Chávez said. “For people who have that affinity for OLLU, I want them to be excited about it.”
At its heart, however, Chávez said the message comes down to one word: pride.
Pride in OLLU’s history. Pride in its Hispanic heritage. Pride in its West Side roots. Pride in the alumni who have helped shape San Antonio and communities across the region.
And pride in being bold about what comes next.
“We’ve got to be bold,” Chávez said. “We have to claim our role in this world, and that starts in our own backyard by saying, ‘Somos San Anto Saints.’”
Get your limited-edition “Somos San Anto Saints” T-shirt and other OLLU gear at the University Bookstore, open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Take advantage of Fall Student Appreciation Days this Sept. 23-24, with 25% off clothing and gifts. Some exclusions apply.
“Somos SanAnto Saints” T-shirt worn by President Abel A. Chávez
OLLU faculty and staff who manage an official University social media account—or who are interested in launching a new channel—are invited to register for the OLLU Social Media Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026.
Hosted by Marketing, Communications & Engagement (MarComm&E), the workshop will help campus partners strengthen OLLU’s online presence and confidently represent the University on social media. Participants will learn about OLLU’s social media guidelines, brand awareness, content best practices, and practical do’s and don’ts for creating engaging, effective, and current posts.
The workshop is also an opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about establishing an official OLLU account, managing an existing channel or using social media in alignment with University branding and communication standards.
Please include all requested information when you register so MarComm&E can tailor the session to attendees’ roles, platforms, and areas of interest.
Scan me to register
Sign up today and join the conversation about representing OLLU online with purpose, consistency and creativity.
That every year, the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) leads the process to select the theme for Hispanic Heritage Month for federal agencies, organizations and schools. This year’s theme is, “Together, we are more. Unidos, somos más.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15 to both recognize countries and territories influenced by Spain as well as those countries who celebrate their independence from Spain in that timeframe.
To download a poster, click the download button below.
OLLU Alum Gil Coronado Was the “Padrino” of Hispanic Heritage Month
Did you know that an Our Lady of the Lake University alumnus played a pivotal role in creating the national celebration now known as Hispanic Heritage Month?
Colonel Gil Coronado (BA 1975), a longtime San Antonian with deep roots on the city’s West Side, was widely known as the “Padrino,” or godfather, of Hispanic Heritage Month. While serving in Washington, D.C., Coronado worked with members of Congress to expand the original weeklong Hispanic heritage observance into a full month recognizing the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic Americans. His efforts helped lead to legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.
Coronado’s remarkable career was defined by service. After joining the U.S. Air Force as a teenager, he rose to the rank of colonel and served during the Vietnam War and in assignments around the world. His military honors included the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. He later made history when President Bill Clinton appointed him the first Hispanic director of the U.S. Selective Service System.
Education was also central to Coronado’s story. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from OLLU in 1975, crediting the university with helping him advance professionally and personally. He remained a proud alumnus and supporter of OLLU throughout his life.
Coronado passed away in February 2026 at age 89, surrounded by his family. In May, OLLU posthumously awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Spring Commencement. His surviving family received the degree in recognition of his extraordinary service to the nation, the West Side community, and the university.
“OLLU was the beginning of a new life for me,” Coronado said of the university’s impact on his personal and professional journey.
Coronado’s legacy lives on each year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, when communities across the nation celebrate the Hispanic heritage he worked so hard to elevate.
Gil Coronado in front of the Sacred Heart Chapel steps.
