As we prepare for a successful Fall 2026, we celebrate the progress we’ve made together and remain focused on what’s ahead. Our current enrollment stands at 1,210—a strong reflection of the dedication and care across our OLLU community.
With a goal of reaching 1,800 students, we are within reach—and every effort counts.
Enrollment is a shared responsibility, and each interaction with students makes a difference. We can continue building momentum by:
Sharing your OLLU experience to inspire future students
Supporting and retaining the students who are already part of our community
Staying engaged and working collaboratively across campus
Every registration moves us closer to our goal and strengthens our mission. You’ll continue to see the enrollment thermometer across campus as we track our progress together.
With focus, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose, we can cross the finish line and continue creating a thriving OLLU community.
Our Lady of the Lake University will once again serve the San Antonio community by hosting an official early voting location for the May 26, 2026 Joint Primary Runoff Election. Early voting will take place at the Sueltenfuss Library from May 18 through May 22, 2026, providing convenient access for students, faculty, staff, and local residents to participate in the democratic process.
By opening its campus as a polling location, Our Lady of the Lake University continues its longstanding commitment to civic engagement, community partnership, and public service. The University encourages all eligible voters to take advantage of early voting to avoid Election Day lines and ensure their voices are heard.
Hosting early voting reflects OLLU’s mission of leadership and service, reinforcing the University’s role as a welcoming gathering place where education, community involvement, and civic responsibility come together. Community members are invited to visit campus during the early voting period and participate in shaping the future through active citizenship.
For more information on hours and the sample ballot, click here.
Our Lady of the Lake University is proud to usher in a historic new era for Saints Athletics with the launch of its first-ever Women’s Flag Football program, beginning in Fall 2026. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, women’s flag football represents innovation, opportunity, and the continued expansion of collegiate athletics—and OLLU is leading the way as San Antonio’s first university to offer scholarships in the sport.
This milestone reflects OLLU’s longstanding commitment to elevating women’s athletics and creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes to compete, lead, and succeed. The addition of women’s flag football not only expands our varsity offerings but also reinforces our mission to empower students through access, equity, and excellence both on and off the field.
We are excited to welcome the inaugural class of Saints flag football student-athletes who will help build the foundation of this program and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Their leadership, determination, and competitive spirit will help shape the future of women’s sports at OLLU and across Texas.
As we look ahead to Fall 2026, we celebrate this moment with pride and anticipation. OLLU is once again bringing women’s sports to the forefront—creating new pathways, inspiring champions, and continuing a tradition where Saints rise, lead, and make history together.
Join the movement. The future of Saints Athletics starts here. Go Saints!
During commencement ceremonies, Our Lady of the Lake University paid tribute to one of its distinguished alumni, Colonel Gil Coronado (USAF Retired), awarding him a posthumous Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to service, leadership, and community empowerment.
The honorary degree was received on his behalf by his wife and daughter, creating one of the most moving moments of the ceremony as the OLLU community stood in remembrance and gratitude for a leader whose legacy remains deeply rooted in the Westside of San Antonio.
A proud Mexican American leader and lifelong advocate for his community, Colonel Coronado described himself as a “product of the streets” of San Antonio’s Westside — a community he never forgot as he rose to national prominence. Through military service, civic leadership, and advocacy, he transformed early challenges into a career defined by integrity, mentorship, and opportunity for others.
Colonel Coronado served with distinction in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of Colonel and commanding at Lackland Air Force Base. His military career included service during the Vietnam War and international assignments across Europe and Latin America, earning more than 35 military honors and decorations, including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
Beyond military service, Coronado made a lasting national impact as a champion of Hispanic recognition and advancement. Widely known as the “Padrino” of Hispanic Heritage Month, he helped expand the original National Hispanic Heritage Week into the month-long national celebration recognized today. His commitment to representation and cultural pride helped elevate Hispanic contributions across the United States.
His leadership continued at the highest levels of government when he became the first Hispanic Director of the Selective Service System, where he strengthened outreach to underserved communities and expanded equitable access to opportunity.
Throughout his life, Colonel Coronado remained connected to Our Lady of the Lake University — his alma mater — embodying OLLU’s mission of service, social justice, and community transformation. His work opened pathways for generations of Westside families, students, and future leaders.
By conferring this honorary doctorate, OLLU honored not only an alumnus but a legacy of courage, cultural pride, and servant leadership that reflects the very spirit of the Saints.
The recognition serves as a lasting reminder that education, faith, and service can transform lives — and that the impact of one OLLU graduate can resonate far beyond campus and across generations.
Our Lady of the Lake University welcomed nationally recognized media leader and philanthropist Donald “Don” E. Graham as the Commencement speaker on Thursday, May 7, delivering a powerful address focused on education, opportunity, and the transformative impact of serving communities such as San Antonio’s Westside.
Graham, Chairman Emeritus of Graham Holdings Company and former publisher of The Washington Post, shared reflections from a career shaped by journalism, public service, and a deep commitment to expanding access to education. Speaking directly to OLLU’s graduates — many of whom are first-generation college students and proud representatives of the Westside — Graham emphasized the responsibility that comes with education: to uplift others and strengthen the communities that shaped them.
Drawing from his own family legacy in media and civic leadership, Graham highlighted how opportunity grows when institutions invest in people. His speech paralleled his work co-founding TheDream.US, the nation’s largest scholarship program for DREAMers, underscoring his belief that higher education changes not only individual lives but entire neighborhoods.
His message resonated strongly with OLLU’s mission and history on the Westside of San Antonio — a university founded to expand access to higher education for underserved communities. Graham praised the resilience, cultural pride, and determination reflected in OLLU graduates, noting that their success represents generations of sacrifice and hope.
“You carry your community with you,” he shared, encouraging graduates to remain connected to their roots as they pursue careers, advanced degrees, and leadership opportunities.
As graduates crossed the commencement stage, his words reinforced a central theme of the evening: OLLU graduates are not only earning degrees; they are becoming leaders prepared to make lasting change in San Antonio and beyond.
The university proudly thanks Donald Graham for delivering an address that honored OLLU’s heritage, affirmed the strength of the Westside community, and inspired the newest generation of Saints to lead with purpose.
Our Lady of the Lake University proudly celebrates Dr. Valerie Martinez, who was recognized at the 15th Annual Making a Mark on the World Women’s Leadership Awards Luncheon hosted by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on May 8.
Photo captured by Dr. MartinezPhoto captured by Dr. Martinez
Dr. Martinez received this distinguished honor in recognition of her leadership, professional excellence, and commitment to uplifting the community through education and service. Representing OLLU at the regional event, she stood among influential leaders whose work continues to create meaningful impact across San Antonio and beyond.
The Women’s Leadership Awards highlight individuals who exemplify innovation, mentorship, and dedication to empowering others — values that reflect OLLU’s mission of preparing leaders committed to service, social responsibility, and community engagement.
Through her work, Dr. Martinez advances opportunities for students and strengthens partnerships that support access to higher education and workforce success. Her recognition underscores the vital role OLLU faculty and administrators play in shaping future leaders while contributing to the broader Hispanic community.
OLLU congratulates Dr. Martinez on this well-deserved honor and celebrates her continued leadership as she helps make a lasting mark on the world.
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.
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.
flicker: OLLU Spring 2026 Commencement
Congratulations, Class of 2026 — the future is bright, and the Saints legacy continues.
As we approach the end of fiscal year 2026, please keep the following important deadlines in mind: • Goods & Services: Must be received by May 29, 2026, to be recorded in FY26. • Invoices: Accounts Payable will process FY26 invoices through June 30, 2026. Invoices received after this date will be recorded in FY27. • Credit Card Purchases: Any charges made after the May 2026 statement cutoff will be processed in FY27. • Credit Card Settlements: Submit all outstanding FY26 credit card expense reports with supporting documentation by June 19, 2026. • Employee Reimbursements: All FY26 reimbursements must be submitted by June 30, 2026.
Thank you for your attention to these deadlines, which are essential to a smooth fiscal year-end close.
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.
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.
