Homecoming 2026 was an unforgettable celebration of community, pride, and tradition at Our Lady of the Lake University, marking 131 years of Saints spirit. The festivities took place over an action-packed weekend from Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1, bringing together alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends for a weekend full of meaningful connection and fun.
The weekend kicked off on Friday evening with the President’s Welcome Reception, offering alumni a chance to reconnect and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and wine in a warm, celebratory atmosphere.
Saturday was the heart of Homecoming, featuring a blessing at Sacred Heart Chapel, an exciting Auto & Lowrider Car Show, and a spirited Softball Game alongside family-friendly activities including a Kids Zone and free refreshments. Later that evening, alumni and guests enjoyed a festive Lotería Night Fundraiser—complete with tequila tasting, games, and opportunities to support the university.
The weekend concluded on Sunday with a heartfelt Golden Grads Mass honoring 50th and 60th anniversary classes, followed by a celebratory Brunch where alumni could toast to lifelong Saints connections.
Throughout the celebration, attendees had the chance to make new memories, reconnect with old classmates, and celebrate the enduring mission and legacy of the OLLU community.
First-year doctoral student Lisa Martinez in the Our Lady of the Lake University Doctor of Psychology program has been named a recipient of the highly competitive U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)—one of only two students nationwide selected to receive the three-year scholarship this year.
On February 20, 2026, Martinez was officially sworn into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant by Lieutenant Colonel Gray. Upon completing her doctoral training at OLLU, she will be promoted to Captain and serve as a Clinical Psychologist in the Army, providing essential mental health services to Soldiers and their families.
The HPSP scholarship supports outstanding graduate students pursuing careers in healthcare by covering tuition and providing financial support in exchange for military service. Martinez’s selection reflects not only her academic excellence, but also her dedication to service, leadership, and community impact.
As a first-generation doctoral student, veteran, and single parent, Martinez describes this achievement as deeply personal and purpose-driven.
“As a first-generation doctoral student, veteran, and single parent, this milestone represents not only a personal achievement, but a reminder that you are far more capable than you may realize. Trust the calling placed on your life, and have faith that God will lead you into your purpose. If anyone is interested in learning more about the HPSP or military pathways, I am always happy to be a resource!”
Martinez’s journey embodies the mission-centered spirit of OLLU—faith, service, and academic excellence in action. Her commitment to advancing mental health care while serving her country stands as an inspiration to the OLLU community and beyond.
On Thursday, February 19, the CISS program officially opened its new Networking Lab at Walter Student Service Center Room G23.
Led by CyberSaints faculty mentor Prof. Kelly Roberts-Cooper, CyberSaints President Jennifer Vaquera-Luna and Emanuel Francisco, our youngest CyberSaint at just 17 years old, cut the ribbon to mark the opening. The lab was made possible through funding from the NTIA Connecting Minority Communities Grant.
The CISS department would like to thank IT Services, Drum Line, Cheer Squad, the Mariachis, and the CyberSaints for helping make this event a success.
WHY STUDY CISS?
Prepares students for careers in cybersecurity, networking, digital forensics, cloud computing, and information systems management
Provides hands-on learning through real-world simulations in the Network & Cybersecurity Lab
Aligns coursework with industry certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and EC-Council Network Defense
Supports student engagement through cyber competitions, research, internships, and workforce partnerships
Focuses on high-demand career pathways with strong job growth and competitive entry-level salaries
Our Lady of the Lake University will welcome Dr. Wendi Williams, 2006 President of the American Psychological Association (APA), for a special student-led fireside chat.
This engaging conversation will explore leadership, psychology, wellness and professional elevation through the lens of Dr. Williams’ distinguished career. Facilitated by OLLU students, the event offers a unique opportunity for attendees to hear directly from a nationally recognized leader in the field of psychology and to participate in meaningful dialogue about the profession’s impact today.
All are welcome. OLLU Psychology faculty and students are especially encouraged to attend.
EVENT DETAILS:
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 12:30-1:30 p.m. Main Building, Room 311
This recognition highlights the strength, rigor and industry relevance of OLLU’s graduate cybersecurity program — and reinforces the university’s growing leadership in preparing professionals to protect digital infrastructure in an increasingly complex technological landscape.
Cybersecurity Guide evaluates programs based on academic quality, curriculum depth, industry alignment and overall value to students. Earning a top-two ranking statewide reflects OLLU’s commitment to providing advanced, career-focused education that equips graduates with real-world skills and leadership capabilities.
This latest honor builds on recent recognition of OLLU’s undergraduate Information Systems Security program, demonstrating the university’s strength across both undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity pathways.
Learn more about OLLU’s MS in Cybersecurity program here.
Mark your calendars! Homecoming 2026 is set for February 27 – March 1, and Our Lady of the Lake University is excited to welcome back Saints alumni, friends, and family for a special celebration of 131 years of community and tradition.
This year’s Homecoming promises a full weekend of festivities, beginning Friday, February 27, and continuing through Sunday, March 1. From beloved traditions to opportunities to reconnect with classmates, faculty and fellow Saints, the weekend will showcase the spirit and legacy that make OLLU so special.
To view the schedule of events, sponsorship opportunities, OLLU’s online silent fundraising auction, and donations, visit our Homecoming 2026 Webpage below!
As part of the American Psychological Association’s Engaging Psychology’s Future initiative and the National Association of School Psychologists’ Exposure Project, OLLU faculty and students recently connected with high school students across the region to spark interest in careers in psychology.
Drs. Wes Wyble, Marlo Mitchell-Gonzalez, Catalina Roads and Kathryn Anderson, along with students Elena Braunstein, Rachelle Stevens, Kimberly Hawthorne and Susana Cisneros, visited Davenport, Canyon and Jefferson High Schools. During their visits, the team engaged students in meaningful dialogue about the diverse fields within psychology, from clinical and counseling psychology to school psychology and research.
This national recognition highlights the program’s academic excellence, hands-on training and outstanding value for students preparing for careers in cybersecurity and information systems security.
For OLLU students, this recognition simply affirms what they already know.
We are proud of our faculty, students, and alumni who continue to elevate the program’s reputation and impact.
As I walked early this morning, I reflected on the week that was, the conversations I was invited into, the decisions we made, the processes that led to those decisions, the alignment of my actions with the stewardship of this calling, and the smiles I was blessed to give and receive. That memory alone gave me hundreds of reasons to smile once more.
A few steps ahead of me, I noticed a rectangular object on the ground. At the same time, my attention turned to the beautiful serenading duo of what I believe to be the Purple Martin and the Northern Cardinal. Their arrival some fifteen days ago has signaled the onset of spring, and though they are unaware of it, their song, like clockwork just before 6:00 a.m., lifts my soul each morning.
The rectangular object was a one-dollar bill.
I picked it up and continued my walk, admiring its texture. The almost denim-like weave of the paper was especially notable this morning. As I studied it, I could see the cross-threading of the pulp while George Washington stared back at me. It was as if, in that quiet moment, our nation’s first president spoke to me about his motto of integrity, duty, courtesy, and honesty.
When I turned the bill over, my eyes were drawn to two simple but powerful inscriptions: In God We Trust and E Pluribus Unum.
I smiled again.
E Pluribus Unum: “out of many, one.” From the founding of our nation in 1776, this phrase captured the bold aspiration of uniting diverse colonies, peoples, and perspectives into one shared purpose. Diversity held together by shared values. Many, moving together as one.
As a Catholic university, our congregational founders remind us that we are “rooted in profound confidence in God’s providential love and care for all.” We are all called to further the mission of Jesus. We are all called to unity without uniformity. To conviction without division. To purpose without pride.
At the moment, higher education stands at a crossroads. National enrollments continue to decline. Questions about the value of higher education surface weekly. The pace of change is accelerating. And yet, education remains one of the most powerful equalizers. Education transforms generations. It expands opportunity. It forms citizens. It dignifies lives, service, and work. It lifts families.
I am hard-pressed to think of another institution with the opportunity that stands before us at Our Lady of the Lake University. We have the opportunity, and obligation, to sharpen our mission with focus, to respond boldly to the needs of our time, and to credential learners so they may build livelihoods based on their values. All through a distinctive OLLU way.
E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one.
We come from different neighborhoods, disciplines, backgrounds, experiences, aspirations, perspectives—and we are united by something deeper. We trust in God. We believe in human dignity. We commit ourselves to excellence. And we move forward, together, as one.
May we model, at our very core, what it means to be children of God who serve, who care, and who lift one another, who lift our students, toward a higher calling.
Our Lady of the Lake University will serve as an official Early Voting site for the upcoming Primary Elections, providing a convenient opportunity for the campus and surrounding community to participate in the democratic process.
