Category: Uncategorized

How has OLLU shaped me as a student and prepared me for my business goals?

OLLU has equipped me with all the tools necessary to step up in the big world. Being a business major, I had amazing faculty, mentors, staff, and coaches who are highly accomplished and knowledgeable in their fields, and they are constantly trying to get you to think not through the textbook but through the real world. That’s an advantage I can say I’m getting as I’m about to graduate. This real-world approach gave me all the right tools to carve my own path, and the environment at OLLU made it feel safe—like if I had made a wrong turn, I would be safely led the right way. I joined great clubs like First Gen and McNair, and I even started my own business club. My time at OLLU has been well spent, and I’m glad I made the most of my time here.

What I want my legacy to be

Coming from the border city of Laredo, Texas, as a first-gen student on an athletic scholarship for cross country and track, I hope to leave a legacy as a source of inspiration. I want to lead and inspire a greater percentage of Hispanic graduates to pursue their dreams. I hope to be used as a tool and guide for students to ask questions and teach, just as my professors have encouraged us to treat them. I hope to continue to expand my education and get my Ph.D. somewhere along the way in the future and come back to teach wherever it might take me, but always share about my time at OLLU.

This dynamic workshop introduces the OLLU community to a groundbreaking “True” Hip Hop Education model—developed through doctoral research and brought to life in a San Antonio 9th-grade classroom. Rooted in Hip Hop culture’s origins as a tool for survival, innovation, and creative expression, this model offers a youth-centered alternative to traditional schooling and societal norms. It transforms young lives through teaching and learning that prioritize engagement, empowerment, and equity

Participants will experience this pedagogy in action—honoring culture and collective liberation in alignment with OLLU’s mission to transform society through education grounded in justice and dignity. In this hands-on session, seasoned and aspiring educators will do Hip Hop, exploring the self-determined naming practices of StyleWriting, Hip Hop’s core visual art form. This immersive approach demonstrates how to engage and empower youth through creativity, belonging, and confidence.

Designed for OLLU’s future educators, social workers, and community leaders, the workshop highlights how innovative, locally rooted pedagogy can help San Antonio’s youth shape futures full of possibility. For an institution committed to service, culture, and transformation, this event showcases how Hip Hop education fuels excellence, empathy, and equality.

About the Presenter:
G. Beatriz Rodríguez, JD, PhD, is a San Antonio–raised educator, scholar, and Hip Hop practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience in public schools and community spaces nationwide. Her doctoral research developed the “True” Hip Hop Education model, later implemented in her 9th-grade Geography classroom with powerful results. She co-founded Universal Style School in 2014 and continues to lead efforts to advance Hip Hop pedagogy as a justice-centered approach to teaching and learning. Her bold aerosol artworks uplifting community can be seen across San Antonio.

Event Details:
IFCC Winter Educator’s Workshop:
Remaking Education Now – A True Teacher’s Guide to Hip Hop Pedagogy & Classroom Practice
📅 Thursday, January 8, 2026
🕕 6 PM – 9 PM
📍 MARC Ballroom
💲 Free Admission

Tallahasse, Florida- The Our Lady of the Lake University women’s cross-country team delivered a record-setting performance at the 2025 NAIA National Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, finishing 28th overall. This is the highest national placement in program history. The Saints entered the meet with confidence and left having reached a milestone that showcased their depth, discipline, and steady program growth. There were 36 teams who competed and 333 runners in the field.

Kristen Torres led OLLU with a time of 22:39.2, running a controlled and consistent race on the challenging 6K course finishing 60th. Close on her heels, Mia Curiel delivered one of her strongest performances of the season, finishing in 23:14 and maintaining a steady pace through the demanding middle miles. Liliana Hernandez added another strong effort, crossing the line in 23:30.6 with a powerful closing stretch that secured valuable points for the team.

Zaddie Santacruz continued OLLU’s scoring momentum with a composed national debut, finishing in 23:42.7. Leilania Leza followed with a 25:12 effort, rounding out the Saints’ scoring and playing a key role in their historic finish. Daylah Vega finished in 25:50.7, providing additional depth, while Victoria Bartlett closed the team results with a 27:03 effort in her final collegiate cross-country race.

The Saints 28th-place finish marks a defining moment for the program. With several top performers returning in 2026, OLLU is poised to build on this breakthrough and continue its ascent within the NAIA.

Remembering Albert Michael Casillas (1936–2025)

Our Lady of the Lake University remembers with gratitude and affection Albert Michael Casillas, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife, Margaret.

A proud San Antonian, Albert’s lifelong commitment to learning and service was deeply shaped by his education at Our Lady of the Lake University. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Education, he continued at OLLU to complete a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in School Administration—a foundation that prepared him for a remarkable 35-year career in public education.

Albert often credited OLLU for inspiring his dedication to teaching and leadership. The university’s mission to “lead, learn, and serve” resonated throughout his career, particularly during his 27 years as Principal of Kindred Elementary, where he guided generations of students and teachers with compassion and excellence. His commitment to education continued through his service to the Archdiocese of San Antonio as Principal of St. Cecilia’s Catholic School and his involvement with San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation and After-School Challenge Programs.

Albert’s life was one of faith, family, and fulfillment. Together with his wife of 63 years, Margaret, he lived out his faith as a devoted parishioner of St. Pius X and Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Our Lady of the Lake University celebrates Albert’s legacy as a lifelong learner and servant leader whose work reflected the university’s values of wisdom, community, and faith. His impact will continue to be felt by the countless students, colleagues, and family members whose lives he enriched.

Our Lady of the Lake University is proud to welcome Evangelina “Vangie” Flores and Yvonne Gonzales as the newest members of its Board of Trustees.

Evangelina “Vangie” Flores, a native of San Antonio and alumna of Our Lady of the Lake High School, brings decades of leadership, entrepreneurship, and community advocacy to the board. As President of Flores Riverwalk Properties, she and her late husband, Roger, operated several well-known San Antonio restaurants, including La Paloma del Rio and Paloma Riverwalk. Beyond her business success, Vangie has dedicated her life to serving her community, supporting the arts, historic preservation, and education. She currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Arboretum San Antonio and has held leadership roles with the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Texas A&M–San Antonio Foundation, and Fiesta San Antonio. Her contributions have earned her numerous honors, including induction into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.

Yvonne Gonzales, a longtime San Antonio resident and community advocate, brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and family health initiatives. A graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio, Yvonne’s professional and volunteer work has centered on improving the well-being of children and families. She has served on the University Health Foundation Board, including as Chair, leading a multi-million-dollar campaign for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She also serves on the boards of Clarity Child Guidance Center and the Harvey Najim Foundation, among others. Her deep commitment to service and community collaboration reflects OLLU’s mission to lead, learn, and serve.

Please join us in welcoming Evangelina “Vangie” Flores and Yvonne Gonzales to the OLLU Board of Trustees. Their passion for education, service, and community will help guide the university toward a bright future.