Featured Posts – Page 13

Cierra Gutierrez joins the softball team

The softball team is proud to announce the signing of Cierra Gutierrez from Trinity Valley Community College. Gutierrez is a native of San Antonio, where she attended East Central High School

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, “The softball program is happy to welcome Cierra back to San Antonio to finish her academic and athletic career. She is a very solid catcher who competes consistently in the box. She will be a great addition.”

Gutierrez’s stats include 52 games played, .290 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, 38 hits, 31 RBIs and 17 runs. She added one home run, two triples, and nine doubles.

The Saints finished the regular season third in the Red River Athletic Conference, and in the conference tournament, they ended their season as semifinalists. Their overall record is 26-18 and 12-6 in the conference. The official season for the team will be in the spring of 2022.

Softball adds transfer Kristee Salas from Edinburg

OLLU has announced the addition of Kristee Salas to the softball team. She is a native of Edinburg, Texas.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, “I am very excited to welcome Kristee and her family to OLLU. She fits the culture we are trying to achieve perfectly. She is a dedicated, hard-working player that wants to compete every day.”

Salas’ stats include 48 games played, .466 batting average, .544 on-base percentage, 61 hits, 64 RBIs and 52 runs. She tallied seven home runs, four triples and 21 doubles.

On-campus COVID testing site changes method of sample collection

Curative, the on-site PCR test kiosk located at 24th Street and San Luis, is changing its sample collection method to a shallow nasal self-collection as part of a transition plan to offer a new Abbott PCR test beginning in early July.

Curative also has extended its agreement with OLLU through September.

Curative began the transition from oral fluid self-collection to shallow nasal self-collection on June 17. Samples can be seen on how this is done here: https://support.curative.com/article/27-instructions-for-a-nasal-swab.

The new collection method is fast, convenient and simple to do. Samples will be observed and directed by Curative on-site health care workers to ensure a good sample is collected. Results will be ready in 24-48 hours from receipt of the sample at the lab. The new test will use one swab and test for SARS-CoV-2, Flu A, Flu B, and RSV.

For questions, reach out to support@curative.com or 888-702-9042.

Curative provides testing throughout the United States. To book an appointment go to www.curative.com. For the kiosk on that San Antonio campus use this link: https://curative.com/sites/10554

Baseball’s Jose Diaz and Brett Vasquez named NAIA All-Americans

Jose Diaz (SR/Pinar del Rio, Cuba) and Brett Vasquez (SO/Mont Belvieu, Texas) were named to the NAIA All-American Honorable Mention team.

This marks the first time in Saints history for a member of the baseball team to receive NAIA All-American honors. In 2019, Diaz was named an NAIA Player to Watch. At the beginning of the 2021 season, he was selected as an NAIA Preseason All-American. Diaz was named the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Player of the Year, while Vasquez received RRAC Pitcher of the Year honors.

Diaz led the Saints with a .374 batting average and 11 steals. He tallied a career-high 45 RBIs and 16 doubles. Diaz also combined for a no-hitter with Alec Martinez (JR/Corpus Christi, Texas) against LSU-Shreveport on March 26.

Diaz ends his baseball career at OLLU with several all-time records including games played at 231, at-bats with 774 total runs with 175, hits with 260, doubles with 54, home runs with 17, RBIs with 163, total bases with 379 and stolen bases with 70.

Vasquez won nine games on the mound this season, setting a program record previously held by Jordan Hackett in 2016 with eight victories. He totaled 70 strikeouts including three straight starts fanning eight batters.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney commented, “I’m very excited for both Jose and Brett for their great individual accomplishments. Jose has been a mainstay in our program and has continually progressed as a baseball player. His work ethic and love for the game has been fun to be a part of. Brett really put in some work over the last 18 months. He is very driven and I’m excited to see what he does in the future.”

The Saints shined in their most impressive season to date with 34 wins and were crowned the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular-season champions. OLLU made its first appearance in the NAIA National Championships and lost in the opening round.

President Melby announces retirement for July 2022

Under the leadership of President Diane Melby, EdD, OLLU has doubled annual fundraising, distributed more than $1 million in emergency aid to students, built an $18 million residence hall, expanded online programs and acquired land to build a $7 million Center for Children and Family.

When she assumed office in July 2015, Dr. Melby pledged to uphold and honor the charism of OLLU’s founders, the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, while leading the university into a “new age.” Having fulfilled her pledge, Dr. Melby has announced that she will retire on July 15, 2022.

The announcement recalls a promise made upon her arrival. Dr. Melby said she would lead OLLU for six or seven years, retire and return to the family home in Virginia with her husband, David Melby.

“In my 43-year career, I had often missed out on family time to attend to the needs of work,” Dr. Melby said. “I did so only because I had Dave. Not only did he tend to our children, he stepped up to help my siblings and parents whenever they needed support. I will be forever grateful to him for all the experiences that he was able to provide our girls, even when the responsibility of those experiences was solely his.”

Before arriving at OLLU, Dr. Melby served as Vice President for Advancement at Shepherd University in West Virginia and Dean of the School of Continuing Education at Shenandoah University in Virginia.

Since succeeding Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP, PhD, as the ninth president of OLLU, Dr. Melby has provided strong leadership, even during difficult times. She has overseen growth in freshman enrollment and retention, a $5 million increase in the endowment and the construction of new facilities on campuses in Houston and the Rio Grande Valley. In spite of COVID-19, OLLU has avoided involuntary layoffs.

“When I first spoke of the ‘new age’ six years ago, I did not foresee the pandemic nor the seismic shift that it portends,” Dr. Melby said. “It is said that biblically, seven is the number of completeness. While I cannot say that our work is finished, I can say that we are on the cusp of another advent. And that what we have accomplished provides the foundation for our future.”

Over the next 14 months, Dr. Melby will focus on fundraising, capital improvement projects and advancing on-going initiatives. She will support the Board of Trustees as OLLU transitions to a new president.

The Board will conduct an inclusive, national search for Dr. Melby’s successor. Trustee Steve O’Donnell and Vice President for Administration Rosalinda Garcia will lead a search committee representative of faculty, staff, students and Sisters of Divine Providence. A national consultant will guide the process.

“It is a great joy to serve the OLLU community,” Dr. Melby said. “I look forward to the 2021-2022 academic year and all that is on our agenda. So, no goodbyes yet. There is still work to be done!”

To read President Melby’s letter to the OLLU community, click here.

OLLU to host vaccine clinic

OLLU will host a vaccine clinic on June 3 in the University Wellness and Activities Center (Room 112) from 3:30-5:30 p.m. It is open to the university community, family members and area residents.

Below are key details:

• UT Health will provide either Johnson and Johnson or Pfizer vaccines. Those who receive vaccines must return on Saturday, June 26, between 3:30-5:30 p.m. for a second shot if Pfizer is selected.

• Photo identification is required. Those who have medical insurance are asked to bring their medical insurance card. This vaccine clinic does not require any out-of-pocket expense.

• Click here to sign up online by June 1, or scan the QR code below with your smart phone camera.

While OLLU is not requiring students, faculty and staff to receive the vaccine, it is strongly encouraged.

New guidelines for face coverings

With the new guidance on face coverings provided by the CDC, OLLU will no longer require face coverings in any outdoor spaces for individuals who are vaccinated. People who have not received the vaccine can go without a face covering outdoors if they are able to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet.

Everyone still must wear face coverings indoors in common spaces such as hallways, restrooms, etc. The university will phase out the use of face coverings for vaccinated individuals indoors as we develop a better understanding of vaccination rates on campus. The goal will be to phase out face coverings for vaccinated individuals by or before Sept. 1, 2021.

Anyone who feels more comfortable wearing a face covering should feel free to do so. In addition, those who have not been vaccinated should continue to wear a face covering when they cannot be isolated from others.

Three OLLU golfers selected to A.I.I. All-Conference Team

Even though the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) couldn’t award a men’s golf team champion this spring, league officials wanted to recognize players for their excellent spring performances – awarding all-conference and Champions of Character team honors.

All recognized players earned all-conference awards. The A.I.I. did not present any special awards, such as player of the year and coach of the year.

Receiving the All-Conference award from Our Lady of the Lake University was Diego Garcia and Kane Ybarra (SR/San Antonio, Texas). The Champions of Character honor went to Raul Gutierrez (JR/San Antonio, Texas).

Ybarra just completed competition at the NAIA National Championship Tournament, where he placed sixth among more than 150 players. He finished second at the A.I.I. Conference Tournament. He was the top medalist at the San Antonio Invitational, the San Antonio Shootout and the Greater San Antonio Men’s Championship.

Garcia placed 10th at A.I.I. Conference Tournament.

Zerina Shatri selected as RRAC Character Athlete of the Week

As part of the Red River Athletic Conference’s (RRAC) commitment to the NAIA Champions of Character program, the conference recognizes student-athletes from member schools who have exhibited a high level of scholarship, sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and community service. Each week, student-athletes are selected as RRAC Character Athletes of the Week based on character and commitment to their schools and communities. Zerina Shatri of Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is the fourth student-athlete to be recognized for the 2020-2021 academic year.

RRAC Character Athlete of the Week

Zerina Shatri, Our Lady of the Lake University
Sports: Basketball
Year: Senior
Hometown: Istog, Kosovo
Major: Kinesiology
GPA: 3.75
Champions of Character Qualities/Activities:

Volunteered at the Ides Partnership to help Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minorities
Assisted a physical therapist with children to gain experience
Cleans Badovc Lake in her hometown with other volunteers and sisters
Coaches youth basketball players along with her uncle and shares her playing experience
Joined the OLLU team in spending time with residents at Kindred Hospice
Volunteereed for the San Antonio Food Bank to support senior citizens
Cooked for families at the San Antonio Ronald McDonald House
Cleaned facilities inside her church as a volunteer for the Sisters of the Divine Providence
Contributed time to help with the Embassy Basketball Camp last year at OLLU
Donated time to the OLLU Sport and Leadership Academy
Assisted an OLLU professor in conducting the FIT KIDS GAMES event
Took academic and athletic responsibilities seriously
Fulfilled her role on the team with humility and respect

Future Plans: Shatri’s goal is to be a successful physical therapist. She would like to stay in the U.S. and pursue her master’s degree to become an athletic trainer. She plans to get experience either in physical therapy or as an athletic trainer so she can share her knowledge and experience with others in Kosovo.

Coach’s Perspective: (OLLU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Stacy Stephens) “Zerina is a very intelligent, funny and hard-working young woman. She graduated in May 2021. She was on the Dean’s List almost every semester here and was the starting center for the 2020-2021 women’s basketball team. She loves to sight see and embrace different cultures. She is always willing to help others and watching her grow and mature into the amazing young woman she is has been a highlight in my coaching career.”