OLLU has received two grants totaling $362,500 that will provide emergency assistance to students and help them complete their degrees.
The first award, worth $250,000 from the Texas Completion Repayment Grant Program, is designed to clear outstanding student balances, such as accumulated fees, financial holds and other related arrears. Each grant, a one-time award of $1,000, will help up to 250 OLLU students.
The second award, worth $112,500 through the Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grant Program, provides emergency educational support for students significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund aids in the continuation of students’ education and economic recovery. The grant will help up to 75 OLLU students with a $2,500 award for each fall and summer semester.
The pandemic forced a number of OLLU students to step away from pursuing their degrees. The grants will enable them to resume their education.
“The Completion and Reskilling grants provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is an essential relief to students that we are reclaiming and re-enrolling, despite challenging financial conditions,” said George Williams, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs. “As we, as a university, fulfill our moral contract with our students, we now have dedicated funds to support eligible students to finish their degree and pursue a high-valued occupation/ vocation.”
The 40 Cans for Lent Food Drive, which ran from March 2 through April 13, was a huge success! The Division of Mission and Ministry, the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Alumni and Family Relations teamed up to collect donations of peanut butter and canned goods.
The university thanks everyone who donated, especially the vOLLUnteer Unity Council (VUC), Theta Nu Xi sorority (TNX), Kappa Delta Chi sorority (KDChi) and Phi Alpha honor society.
In total, 1,336 cans were donated. On Thursday, April 21, VUC, TNX, and KDChi came together and used all the cans to create a “can castle” resembling the OLLU Main Building and Sacred Heart Chapel, and “OLLU” was spelled behind the structures. Afterward, all cans were delivered to Catholic Charities, where they will help feed the hungry in the San Antonio Archdiocese.
For more information, email missionandministry@ollusa.edu.
The Salazar-Escobedo School of Mass Communication and Theater is hosting its second-annual Mass Commference event today through Wednesday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Main 311 and the 24th Street Theater.
Sessions will featured professionals in the fields of public relations, multimedia journalism, film and technical writing.
Speakers include alumna and KSAT-12 reporter and anchor Alicia Barrera (BA 2015), alumna and theater and voice actress Josey Porras (BA 2014), KENS-5 digital reporter Lexi Hazlett and CEO of HeartFire Media, LLC. Samantha Najera,
Click on the QR Code located on the image below to RSVP. Lunch will be provided for free (while food lasts).
The volleyball team spent the afternoon at the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) located off State Highway 151.
The center officials were thrilled to have the Saints there to volunteer. It houses more than 480 dogs in its system and of those, approximately 10 percent struggle to find homes.
The activities the team participated in were walking the dogs who were in the shelters and giving them the extra love they needed. All of the women on the team were excited to participate in such a fun and rewarding volunteer activity.
OLLU Women’s Athletics Administrator Haley Holzem, who accompanied the team, said, “Volunteers are needed daily to let dogs out and walk with them so the animals are able to get human interaction. The volleyball team helped these dogs in so many ways!”
Volunteering for community events is part of the NAIA’s Champions of Character program that helps student-athletes find the balance by keeping five core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership – at the heart of the athletics experience. The Saints volleyball team will open its season in fall 2022.
For the first time in history, the softball team has been ranked in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Saints debuted at No. 25 in the poll released on April 20. The Saints own the NAIA’s longest winning streak at 21.
The Saints have received votes since the first season of competition in 2010. Their most votes were 21 during that first year. In 2012, the Saints received 20 votes, and in 2013, the most votes they received was 44. In the following year, the Saints received 57 votes in 2014, and in 2015, the most votes the Saints received was 88. In 2016, the team received 10 votes. The last time the Saints received votes was in 2018 with 80 votes.
The only other Red River Athletic Conference team in the poll is Texas A&M University-Texarkana, which is ranked 13. The conference poll is as follows:
1. Texas A&M University-Texarkana (20-4/37-8)
2. Our Lady of the Lake University (20-4/37-8)
3. University of Houston-Victoria (16-6/23-10)
4. Texas A&M University-San Antonio (13-7/20-21)
5. Louisiana Christian University (13-7/24-16)
6. LSU Alexandria (10-10/13-22)
7. Xavier University of Louisiana (12-12/18-25)
8. Huston-Tillotson University (9-13/15-19)
9. Jarvis Christian College (8-12/20-19)
10. University of the Southwest (3-21/6-29)
11. Texas College (0-24/1-27)
Poll Methodology
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
The frequency of the polls is bi-weekly. This policy was approved by the National Administrative Council (NAC) prior to the 2016-17 academic season. This change allows raters the opportunity to consider a larger body of work between rating periods.
Professor Candace de León-Zepeda, PhD, has been promoted to Dean of Academics.
Dr. de León-Zepeda will work closely with faculty, department chairs and school directors to enhance and develop academic programs and facilitate faculty development. She will collaborate with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation to maintain SACSCOC accreditation, support academic program assessment and lead strategic planning for Academic Affairs.
An Associate Professor of English, Dr. de León-Zepeda joined the OLLU faculty in 2012. She has served as the English, Mass Communication and Drama Department Chair since 2017. She has served as the Director of the Rubén M. and Verónica Salazar-Escobedo School of Mass Communication and Theater since spring 2021. Dr. de León-Zepeda is an outstanding leader and has distinguished herself as a strong and passionate presenter at conferences and symposiums. In 2018, she was the Service-Learning in Teaching winner, one of her many awards
Sister RoseAnn Castilleja, M.C.M., a senior social work major, and Gingerlei Seda, a junior social work major, are enjoying the perks of their fundraising success.
For raising $2,851, the most of any student campaign, Sister Castilleja and Seda were named Student Royalty winners and represented the OLLU student body in the Fiesta Flambeau Parade. They also distributed 5K finishing medals to OLLU 5K Confetti Run & Walk participants.
On Monday, April 11, they enjoyed another benefit, serving OLLU as “President 4 A Day.” During a two-hour meeting, Sister Castilleja and Seda listened as university leaders discussed new initiatives that will be shared with the incoming president, Abel Cha֕́vez, PhD.
Sister Castilleja serves as President of Phi Alpha Honor Society while Seda serves as treasurer.
