Fall commencement 2022 ended memorably on Thursday at Freeman Coliseum: with a blast of confetti to celebrate the accomplishments of nearly 300 graduates.
Retiring Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff delivered an uplifting address, the OLLU choir sang Christmas carols, President Abel Chávez offered inspiring remarks and two diplomas were awarded posthumously.
Supportive family and friends applauded in Freeman Coliseum with many more watching via livestream on the OLLU website.
Dr. Abel A. Chávez recently marked his 100th day as OLLU president, and the community has 15.3 million reasons to celebrate. Check out the highlights from the first three months of the university’s 10th President:
With nearly two dozen images packed into 47 seconds, the slideshow mirrors the rapidfire pace of Dr. Chávez’ early tenure. He’s dined with students, met faculty and staff, engaged with local, state and national leaders, granted media interviews and celebrated milestones.
The first 100 days have been a whirlwind, marked by exciting news. On Wednesday, Bexar County Commissioner’s Court awarded OLLU $3.5 million for the Center for Children and Family. That amount brings the 100-day total of money raised to $15.3 million!
To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, OLLU has produced a new video: “The Face of Hispanic Higher Education.”
The video explores the roots of the university’s Latino heritage and explains the little-known but far-reaching impact of Hispanic alumni on the U.S. and the world.
OLLU stands unique among institutions of higher learning. Its President, Provost and Dean are Latino. Five Vice Presidents and dozens of professors and staff are Latino. Together, they serve a student body that is nearly 70 percent Latino. This community of color forms the Face of Hispanic Higher Education.
The video shows how OLLU came to be the nation’s first Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), an incubator of Latino leaders and bilingual pioneers. “The Face of Hispanic Higher Education” explains how the U.S. came to celebrate the contributions of Hispanics from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Through the efforts of alumnus Gil Coronado (BA 1975), a retired Air Force colonel, Congress extended Hispanic Heritage Week to 30 days. Today, Col. Coronado is known as the Father of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“America at large needs to be educated on who the Hispanics are,” Col. Coronado said, “how they have contributed to our nation and that we’re part of the American fabric.”
OLLU’s new video is packed with fascinating detail. For instance, 11 Hispanic alumni have won 32 regional Emmy Awards. Three Latino graduates are playing pivotal roles in NASA’s mission to return to the moon. You will learn about all this and more in “The Face of Hispanic Higher Education.”
