OLLU and La Feria

Dear Editor,

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) held a ground breaking ceremony for our new Rio Grande Valley campus housed in the La Feria Technology and Success Center on Sept. 30. The state-of-the-art educational facility was created through a partnership with the City of La Feria and the U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration (EDA). The new facility provides a tremendous resource for students in the Valley and gives working adults options to advance their education without interrupting their careers as most classes are offered on the weekends or in the evenings.

Partnership was the key to developing this campus and expanding higher education choices in the Valley. It was a partnership with the La Feria Independent School District (LFISD) that first brought OLLU to La Feria. The school district leaders shared the vision of bringing higher education to the Central Valley and creating options for working adults to complete a bachelor’s degree or earn a master’s or doctoral degree. For three years the LFISD allowed OLLU to use one of their former campuses to hold classes for our doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s programs. OLLU is grateful to the school district for their support and partnership.

It is the partnership and vision of organizations like the LFISD, the City of La Feria, the EDA and OLLU that will ensure continued development and growth in the Valley.

The La Feria Independent School District, the Economic Development Administration and the City of La Feria should be commended for their investment in education which is an investment in the future of the Valley.

Sincerely,
Diane E. Melby, Ed.D.
President
Our Lady of the Lake University