OLLU Blesses 2019 Graduates

During a brief ceremony, about a dozen students attending Our Lady of the Lake University were blessed by a school official from the main campus in San Antonio.

The ceremony was held Tuesday, May 7, inside a dome built next to La Feria OLLU campus.

The students were part of a group of 28 graduates, who for one reason or another were not able to attend Thursday, May 9, commencement at the Alamo City.

Patricia Blanco, the campus director, told the group they should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments.

“This is a very joyful occasion,” she said. “Your journeys have been different and we started this ceremony to honor your hard work.”

Blanco also gave credit to campus staff whose hard work has paid off.

Erika Davila and Erica Gomez were among the 30 graduates from the Class of 2019.

The two obtained bachelor of social work degrees.

Gomez, who will seek a master’s degree in the same field, said she was glad to attend OLLU.

“Being a mother, it has been real convenient for me,” said the Weslaco resident. “In this university there is a lot of hands-on approach and the classrooms are small.”

Davila, who is from Monte Alto, said she wants to work with the state Child Protective Services Department.

The La Feria OLLU campus has an average of 150 students, pursuing degrees ranging from bachelor of social work to doctoral in leadership degrees.

The San Antonio-based OLLU has two campuses, one each here in La Feria and in Houston.

The Catholic privately-run university has about 5,500 students at the three campuses and on-line.

Rosa Rivera-Haihaj, associate vice president for academic affairs, said the La Feria program has been doing really well.

“We have been working really hard,” she said, “to make sure that we bring what the community needs.”