The Word: UIW Community Newsletter - August 6, 2021

With the support of the Moody Foundation, the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) has launched a mobile medical clinic called the Mobile Osteopathic Medicine unit (MOM). The 29-foot vehicle will allow medical students and faculty to deliver services to the community including osteopathic primary care, immunizations, health screenings and more. The MOM unit will also act as a training ground for the healthcare workers of tomorrow.

The mobile unit was dedicated during a ceremony on July 24, 2021 and named after the late Sam Wages, who worked for UIW for nearly 19 years. Wages was the director of Procurement and Business Support Services and oversaw the shipping and receiving, postal operations, purchasing and vehicle services divisions. Pictured left, UIW President Dr. Thomas Evans joins UIW Provost Dr. Barbara-Aranda Naranjo and UIWSOM Founding Dean Dr. Robyn Phillips-Madson inside the unit at its dedication. 

“This mobile unit is truly a blessing and we would like to thank the Moody Foundation for making it possible,” says Dr. Phillips-Madson. “It is fitting that we name the unit after the late Sam Wages who, as the director of transportation at UIW, had a unique understanding of the importance of getting our students out into the community to carry the message. I know this mobile unit will allow our medical students to do just that.”

Medical students at UIWSOM will use the unit to help provide care to the underserved in Bexar County.

“Osteopathic medical students, and other health professional students, will now be able to take the classroom to the community,” says Dr. Hans Bruntmyer, SOM associate professor. “This unique opportunity will help cultivate, not only empathetic and compassionate providers, but also cohesive interprofessional health teams. We feel this vehicle is helping to fulfill the call of Bishop DuBois, ‘Our Lord Jesus Christ, suffering in the persons of a multitude of sick and infirm of every kind, seeks relief at your hands’."

The $153,000 vehicle was made possible by a generous donation from the Moody Foundation. Based in Galveston, for more than 75 years, the Moody Foundation has funded projects and programs that better communities in the state of Texas.

Before his University of the Incarnate Word football team opened preseason training camp on Wednesday, head coach Eric Morris answered a few questions about the upcoming Fall 2021 season.  

After their season opener on Sept. 2 at Youngstown State, the Cardinals return to Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium on Sept. 11, where they host Prairie View A&M. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. (CT). 

The Cardinals’ home opener is included in an attractive five-game season ticket package offered for as little as $115. 

Morris spoke optimistically about his team’s prospects. 

Q:  Coach, UIW football is much more successful and a lot more exciting since you took over three seasons ago. What changes did you set out to make that have proven to be so successful? 

A: We try to cater everything in our program toward the student-athletes. We believe that having fun is such a key component for these young men. They are making memories that they will have for the rest of their lives, and we want them to have a great experience on and off the field.  

Q: You seem to have established a track record for grooming young quarterbacks. Cameron Ward broke a lot of records as a freshman and has received preseason attention this year , including his  selection for the Walter Payton Award Watch List. What is your philosophy of quarterback coaching and what makes your young guys so successful? 

A: The most important part is to recruit someone who fits our philosophy and style of play. We also will not offer a kid if we haven’t seen him throw in person. Once we know that he has the physical tools, we then move on to seeing if he fits in well with our culture. 

Q: Coach, the Southland Conference head football coaches and sports information directors picked the Cardinals to finish third in the conference this season. Could we contend for a conference championship? If so, what must our student-athletes and coaches do? 

A: Absolutely. We have a lot of areas we need to improve on, but if I could put it in one word, I would say… FINISH!

Q: Because of conference  realignment, we will be playing McNeese, Nicholls and HBU on a home-and-home basis. That usually doesn’t happen in college football. What do you think about playing an opponent twice in one season? 

A: I think it is uncharted territory. The only sample size we have is the NFL. And I think there is definitely a reason why nobody ever goes undefeated in the NFL. That’s because it is very difficult to beat somebody twice. 

Q: On Sept. 2, we open the season with an ESPN+ Thursday night game on the road against Youngstown State of the Missouri Valley Conference. Tell us about this opponent and what the Cardinals will have to do to win. 

A: A storied FCS program that has been a national powerhouse for many, many years. It will be a unique challenge for us to fly up to Ohio and play the Penguins. But it is a challenge that our players and coaches are looking forward to.  

Purchasing season tickets is the best way to experience UIW Football. Season tickets start at $115. Fans can upgrade their game-day experience by adding a Cardinals Club membership. 

Fans interested in buying new season tickets can do so now at uiwcardinals.com/tickets or by calling 210-805-3012.

Purchase your UIW football season tickets now

Find detailed information about UIW football tickets 

On Saturday, July 24, the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) officially welcomed its fourth and fifth classes of learners at the annual White Coat Ceremony at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

Due to 2020 COVID-19 restrictions, the school's fourth class celebrated a delayed ceremony one year into their studies. The Class of 2024 was celebrated at a 10 a.m. ceremony, where 162 students received their white coats surrounded by loved ones and recited the Osteopathic Pledge of Commitment. 

The Class of 2025 followed at a 2 p.m. ceremony where 167 new learners officially began their journeys to becoming physicians. 

In addition to a welcome from Dr. Robyn Phillips-Madson, founding dean, attendees listened to remarks from UIW President Dr. Thomas Evans and a keynote address by Karen Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, CS. Dr. Nichols was the dean of the Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine from 2002 through July 2018. In 2010-11, she served as president of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). In addition, she is the 2020-2022 Chair of the Board of Directors of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. 

Thank you to all administration, faculty, staff and volunteers who made this day possible. Congratulations to the UIWSOM Classes of 2024 and 2025!

Dr. Karen Weis, professor of Nursing and Brigadier General Lillian Dunlap Endowed Chair of Nursing, and Katherine Walker-Rodriguez, program director of the Mentors Offering Maternal Support program with the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, received notification that their publication “Associations between Physiological Biomarkers and Psychosocial Measures of Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety and Depression with Support Intervention” was recently published in the  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, a peer-reviewed journal covering environmental sciences, engineering and health, global and economic health research, public health and occupational hygiene. Additional authors include Dr. Tony T. Yuan, senior scientist, Center for Molecular Detection, Science and Technology Division, 59th Medical Wing, USAF JBSA-Lackland; Dr. Thomas F. Gibbons, clinical laboratory scientist, Clinical Research Division, USAF 59th Clinical Research Division, JBSA-Lackland; and Dr. Wenyaw Chan, professor of Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Dr. Yi “Jack” Liu, assistant professor of Management Information Systems in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration, received notification that his manuscript, “Intra-Platform Competition: The Role of Innovative and Refinement Evolution in App Success,” was accepted for publication in  Information & Management:  The International Journal of Information Systems Theories and Applications , an A* journal in the field of information management. Liu was also added to the publication’s author list to conduct peer reviews of other manuscript submissions. 

Worship and Event Registration

Registration links for online and in-person worship services and events – including Sunday Mass – for University Mission and Ministry can be found at our UMM registration site.

See updated safety protocols for Our Lady's Chapel.

Need Prayers?

Our UIW family is always in our prayers. If you have a special intention for which you would like us to pray, please feel free to submit it through our prayer link or via email to ministry@uiwtx.edu. 

Join our flock!

If you consider UIW your worshiping community, or simply want to stay connected to Mission and Ministry to receive information about our events, ministries, and other ministry-related news, we invite you to register as part of our University of the Incarnate Word Flocknote network. Flocknote is the best means we have of keeping connected with our UIW family and sharing information quickly. Registration is free and open to students, faculty, staff, administrators, Incarnate Word Sisters, alumni and friends of UIW. 

Join Flocknote here

Sometimes, without knowing it or even being aware of it, we can get locked into our own world and our particular situation. We can forget about or lose sight of the fact that we are part of a much bigger world.

In the gospel for today’s feast Jesus takes some of his friends away from the business of the village and market place. He invites them to travel with him as he makes his way up the mountain. This is not unusual. We know from the gospels that Jesus often went off by himself to the mountains to pray. While they were there praying something wild and wonderful happened. Jesus was transfigured; he was changed; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Imagine how surprised, shocked and taken aback those with Jesus were. Once composed, Peter utters the famous words, "Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here." But more importantly than what was said, is what they heard; "This is my Son, the beloved, he enjoys my favour, listen to him."

These words are as much meant for us today as they were for those who first heard them. Today, we are surrounded if not bombarded by news all the time. We now have twenty-four hour news on our televisions, news from around the world arrives in seconds to us through the internet and there is no end to magazines and newspaper we can buy. They are filled with news, but not all of it good news; some of it may even be fake news.

The word and message that Jesus speaks to us and offers is life-giving and life-changing. The words of Jesus, nourish, nurture, and sustain and us, if we open our hearts and lives to hearing it. As John’s gospel reminds us, Lord, you have the message of eternal life.

The Transfigurations gives us a brief and fleeting glimpse of Jesus in all his glory. It is a taste of what is to come. It is offered to us encourage and challenge us in our daily lives. It reminds us that our lives are far more than what see, hear and experience every day. It is not just a matter getting through the day. Being a follower of Jesus is about living with meaning, purpose and hope. The transfiguration not only offers us a glimpse of Jesus in all his glory, it also offers each of us a foretaste of what God promises each of us in the fullness of the Kingdom.

We may never experience anything as powerful as the Transfiguration. But every day in countless and seemingly small ways God does break into our world and our daily lives. Every time we experience a moment of peace, joy, reconciliation or forgiveness, God is with us. Every time that we reach out to help another person is a moment of transfiguration both for ourselves and for those we help. Each time somebody shows care and concern for us is a moment when God is reaches out to us.

This week, let us open our hearts so that we may hear Jesus speaking to us. May we slow down and look for moments of small but important times of transfiguration in our own ordinary daily lives.

UIW has landed on the list of Top Private Employers in San Antonio published by the San Antonio Business Journal. UIW ranked number 12 with 1,304 local employees and 1,568 employees company wide.

“There is no secret to our success at UIW: it is our employees,” says Dr. Thomas M. Evans, UIW president. “The dedication of our faculty and staff is evident in their commitment to our University and the transformational impact they make on the lives of our students and our communities.”

According to a 2021 study by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, UIW, and its employees, students and visitors, have a total economic impact of over $524 million a year. With direct spending accounting for over $263 million a year.

In addition, for more than a decade, UIW has landed on the Great Colleges to Work For list put out by The Chronicle of Higher Education. That list is based on a survey of employees that measures best practices and policies. The newest version of the Great Colleges to Work For list will be released in September 2021.

The University of the Incarnate Word men’s and women’s fencing coach, John Moreau, a three-time Olympian, international coach and the founder of the Cardinal fencing team, was selected to serve as a member of the jury of appeal for the modern pentathlon event at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The event features freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, cross country running, pistol shooting and fencing.

Moreau, now in his 70s, has enjoyed an illustrious career in fencing, coaching and judging. Throughout his career he has traveled all over the world competing, coaching and judging the sport of fencing. The sport has taken him to Taiwan, Germany, China, Egypt and now Japan. He qualified for the Olympics in fencing in 1980, but the United States, protesting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, didn't attend the games in Moscow. His first experience at the Olympics came in 1984. 

"I was a member of the United States Olympic team in fencing and competed in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1988 in Korea," Moreau said. "The Olympic movement basically is the life-long goal for athletes of my type in the sport (of fencing)." 

Moreau said that in 1984, he did not actually get to see the opening ceremonies because the United States was the last country in the procession. He did get on television though, because he was walking behind track and field star Carl Lewis. 

"What was cool was meeting people from different sports," Moreau said. 

In 2004 Moreau was diagnosed with cancer, but that didn't hold down his competitive spirit or his love of sport. He continued to compete in fencing and went to the world championships in the 50-59 age group. 

"I think my experiences in the athletic world prepared me to take on the battle of cancer," Moreau said. "Almost a year to the day after they diagnosed me with cancer, I went there and I got third place at the world." 

Moreau also served as international judge at the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London. Moreau said he sees it as an opportunity to give back to the sport he loves. 

"It's a duty that I believe is very important to make sure that the athletes have the best chance of doing the best they can," Moreau said. 

Moreau arrived at UIW in 2014 to build both the men's and women's fencing programs, which began competition in 2015. He says his past experiences have helped him enjoy life and make an impact on the lives of the student-athletes. 

"I try to convey a joie de vivre, a love of life. That you do your best every day, and one day your best may not be as good as the day before, but as long as you try your best that's the important thing," Moreau said. "If you make an impact in the world and change the lives of athletes and students for the better, you'll live on forever. That's why I love doing this, the fact that I can affect the lives of others." 

Moreau said his athletic and personal experiences have shaped his view on life. Now, as a delegate from UIW, he traveled to Tokyo to serve the Olympic games and represent the University where he built the fencing program. For Moreau, he likes to keep things in perspective. 

"I get up every day just thinking this is a great day to be alive."

Dr. David Vequist, UIW professor of Management in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration, was recently asked to lend his expertise to the Houston Chronicle for an article on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected medical tourism in Houston. 

"Prior to the pandemic, more than 24,000 medical travelers brought upwards of $1 billion in revenue to Houston each year, according to the Center for Medical Tourism Research at the University of [the] Incarnate Word. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced many to stay home, fearful of contracting the virus abroad when they were already immunocompromised and walled off by federal travel restrictions."

Read the full story in the Houston Chronicle

"Churches on the east side have opened their doors to nurses from the University of the Incarnate Word, as part of a team-up to combat a resurgent coronavirus. With help from the City of San Antonio, they're working together to bring vaccines to the east side. Pastor Stan Sparrow said it's an honor to help save lives together."

Watch the story on KENS5

Project Uplift: My Motivation (Open to the community)

The University of the Incarnate Word Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability is inviting young women from seventh grade through college to the inaugural event Project Uplift: My Motivation. The event aims to encourage and prepare young women to support each other and to be heard in the community and help them grow into leaders who make a difference in the world around them. Our focus this year is helping attendees find their personal motivation for returning to school. 

Sign up to participate virtually

UIW Blood Drive (Open to students and employees)

The University community is invited to a South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Blood Drive, sponsored by the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability, Campus Engagement and the Student Engagement Center. The Blood Drive will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the SEC Ballroom.  

Sign up for September 14

Sign up for September 15

For more information, contact Yesenia Caloca at caloca@uiwtx.edu or Janine Chavez at jlchavez@uiwtx.edu.   

Unibuddy Student Ambassadors (Open to students)

Filled with #UIWPride? We are seeking current students to serve as ambassadors to message prospective students about their experience at UIW! Join the Unibuddy Student Ambassadors program to engage with prospective students from around the world. Share your student experience and your passion for UIW. Participants will receive service hours based on their activity.  

For more information, contact MaKailey Jonas at mjjonas@uiwtx.edu.

Become a Unibuddy Ambassador

Student Move-In 

Join UIW's Residence Life and Housing Operations team as we welcome in our Fall 2021-2022 students! Volunteers will assist students with carrying items, pushing carts, loading and unloading items, as well as holding doors/elevators for students moving into their new campus home.  

For more information, contact Vana Stevens in Residence Life at (210) 805-5866 or vstevens@uiwtx.edu.

Register on GivePulse

On Friday, July 30, UIW welcomed 46 prospective Cardinals for Rising Senior Day. Held annually, Rising Senior Day welcomes students entering their senior year of high school for campus tours and activities to give them their first taste of what life as a Cardinal can be. 

At this year's Rising Senior Day, 23 students were accepted as the first members of the UIW Class of 2026! The class's first confirmed Cardinal is rising senior, Jillian Green. 

Welcome to the nest, UIW26! 

This week, undergraduate and graduate students of the UIW H-E-B School of Business and Administration (HEBSBA) enrolled in the Summer 2021 Capstone course, completed course requirements with their final presentations. Students in the Capstone courses work with real-world clients each semester, conducting research and pitching business solutions to the client at the end of the course. Students form teams and are paired with established businesses or nonprofit organizations, tasked with developing a plan to present to their clients, offering specific recommendations and ideas for the growth of the business or organization.

Capstone courses are completed near the end of a student’s academic career and draw from the knowledge students have gained during their business studies. The teams study operations, approaches and company culture for the duration of the semester. Through their study, the teams identify real organizational challenges, and utilize their comprehensive business knowledge learned throughout their program to discern real opportunities and develop solutions that the client can then apply. Student teams share their organizational analysis and solutions via a formal proposal presentation for the client and HEBSBA faculty.

Two undergraduate groups and one graduate group delivered their Capstone presentations this week. One group of BBA students worked with San Antonio-based company Shankx on a sales strategy for developing virtual "real estate" that will help mid-size companies create locations on virtual reality meta-verse sites. The other was paired with Austin's Elite Martial Arts, a business owned by UIW alumnus Effrain Cayama. The students worked on a proposal to help the business attract new customers to a brand new location.

Finally, MBA students were tasked with helping Mexican nonprofit DCA with a plan that would help the organization raise funds for public schools in Mexico. During the pandemic, the schools were shut down, subjecting them to high rates of theft and vandalism that left them unable to operate safely. The group presented a strategy for fundraising in the U.S. to help the schools become operational as soon as possible.

The teams are students of Dr. David Vequist, professor of Management.

Brittany Nelson, BA, MA ’17, is a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army and is currently covering soldier-athletes competing in the Summer Olympics. The soldiers are part of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which allows top-ranked soldier-athletes to perform at the international level while also serving their nation in the military. During her time in Tokyo, she has been taking photos and providing coverage for stories and social media content about the Games. 

Way to go, Brittany! Your UIW family is so proud of you!

Read more about Brittany's Olympics experience

The Laredo City Council recently appointed Tina O. Rodriguez, BBA ’99, as its new internal auditor. Her duties in this position will consist of establishing a risk-based plan to determine the priorities of the internal audit office, planning and communicating the annual audit schedule and resources available to the City Council, and performing internal audits on city departments. Rodriguez has 17 years of experience in the Webb County Auditor’s Office as the chief internal auditor. 

Congratulations, Tina!

Read more in the Laredo Morning Times

The Student Alumni and Philanthropy Association is pleased to partner with the UIW Bookstore for the Cardinal Textbook Assistance Program! The UIW Bookstore is generously covering a full semester of books for one deserving undergraduate student studying on UIW's main campus. 

Learn more about the program

Apply here

We're celebrating our Cardinal birthdays in a very special way! Your UIW Alumni Association will hold a birthday raffle each month, offering alumni the chance to win a gift from us!

Happy Birthday to all our August Cardinals!  

Enter the raffle here

The University of the Incarnate Word men’s and women’s fencing teams are moving to a new conference, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, announced MPSF Executive Director Foti Mellis on Monday.

The Cardinals will continue their rivalry with traditional conference opponents Stanford, UC San Diego and Air Force. Each of these four programs enters the MPSF after an historical year in the Western Fencing Conference (WFC), when all four advanced to the NCAA Championships and enjoyed record-breaking seasons. 

While the WCF was an amalgamation of fencing teams, UIW’s new conference will be composed of 64 teams representing 33 institutions in 11 sports. The MPSF first compete as a conference in 1992-93. 

The UIW men’s and women’s teams enjoyed their best finish ever last spring, when their six qualifiers scored 39 points to achieve a combined 14th place in the 2021 NCAA Fencing Championships in State College, Pennsylvania. 

According to UIW head fencing coach John Moreau, the new conference will strive to schedule its championship meet each year to coincide with an NCAA regional, which will “give more student-athletes a chance to compete” in a championship setting. 

UIW is slated to host the inaugural MPSF Fencing Individual and Team Championships, scheduled for March 13, 2022.

Two former University of the Incarnate Word student-athletes – Thomas Bibby from men’s soccer and Sophie Krall from women’s soccer – joined the professional ranks.

Bibby signed his contract with the Connah's Quay Nomads FC in Wales in early July, joining former teammate and goalkeeper Carlos Mercado in the pros; Mercado is in his second year as a goalkeeper for the San Antonio FC.

A native of Bagillt, Wales, Bibby graduated in 2020 after playing for the Cardinals for five years. He credited his time at UIW to his success in securing his first professional contract.

"Playing at UIW, I was able to become more experienced as a leader and a team captain. Also learning from coach Lara and the rest of the coaching staff, I was more prepared to go back to Great Britain and ready to play."

Krall will join the DSC Arminia Bielefeld professional club team, announced UIW Athletics at the end of July. Krall, who left UIW to turn pro following her freshman year, will continue her studies at the Fachhochschule Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, studying international business.

Krall, a Sassenberg, Germany, native, was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Southland Conference on Feb. 16. She reflected on her time at UIW.

 “I really appreciated being a part of the Cardinals family. I loved the unique team spirit, and I will never forget my experience at UIW. Go Cards!”

The University of the Incarnate Word continues to monitor the local, regional and state-wide progression of COVID-19 to inform decisions about safe campus operations. Updated COVID-19 guidance will continue to be shared in the coming weeks. Below you will find links to make an appointment for a COVID-19 test on one of UIW's campuses. 

Schedule a COVID-19 test on the Broadway campus (students and employees ONLY)

Schedule a COVID-19 test at the UIWSOM campus (open to general public)