Dear UHC Family & Friends,
As we embrace the beauty and energy of October, I'm reminded of the strength and spirit that define our University of Holy Cross community.
This week, we look forward to welcoming thousands to our campus for the West Bank Hispanic Heritage Festival on Saturday, October 18. This vibrant celebration, hosted in partnership with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible contributions of Hispanic leaders and changemakers to our university and our community everyday. I look forward to gathering on Saturday in fellowship and unity.
We also continue to celebrate the incredible momentum across our academic programs. From being named Louisiana's top nursing school to seeing a 15% increase in new enrollment and 7% enrollment increase across the board, these achievements are a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students. I was honored to highlight these achievements in the October issue of St. Charles Ave magazine.
I hope to see you all at the festival and throughout the season as we continue to
uplift one another and our Holy Cross community!
Spes Unica,
Stanton F. McNeely III, Ed.D
President
The West Bank Hispanic Heritage Festival is THIS SATURDAY! The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the University of Holy Cross campus. Admission is free and open to the public. This family-friendly celebration features a kids’ area, food for every taste and plenty of space to enjoy a day outdoors under the oaks.
This year’s festival will feature over 50 local vendors, including food, crafts and health exhibitors. Live entertainment will keep the crowd energized throughout the day, with performances on the Redmann Law Stage by:
- Batey Bayou Bomba y Plena Drum Group bringing Puerto Rican rhythms.
- Rumba Buena with high energy salsa.
- Muevelo and Damian Ch performing Latin hits.
- Ballet Folklorico performance celebrating Mexican tradition.
Discover UHC This Fall at Open House
Ready to take the next step toward your future? We are inviting prospective students
and families to explore all that UHC has to offer through two upcoming Open House
events - both in-person and virtual!
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore academic programs, meet faculty and
current students, learn about scholarships and financial aid and get their questions
answered in a welcoming and informative setting.
To RSVP and learn more, visit uhcno.edu/openhouse.
UHC is proud to extend a warm welcome to the Most Reverend James Checchio, JCD, MBA as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans. Archbishop Checchio was appointed by Pope
Leo XIV on Sept. 24, marking a new chapter for the Archdiocese. UHC joins the Catholic
community in celebrating this appointment and looks forward to welcoming the Archbishop
Checchio to campus in the months ahead.
On Oct. 5, the UHC team presented to officials at the City of New Orleans in preparation for the upcoming West Bank Hispanic Heritage Festival. Many thanks to our dedicated group of staff and volunteers who are making this event
a great success!
Dr. Stanton McNeely, addressed the Rotary Club of the Westbank on Sept. 23, sharing the good news of the University's growth and progress, including
the strong enrollment increase this Fall as well as our #1 ranked Nursing program
in Louisiana!
Join our UHC community on Friday, Nov. 14 in the Moreau Center for the 29th Annual Prayer Breakfast. We will welcome Dr. RaeNell Houston, Executive Director and Superintendent of Catholic
Education and Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, as this year's keynote
speaker.
The Law & Ethics in Counseling Conference is taking place in-person and virtually on Jan.
27-30, 2026. This annual, nationally-recognized professional conference will bring together counselor
educators, counseling graduate students and counseling practitioners to review the
latest trends and developments in the areas of law and ethics in counseling. The deadline
for submitting conference proposals is Oct. 25.
Oct. 1 - Changemakers: Dr. Stanton McNeely
✅ Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates and opportunities to engage with our UHC community:
October 14 - Physician Assistant Alumni Panel
October 15 - Guest Lecture: Dr. Shaden, MD, "Sick or Not Sick"
October 18 - West Bank Hispanic Heritage Fest
October 18 - Praxis Workshop
October 21 - Free Health Screening
October 29 - In-Person Open House
October 29 - UHC Nursing Lab Cirque du Boo
November 14 - UHC Prayer Breakfast
November 20 - Virtual Open House
✅ Show your support for our UHC faculty, staff and students who are working hard ahead of the festival this weekend! Will you commit a small donation through the end of 2025?