August 14, 2009
NJ Revilla-Garcia 

Student recipients of “Lánzate” education travel program announced

HACU and Southwest Airlines have announced the recipients of its annual “Lánzate/Take Off” education travel award program. More than 500 students from across the nation submitted their entry under the theme “Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito/Giving Flight to Your Success,” which included an essay about their decision to pursue a college education and how a travel grant would help them achieve their goals. 

“Each year we receive many entries for this program,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio Flores. “So many include compelling essays that point to the importance of maintaining family connections.  The ‘Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito/Giving Flight to Your Success’ program is an important step in assuring that students are getting the support and encouragement they need.”

The grant will provide the students with one to four tickets, which the student or an immediate family member can use in the fall to travel to/from a college or university to any of the 65 cities Southwest Airlines serves. 

With more than 1,500 applicants in the last five years, “Lánzate/Take Off” is a proven successful educational program that serves underprivileged Hispanic students, providing free travel for them and their families to maximize their potential and create opportunities for growth. To see the complete list of winners, click here.

 “For me, this program means not staying alone at the university on holidays, and going home for Thanksgiving,” said Jennifer Angarita, a “Lánzate” 2009 award recipient.