FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2006
HACU Marks 20th Anniversary Year with Unveiling of Commerative Painting at Press Conference
San Antonio, TX – Officials of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) announced the beginning of the 20th Anniversary year for the organization on Thursday, May 11. The press conference drew a crowd of over 80 people at the Sueltenfuss Library at Our Lady of the Lake University.
During the event, Dr. Antonio Flores, President and CEO of HACU, and Dr. Tessa Martinez Pollack, President of Our Lady of the Lake University, unveiled a commissioned art piece commemorating HACU’s 20th anniversary.
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) was instrumental in establishing the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in 1986 and provided staff support and office space in the organization’s early years. From a founding membership of 18 institutions, HACU has grown to represent more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Although member institutions in the U.S. represent about 10 percent of all higher education institutions nationwide, together they are home to nearly two-thirds of all Hispanic college students. HACU is the only national educational association that represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
Participating in the conference were two of HACU’s original founders, Sister Elizabeth Ann Sueltenfuss, President Emerita of Our Lady of the Lake University, and Dr. Antonio Rigual, OLLU Professor of Spanish and Chair, Department of Foreign Languages. Dr. Rigual served as the first President of HACU.
“Their vision and leadership led to the forming of HACU on this beautiful campus so many years ago,” said HACU’s Flores. “It is an honor to be home again at the place where HACU was born.”
Dr. Tessa Martinez Pollack, who is also a current member of HACU’s Governing Board, spoke about the growth of the organization and the influence it wields both internationally and in Washington, D.C.
“We live, all at once, in the best of times and the most challenging of times for higher education, but it’s the moment we’ve waited for, the moment for which HACU was created 20 years ago, and the signaling of yet one more leap to be taken as Sister Elizabeth Ann and Tony (Rigual) modeled when HACU began,” said Pollack. “That’s the journey for the next 20 years of HACU – to move boldly and explicitly in the insistence and persistence for high quality access for Latinos and Latinas as the support for higher education does otherwise.”
Local artist Michael Gallegos was also on hand at the press conference to witness the unveiling of his work and sign commemorative posters. The art work reflects the culture of San Antonio, HACU’s birthplace, and HACU’s mission to champion Hispanic higher education.
“It was an honor to be asked to paint this piece,” explained Gallegos. “I hope it will inspire people to see the connections and increase their respect for all the parts we play in the future of education of all Hispanics.”
Signed and unsigned prints of Gallegos’ painting are available for purchase at www.hacu.net.
HACU’s Anniversary celebration will culminate in the 20th Annual Conference scheduled for October 28-31, 2006, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Our Lady of the Lake University will host a Youth Leadership Forum prior to the conference which will bring 800 area high school students on campus for college prep workshops and activities.
“These 800 students represent millions of young people who will shape the nation and the globe,” Pollack said. “We’ll look forward to celebrating the new generation of leaders that will be awaiting us when we all gather in 2026.”
HACU is a non-profit organization committed to assuring higher education access and success for Hispanic students. For more information regarding HACU and its 20th Annual Conference, visit www.hacu.net.
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About HACU:
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) was established in 1986 with a founding membership of eighteen institutions. Today, HACU represents more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Although their member institutions in the U. S. represent less than 7% of all higher education institutions nationwide, together they are home to more than two-thirds of all Hispanic college students. HACU is the only national educational association that represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). HACU is a non-profit organization committed to assuring higher education access and success for Hispanic students. For more information, visit
About the Artist:
Michael Gallegos is a freelance artist and full time art teacher at Stockdale High School in Stockdale, Texas, a position he has held for the past three years. He graduated from Texas State University, San Marcos, a HACU Associate Member Institution, in 2001, and currently lives in San Antonio, Texas. He was recently hired to work on illustrations for a children’s book and is in the process of writing and illustrating his own book.