October 14, 2019
HACU and Southwest Airlines announce the 2019 student recipients of ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Travel Program, as it celebrates its 15-year partnership
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and Southwest Airlines have announced 187 college students will receive complimentary round-trip air travel, as part of the ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Travel Award Program. This year, HACU and Southwest Airlines celebrates the milestone Quinceañera - the 15-year anniversary of a partnership that helps Hispanic college students stay connected with their family during the school year.
“HACU’s partnership with Southwest Airlines in the ¡Lánzate! Travel Program has kept college students connected with their families for a decade and a half,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “Student success is often dependent on the support of their families, and HACU and Southwest Airlines are committed to ensuring young people have the opportunity to reach their higher education goals for years to come.”
Each year the awardees are selected from student essays submitted under the theme "Dándole Alas a Tu Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success," demonstrating how the travel awards will help them achieve their higher education goals.
This years 2019 student awards recipients represent 120 institutions nationwide. For a complete list of all student recipients and their colleges and universities, click here.
The 15th Anniversary Quinceañera was celebrated in San Antonio, Texas on June 26, 2019. HACU recognized the program’s importance to its mission when it honored Southwest Airlines with the Outstanding Private Sector Partner Award during the Association’s Annual Conference. The ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Travel Program has awarded more than 4,000 tickets to students since 2005.