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Southwest Airlines Gives Free Travel to College Students
Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities (HACU) are proud to announce the winners of the "Dandole Alas a Tu
Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success" travel award program. Through this new
initiative, Southwest Airlines will provide airline tickets to Hispanic college
students with socio-economic need who travel away from home to pursue a higher
education. During the 2005-06 academic year, students will be able to use their
tickets for travel on Southwest Airlines.
"Achieving a higher education and keeping close family ties makes a big
difference to Hispanic students. Southwest Airlines saw the opportunity to make
an impact with those students and their families through this program," said
Christine Ortega, Southwest's Hispanic Community Affairs Manager. "We want to
encourage students to complete their college journey and keep them connected to
those who matter most -- 'la familia.'"
Although the students' backgrounds were different, they all shared a common bond
-- to achieve a higher education and maintain close family ties. For a list of
the winners, please visit:
http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/winners_list.pdf
For winner Tanya Flores, a junior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
the travel award will help her mother become familiar with the college
environment. "When I arrive home for the summer vacations, I always see (my
mother's) little envelope with the words 'Fondo Para Graduacion' (Graduation
Fund). She has been saving money throughout both of my first years in college
for her trip to Boston to see me graduate from college. It breaks my heart to
know that we barely have the resources to send me up to college each year, and
my mother will not be able to see (my) college until I graduate," Flores said in
her essay.
Education advocates and community leaders from across the country made up the
selection committee to determine the winners. For a list of the selection
committee, please visit:
http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/selection_committee.pdf
"Choosing the winners was a real challenge because each student had an inspiring
story," said Dr. Jaime Rodriguez, University of Notre Dame professor and a
selection committee member. "I know I was impressed and moved by their
accomplishments very often under some really difficult circumstances. In
college, they will face new tests and a good connection with home -- with 'la
familia' -- can really be a big boost."
"Through this new initiative with Southwest Airlines, we are committed to
helping Hispanic students attain a higher education," said Antonio Flores,
HACU's President and CEO.
For winner Maria Elena Cruz, a graduate student at the University of Texas at
Austin, the travel award will have a positive impact. In her essay, she wrote,
"If I were to be awarded air travel to visit my mom and family, HACU and
Southwest Airlines would greatly assist my family and me by taking some of the
financial and emotional burden away. I would simultaneously be able to purchase
books, and have my mother come visit me in Austin. Without the assistance of
this award, I would not be able to do both and only see my family when money
permitted. Family is what keeps me balanced and focused."
For winner Mark Lopez, a graduate student at the University of Maryland, the
travel award will let him share his college graduation with his parents. "Headed
into my fourth year in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, my parents have yet to
visit their son, let alone ever venture east of Texas! I know my parents have
been attempting to save for my graduation since my arrival in Maryland, but due
to other economic priorities, I know those funds have depleted," Lopez wrote in
his essay.
In the first year of the travel award program, more than 350 students applied
for the opportunity to win up to two (2) roundtrip tickets for the student
and/or parent traveling to/from the university. To be eligible for the award,
the students had to meet several criteria including a 2.5 or higher GPA and
submitting a 300-500 word essay answering one of the following questions:
* What are your challenges in working toward higher education?
* If you could have someone travel with you to your college or university, who
would that person be and why?
* How do you believe that obtaining air travel to your university would benefit
you and your family?
HACU, which has its national headquarters in San Antonio, represents more than
400 colleges and universities, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs),
which collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education
students in the United States. HACU's international membership includes leading
higher education institutions in Latin America and in Spain.
Southwest Airlines was recognized by HISPANIC Magazine for the 2005 Hispanic
Corporate 100. The award focuses on Southwest Airlines' Leadership in providing
opportunities for Hispanics and for supporting recruitment, scholarships,
minority vendor programs, and Hispanic organizations.
Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers
enplaned, currently serves 60 airports in 31 states. Southwest's 61st city, Ft.
Myers, begins service on Oct. 2, 2005. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently
operates more than 3,000 flights a day and has 31,000+ Employees systemwide.
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