Southwest Airlines Gives Free Travel to College Students
More than forty college students are the first recipients of the 'Dandole Alas a Tu Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success' travel award program.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) August 25, 2005 -- 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.
http://www.southwest.com
Media Contact:
Edna Ruano
of Southwest Airlines
Bilingual Spokesperson - English &
Spanish
+1-214-792-4309
Public Relations of Southwest
Airlines
+1-214-792-4847
Lorena Blanco of Hispanic Association of
Colleges and Universities
+1-210-576-3224
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prweb277115.htm