Dandole Alas a Tu Exito @ Southwest Airlines.

Southwest Airlines announced the first travel award program in partnership with The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Through this new initiative, Dandole Alas a Tu Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success, Southwest Airlines will provide tickets for distribution throughout our 60 cities to students with socio-economic need and who travel away from home to pursue a higher education.

“We are committed to forming strategic partnerships which benefit Hispanic students on the road to higher education success,” said Antonio Flores, HACU’s President and CEO. “From our internship program, the largest of its kind in the United States, to our scholarship program, to this new initiative with Southwest Airlines; we believe any support we give to our students benefits their futures.”

Each student would be eligible for the ¡Lanzate! Premio Universitario/Take Off! Higher Education Award consisting of up to two (2) roundtrip tickets for the student and/or parent traveling to/from the university. To be eligible, the student must apply online at http://www.hacu.net and meet the following criteria:

— Must be a student in good standing at a two- or four-year college or university;

— A 2.5 or higher GPA;

— All majors are eligible to apply;

— Applications must be completed online by July 15, 2005; and

— 300-500 word essay using good writing skills to answer one or more of the following questions:

1. What are your challenges in working toward higher education? 2. If you could have someone travel with you to your college or university, who would that be and why? 3. How do you believe that obtaining air travel to the university would benefit you and your family?

Travel award recipients will be notified the week of August 1, 2005.

“Southwest Airlines recognizes the need for college students to maintain close family ties while also obtaining an education,” said Christine Ortega, Southwest’s Hispanic Community Affairs Manager. “With our purpose of connecting people and maintaining relationships, Southwest wants students to remain in contact with their family through this travel award.”

According to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center, experts on Hispanic college students believe attainment levels would improve if students were more willing to travel long distance to colleges well suited to meet their needs.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in furthering educational opportunities and retention of Hispanic students,” Ortega added.