DALLAS, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and The Hispanic Association
of Colleges and Universities (HACU) today announced their
partnership for the 13th annual "¡Lánzate! /
Take Off!" Program, which will provide selected Latino college
students with a designated number of trips on Southwest Airlines to
travel home to see family. Applicants must show economic need
and be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at
least 200 miles from home. Students can submit applications
through April 14, 2017, at
www.hacu.net.
Education advocates and HACU leaders from across the country
will form a diverse selection panel this summer to choose the 2017
program recipients. For more information about the program, please
visit the HACU website.
HACU President and CEO Antonio R.
Flores praised the long-running partnership with Southwest
Airlines as an important tool to keep high-achieving Latino
students connected to their families while completing their
collegiate or graduate-level studies.
"It is important for every student to be able to count on the
emotional support of their family while away at college. This is
especially true for Hispanic students, many of whom are the first
in their family to attend an institution of higher education,"
Flores said. "The ¡Lánzate! Travel Award Program, a successful
partnership between HACU and Southwest Airlines for over a decade,
keeps students close to the people who are their biggest supporters
in their journey to a degree."
Christine Ortega, Southwest
Airlines Senior Advisor for Community Affairs & Grassroots,
echoed that sentiment, highlighting the value a family visit can
have on a student's decision to stay in school.
"We know that college can be an amazing experience, but it can
also be very difficult," Ortega said. "Many of our participants
have told us the travel award helped keep them in school as opposed
to dropping out because they missed their home and family. At
Southwest, we are passionate about connecting people to what's
important in their lives and proud that we can play a small role in
helping so many Latino students fulfill their dreams."
More than 1,900 roundtrips have been awarded to students
pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees since the program's
inception in 2005.
ABOUT HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
represents more than 470 colleges and universities committed to
Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin
America and Spain. The
association's headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with offices in
Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California. HACU is the only
national association representing existing and emerging
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Information is
available at www.hacu.net.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 46th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE:
LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with
exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 53,000 Employees
to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest
proudly operates a network of 101 destinations in the United States and eight additional
countries with more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel
season. Subject to requisite governmental approvals, service to
Grand Cayman begins June 4, 2017, the same date service is scheduled
to begin from Cincinnati.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use
their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created
Transfarency®, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly
and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low. Southwest is
the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to
everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and
weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on
select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no
change fees, though fare differences might apply. The airline
proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart. A new
logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring a new seat and
Flight Attendant galley, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated
airport experience all showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees who connect Customers with what's important in their
lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 44 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2015 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.