[BHS etree] COLLEGE/CAREER: For Hispanic Students - Deadline July 15, 2005

[bhs at idiom.com]

College Advisor's Bulletin
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Contact:  Ilene Abrams  iabrams at berkeley.k12.ca.us

FREE AIRLINE TRAVEL TO COLLEGE FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS ON SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES -- APPLICATION DEADLINE JULY 15.

DÁNDOLE ALAS A TU ÉXITO/GIVING FLIGHT TO YOUR SUCCESS WITH SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES AND THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
(HACU)

Southwest Airlines and HACU Launch First Travel Award Program for
College Students

SAN ANTONIO, TX -June 21, 2005-Southwest Airlines is proud to
announce 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; 300-500 word essay using good writing skills to answer one
of three questions.

Applications must be completed online by July 15, 2005; and 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. 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 (NYSE: LUV), the nation's
largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently
serves 60 airports in 31 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently
operates nearly 3,000 flights a day and has 31,000+ Employees
systemwide.

Additional information regarding the travel award program from HACU
and Southwest Airlines can be found at http://www.hacu.net/ or
contact Lorena Blanco, HACU Director of Development and Marketing, at
(210) 576-3224 or lblanco at hacu.net