Southwest Airlines And HACU Partner For 20th Year To Help Students Pursue Education With ¡Lánzate! Award

Published on October 10, 2024

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has teamed up with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) for the 20th consecutive year to support students through the ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Higher Education Travel Award Program. This year, students from over 90 U.S. institutions were chosen to receive four round-trip tickets for travel between any Southwest Airlines® domestic destinations. Since the program’s launch in 2004, Southwest® has helped students pursue education away from home.

“Twenty years ago, Southwest Airlines identified an opportunity to support students’ ability to maintain family ties while studying far away from home,” said Laura Nieto, Managing Director Corporate Responsibility at Southwest Airlines. “Through scholarships, educational awards, STEM-focused learning, and meaningful careers, Southwest is committed to encouraging students as their dreams take flight.”

“Because of your organization’s work, I’ll see my family in a week,” said Isabella, 2024 ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Higher Education Travel Award recipient. “I’m so excited to see my little cousins (and how much they’ve grown), my grandparents (hopefully I can convince my grandma to make mole), and of course my mom (in-person this time). Without this award, I would have to wait until Christmas to see my family.”

Southwest takes pride in the program, celebrating students’ accomplishments, from graduations to successful careers and advanced degrees, achieved while maintaining family connections across distances. Representing over 500 colleges and universities, HACU provides students with valuable programs, including internships, scholarships, and professional leadership development opportunities.