DALLAS, Oct. 12,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines
Co. (NYSE: LUV) in partnership with the Hispanic
Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), announced its 2022
recipients for the ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Higher Education Travel
Award Program. Through this national education initiative focused
on supporting the Latino community, Southwest Airlines®
awards roundtrip travel to currently enrolled undergraduate and
graduate students that travel away from home to pursue higher
education.
In 2022, Southwest is awarding 185 students four round trip
tickets to stay connected with their loved ones and community. As
experts on Hispanic college students, HACU believes educational
attainment levels would continue to improve if students had the
economic resources to travel to and from colleges suited to meet
their needs. Since the program launched in 2004, Southwest has
helped ease the financial burden of travel for more than 1,500
Hispanic students to help them achieve their educational goals.
"Our Purpose at Southwest Airlines is to connect People to
what's important in their lives, and we know the impact family ties
can have on the success of a student's educational journey," said
Laura Nieto, Director of Community
Outreach at Southwest Airlines. "It's an honor to play a role in
helping the Hispanic community thrive through this program because
educated communities are empowered communities."
The ¡Lánzate!/Take Off Travel Program demonstrates Southwest's
commitment to championing educational attainment for all. Whether
in the air or on the ground, Southwest believes community is more
than a place—it's at the Heart of what brings People together.
"Many students have shared their personal stories and the
economic barriers they face trying to visit their loved ones back
home while in college," said Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities President and CEO Antonio R.
Flores. "We are truly proud of the impact the Southwest
Airlines Travel Award Program has had on Hispanic students across
the nation. HACU congratulates the recipients and wishes them
success."
Southwest Airline's dedication to advancing Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion includes efforts to cultivate a workforce that
reflects the diversity of the communities served and values this
longstanding partnership with the Hispanic Association of Colleges
and Universities. Read more about Southwest's Citizenship efforts
by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
ABOUT HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU),
founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities
in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout
the United States. HACU is the
only national association representing existing and emerging
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). HACU's headquarters are in
San Antonio, Texas, with regional
offices in Washington, D.C., and
Sacramento, Cali.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
CO.
Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most
admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and
Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Having celebrated
its 50th Anniversary in 2021, Southwest took flight in 1971 to
democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air
travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within
the United States than any other
airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first
corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of
no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering
its more than 62,0002 People to deliver
unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a
passionate loyalty among as many as 130 million Customers carried a
year. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity
and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for
Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique
legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including
harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities
at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting
Southwest.com/citizenship. Southwest is also continuing to
develop tangible steps toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,
including offering Customers an opportunity to help the airline
offset its carbon emissions. To be part of the solution, visit
Southwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon.
1) U.S. Dept. of Transportation most recent reporting of
domestic originating passengers boarded
2) Fulltime-equivalent active Employees
3) 1973-2019 annual profitability
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-and-hispanic-association-of-colleges-and-universities-announce-recipients-for-18th-year-of-student-travel-award-program-301647162.html
SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.