The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) returned to Our Lady of the Lake University on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to celebrate its 40th anniversary on the campus where the organization was founded in 1986.
OLLU welcomed HACU leaders, higher education representatives and community partners for a celebration featuring a mariachi birthday serenade, a press conference, recognition from the City of San Antonio and a panel discussion exploring HACU’s legacy and future. The event also honored HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores for 30 years of service as he prepares for retirement. The celebration concluded with a dedicated Mass at Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel.
“When HACU began 40 years ago, our founders understood that institutions serving large numbers of Hispanic students needed a strong, unified voice,” Flores said. “That need has not diminished, it has grown.”
Established by 18 institutions, including OLLU, HACU helped secure federal recognition of Hispanic-Serving Institutions in 1992. The association reports that its advocacy has helped generate more than $3.3 billion in grants since 1995, while its National Internship Program has facilitated nearly 15,000 paid placements since 1992.
OLLU’s connection to HACU continues through its participation in the 2026–27 VOLARÉ Institute, a yearlong initiative helping University leaders strengthen research capacity and competitiveness for external funding.
The anniversary celebrated both HACU’s national impact and OLLU’s enduring role in expanding educational opportunity for Hispanic students and the institutions that serve them.