Forty years after higher education visionaries first gathered to establish a national movement dedicated to empowering Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and the millions of students they educate, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has returned to the very birthplace of its historic journey. In a landmark celebration held on October 7, 2026, HACU joined forces with Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) at the OLLU Sueltenfuss Library to mark the 40th anniversary of the organization’s founding—a milestone that honors four decades of relentless advocacy, visionary leadership, and an unwavering commitment to educational equity and student success.
The campus that hosted the initial organizing meeting four decades ago welcomed a distinguished gathering of HACU leaders, university presidents, higher education representatives, and community partners on Wednesday. The anniversary celebration served as both a reflection on a remarkable history of institutional transformation and a look forward to the future of higher education policy and workforce preparation. Blending solemn institutional reflection with vibrant cultural expression, the day’s events included a traditional mariachi serenade, an engaging high-level panel session titled “The Road to 40 Years: A Conversation,” and official municipal recognition from the City of San Antonio, underscored by the presentation of a Certificate of Recognition by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones.
Adding profound personal significance to the milestone, HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores was widely honored during the gathering for his extraordinary 30 years of dedicated service to the organization, a tenure that coincides with his upcoming retirement. The anniversary commemorations ultimately concluded on a reflective and spiritual note with a solemn Mass held at OLLU’s historic Sacred Heart Chapel, anchoring the day’s festivities in the deep-rooted values shared by the university and the association.
Reflecting on the monumental journey since the organization’s inception, HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores shared perspective on the founding principles that have guided the association through decades of shifting educational landscapes. From the very beginning, Flores noted, the visionary founders recognized that colleges and universities educating significant populations of Hispanic students could no longer operate in isolation; they needed to unite under a common banner.
Ever since that pivotal gathering four decades ago, HACU has worked tirelessly to ensure that these vital institutions are equipped with the necessary resources, robust leadership capacity, strategic partnerships, and essential policy support required to serve their students successfully. Flores emphasized that every single student enrolled at an HSI deserves an educational experience that not only secures their individual personal and professional future, but in doing so, safeguards and propels the future economic and social prosperity of the entire nation.
The sentiment of institutional pride and historic responsibility was echoed by OLLU President and HACU Governing Board member Abel A. Chávez. Expressing deep honor on behalf of the university, Chávez stated that OLLU is extraordinarily proud that an organization of such immense national influence and legislative reach traces its very beginnings directly to their campus grounds. Forty years ago, the leaders assembled at OLLU recognized that institutions serving Hispanic students required a collective, authoritative voice—one powerful enough to advocate effectively for federal and private resources, build transformative opportunities, and ensure that students could not only gain entry into higher education, but actively thrive, graduate, and assume leadership roles in society.
Chávez stressed that this foundational mission remains just as critically important today as it was in 1986. As both a founding member and a continuing active participant in HACU’s extensive network, OLLU remains deeply honored to carry forward that original vision and help shape the next chapter of higher education advocacy and student achievement.
Over the decades, the partnership between Our Lady of the Lake University and HACU has manifested in myriad practical, impactful ways designed to uplift both students and institutional frameworks. OLLU’s ongoing relationship with the association has been sustained through robust student participation in national internship programs and specialized student leadership initiatives, professional development opportunities tailored for university faculty and administrative staff, and targeted institutional initiatives designed to strengthen overall operational capacity and dramatically expand educational horizons for undergraduate and graduate scholars alike.
Looking ahead toward the challenges and opportunities of the coming decades, Flores reiterated the organization’s steadfast dedication to its core mission. As the community celebrates forty years of landmark achievements, it honors not only the bold foresight of the founders, but also the countless educational institutions, corporate allies, and community partners that continue to advance the cause day in and day out. Flores affirmed that HACU will press forward in creating vital pathways that help students succeed, fortify the structural integrity of Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and carefully prepare the next generation of diverse leaders with the specialized knowledge and technical skills demanded by an evolving global workforce.
