Colorado State University-Pueblo will receive an award for its work with Hispanics who are seeking higher education, said Cora Zaletel, executive director of external affairs at the university.

Antonio Flores, president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities contacted President Joseph Garcia at the beginning of September to let him know the university had been chosen to receive the Outstanding HACU-Member Institution award.

“We feel very strongly that CSU-Pueblo deserves to be recognized for its support of our mission and initiatives,” Flores said.

Garcia said he was honored to receive the Outstanding HACU-Member Institution award. Out of the nearly 450 colleges and universities committed to helping Hispanics succeed in higher education, one is chosen each year to receive the award.

“It is particularly satisfying to receive recognition from a national organization that feels as passionately about Hispanic higher education issues as we do here at CSU-Pueblo,” Garcia said.

“We want to serve the entire population of southern Colorado and, while most of our students are not Hispanic, we know we will not be doing our job if we don’t make particular efforts to recruit, retain and graduate Hispanic students,” he said.

Garcia is scheduled to accept the award October 13 during the association’s annual partnership lunch at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. As a member of the HACU governmental affairs and advocacy, Garcia is also on the planning committee for the annual event.