ABQ Times

Southwest Airlines' generous donation of 34 e-tickets valued at over $13,000 allowed El Puente Research Fellows to elevate their graduate school experiential trip to new heights, as reported on April 18, 2024.

Alejandro Mendiaz-Rivera, the program director for El Puente Research Fellowship, expressed gratitude for the opportunity provided by Southwest Airlines, stating, "It was nice to fly because it removed the stress of having to worry about driving out to Phoenix during inclement weather." He also highlighted the significance of this gesture for some students who had never flown before, noting, "Some of our fellows had never flown before and Southwest gave them the opportunity to experience that."

José Garcia, an El Puente scholar majoring in Mechanical Engineering, shared his perspective on the impact of the trip, stating, “As an underrepresented group of students, being able to fly from Albuquerque to Arizona for our graduate school exploration trip was transformative.” Similarly, Mario Silva, a UNM Computer Science student, described his first flight experience as "amazing and thrilling," emphasizing the new perspectives gained during the journey.

The trip, which included visits to the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, provided invaluable insights into graduate school possibilities for the students. García reflected on the experience, saying, "The trip was invaluable because it showed me that graduate school is attainable, even for someone with the same background and upbringing as myself."

Miguel Cuellar, a psychology student, highlighted the networking opportunities facilitated by the trip, noting, "It was a great way to network with faculty and other students who are studying the same thing as me." The engagement with faculty and peers during the trip was instrumental in shaping the students' academic pursuits and aspirations.

Alejandro Mendiaz-Rivera acknowledged the support from Southwest Airlines and other institutional sponsors, emphasizing the importance of such investments in the community. He stated, “This type of investment in our community is what has proven successful for our students to receive their bachelor’s and pursue graduate and professional degrees.”

The experiential journey supported by Southwest Airlines not only saved time for the students but also fostered a transformative learning experience, inspiring academic and personal growth among the El Puente Research Fellows.