HACU 40th Annual Conference
40 Years of Championing Higher Education Success: One Graduate at a Time
Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, 2026 • Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center • Chula Vista, California
Student Track
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¡Adelante! Leadership Institute
HACU’s ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute is a three-day career leadership, development and networking symposium for undergraduate students held in conjunction with HACU’s Annual Conference. The ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute (student track), taking place October 31 – November 2, 2026, in Chula Vista, California, is expected to bring together over 800 undergraduate students from across the nation.
Students learn about opportunities and skills needed to be successful in launching and developing their careers, from securing internship and graduate school opportunities to acing interviews with prospective employers.
Student Track highlights include:
- Attending student workshops, luncheons, a town hall meeting and access to conference exhibitors and recruiters to discuss career, internship, research and advanced education opportunities.
- Workshops presented by speakers from leading corporations, government and nonprofit organizations.
- HACU’s Exhibit Hall featuring national employers and representatives from U.S. and international higher education Institutions.
- Networking opportunities with career professionals and representatives from graduate school programs.
Registration
|
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE May 31, 2026 |
REGULAR/ONSITE BEGINS June 1, 2026 |
DESCRIPTION | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$360 |
$460 |
¡Adelante! Leadership Institute |
|
View the 2025 ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute recap video below.
Leadership Development for Students
HACU’s ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute strengthens leadership skills, expands knowledge of career opportunities and provides networking opportunities with federal agencies, corporations, higher education institutions, and non-profits.
Students in the Voces Nuevas program are among those in attendance. A limited number of sponsorships are available to attend the annual conference as part of the Voces Nuevas program.
Sponsored Student Scholars Package
HACU offers a Sponsored Student Scholars package that includes registration and travel coordination by HACU Student Services staff. The package is available for colleges and universities and other organizations sponsoring one or more student scholars to attend the HACU ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute.
The Student Scholars package includes:
- HACU ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute registration (including breakfast and lunch on days 1-3, and a networking dinner on day three).
- Round-trip U.S. airfare. Local and regional students receive paid parking.
- Four night hotel accommodations (paired with another student scholar).
- A HACU ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute Student Guide which includes preparation guidelines, travel itinerary and contact information for HACU Student Services staff.
- A Student Scholar sponsor is identified with the sponsor’s logo on the student’s name badge.
- Group photo with sponsoring organization or institution.
- ¡Adelante! Scholars may also be invited to sit in reserved seating with their sponsor during the luncheons and networking dinner. (If a representative from the sponsoring organization is not present, student will sit in open seating with their peers.)
Student Scholars Sponsorship package for HACU ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute
| Student Scholars package | Deadline: Aug. 28, 2026 | Aug. 29 - Oct. 9, 2026* |
|---|---|---|
|
Local Chula Vista, California area undergraduate students (Price includes registration and hotel parking.) |
$800 per student |
$825 per student |
|
Regional area undergraduate students (Price includes registration, parking, and four night hotel accommodations, paired with another student scholar.) |
$1,450 per student |
$1,550 per student |
|
Undergraduate students from outside of the Chula Vista, California area (Price includes registration, airfare**, and four night hotel accommodations, paired with another student scholar.) |
$2,050 per student |
$2,200 per student |
** Students will be provided a link to HACU’s travel service to book individual flights. HACU encourages schools to have students book flights together as a group and/or with POC.
* Sponsoring organizations that commit during this time frame will not be listed in the conference program or on the sponsor boards.
NOTE: The ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute is for undergraduate students. Sponsored students must be 18 years of age or older.
Students must submit their final resumes by October 10, 2025, in order to be shared with corporate and federal partners.
Corporate, Federal, and Nonprofit Sponsors
Top undergraduate students from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico will participate in the HACU ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute and attend concurrent workshops building student career and leadership skills. Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities are available to sponsor this student track held in conjunction with HACU’s Annual Conference.
Get in Touch
Contact Information
If you have any questions related to HACU’s ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute, please feel free to contact us. Institutions interested in the Student Scholars Package should contact HACU Student Services at 210-576-3205, or email studenttrack@hacu.net. A Student Scholars Sponsorship Agreement will be provided and due immediately to secure a package.
Student services Department
For Department questions, please contact:
- (210) 692-3805
- studenttrack@hacu.net
