The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities presented three awards on Nov. 2, 2026, during the Partnership Lunch at its 40th Annual Conference. National University President Mark Milliron served as convener.
The J.M. Smucker Company was the recipient of the Outstanding Private Sector Partner Award with Hannah Dible, senior specialist, emerging talent accepting on their behalf. The U.S. Forest Service was the recipient of the Outstanding Public Sector Partner Award, with University of Texas Rio Grande Valley biology student and 2026 wildlife intern Johan Cantu-Garza, and University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez agriculture graduate and 2026 wildlife intern Sofia Irizarry Negron accepting on their behalf. Marymount University received the Outstanding HACU-Member Institution Award, with MU Interim Vice Provost Jennifer Scully accepting on their behalf.
Partner and sponsor remarks were given by Col. Juan M. Mora, chief of staff of the 40th Infantry Division on behalf of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, along with scholarship presentations to two students, Sergio Medina Beltran and Carlito Rutledge.
The Partnership Lunch was part of HACU’s 40th Annual Conference, “40 Years of Championing Higher Education Success: One Graduate at a Time,” held Oct. 11-Nov. 2, 2025, in Chula Vista, California. HACU thanks all of its partners and sponsors for their support of its 40th Annual Conference.
Additional photos from the event can be viewed here.
