For the past six years HENAAC has expanded its student outreach efforts in hopes of including as many universities and colleges as possible. Our goal is to have a constituency that adequately represents students from across the nation to participate in the HENAAC Conference. The HENAAC Conference travel grants are open to all students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related majors who are of Hispanic heritage or who work with the Hispanic community.

2008 Conference Dates and Schedule for Students
October 10-13, 2008 (Monday, October 13 is Columbus Day)
Houston, Texas
Hilton Americas Hotel and Hyatt Regency Hotel

Please note that due to this being a special 20th Anniversary Conference there is a new schedule and most events except for the Career Fair are on a different day than the "traditional" schedule. View Conference Schedule
Individual Airfare
For 2008 HENAAC is only accepting individual air travel applications. We realize students have limited resources and this year we are preparing to again grant $150,000+ in travel sponsorships. As a non-membership organization, HENAAC does not require that travel grant applicants be members of any particular organization. Airfare is an option for students traveling from 400+ miles outside of Houston.
This will be HENAAC's 20th Anniversary Conference and there is a new schedule. Because of this student registration will be on Friday, October 10th (not on Thursday as in previous years). The student activities will also begin on Friday, October 10th and will end the evening of Sunday, October 12, 2008.

Departure Dates
Individual airfare grants are available only for student arrival on Friday, October 10th and departure on Sunday, October 12th after 5:00 pm or Monday, October 13th (Columbus Day).

Travel Grant Due Dates
Individual travel applications will be accepted beginning March 1, 2008 and will close on September 2, 2008 unless funding is depleted at an earlier date.

Steps to Apply for Airfare

1. Register for the 20th Anniversary HENAAC Conference
2. Pay your registration fee. Please note that paying your registration fee does not guarantee your airfare will be purchased by HENAAC. Alternate fundraising should take place in case airfare is not awarded.
   *If you pay for registration and do not receive a HENAAC travel grant and/or decide not to attend, there will be a $10.00 administrative fee deducted for a reimbursement
3. Complete the Travel Grant required fields on the Registration From.
4. Agree to the terms of the Student Participation Agreement

Selection Notice
Unlike previous years HENAAC will be purchasing airfare monthly for students who are selected based on their answers on in their travel application and who have completed steps 1-4.
If you are selected, HENAAC will contact you via email to confirm your attendance before purchasing your airline ticket. You then have 48 hours to confirm by email or else your grant will be given to the next qualifying student.

Receiving Flight Information
Once you are selected and HENAAC receives your email confirmation, your itinerary will be sent to you within two weeks.

Cancellations

1. If for some reason you cannot attend the conference and your airfare has been purchased by HENAAC, you will be held responsible for the complete cost of the airfare minus the cost of your student registration fee which will not be refunded.
2. If you are not selected by HENAAC to receive travel funding and you are unable to fund your own travel to the Conference, your registration fee will be reimbursed (minus a $10.00 administrative fee).
3. If you have applied for travel funding and for some reason cannot attend the Conference and your airline ticket has not yet been purchased, your registration fee will be reimbursed (minus a $10.00 administrative fee) only if you notify the HENAAC office no later than September 12, 2008.
4. If you do not notify HENAAC that you will be unable to attend by the September 12 deadline, you will not receive a refund of your student registration fee.

Chartered Bus Travel - Group Travel
If you have a group of 35 students, you may qualify for charter bus sponsorship. Charter buses will be sponsored for universities located less than 400 miles from the Houston area. Charted bus travel is only sponsored for departure on Friday, October 10th. You will have the option of returning on Sunday, October 12th after 5:00 pm or the morning of Monday, October 13th - Columbus Day. If you would like additional information, please contact Adalina Rodriguez, Senior Education Programs Coordinator at (323) 262-0997 or at adalina@henaac.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for travel funding?
To apply for a travel grant you must first register for the conference and pay the Conference student registration fee. You will not be considered for funding unless and until your student registration fee is paid. You must also complete the Student Travel Application Form and the Student Participation Contract.

What if a university or organization is paying the conference registration fees as a group?
Once you have registered for the conference and completed the Student Travel Application Form and the Student Participation Contract, contact HENAAC via email (kathy@henaac.org) advising us as to who will be paying your registration fee. We will require verification from the university or organization that payment will be sent.

How will I know if I should apply for air travel or ground transportation funding?
Air travel will be sponsored for those students attending a college or university located more than 400 miles from the Houston area. For those students attending a college or university located less than 400 miles, please refer to the Chartered Bus Travel – Group Travel section.

How will I be notified if I am awarded travel funding?
If you are selected to receive travel funding, HENAAC will contact you via email to confirm your conference attendance before purchasing your airfare. You will then have 48 hours to confirm. If you do not confirm within 48 hours your grant will be given to the next qualifying individual. Once participation is confirmed, your airfare will be purchased.

How will I receive my travel itinerary?
Once selected and HENAAC receives your email confirmation, your airfare will be purchased. Your itinerary will be sent to you within two weeks.

How will students be selected to receive travel funding?
Funding will be given based on: receipt date of application, application answers, contract and registration payment, past HENAAC Conference participation, and, airline specials.

What is the deadline to apply for travel funding?
HENAAC will be accepting individual travel applications beginning March 1, 2008. The last day to apply and be considered for funding is September 2, 2008 unless funds are depleted at an earlier date.

What if I am selected for travel funding and am unable to attend the Conference?
If for some reason you cannot attend the conference and your airfare has been purchased by HENAAC, you will be held responsible for the complete cost of the airfare minus your registration fee which will not be refunded. You will be required to reimburse HENAAC for the cost of your airline ticket by November 30, 2008.

What if I am not selected for travel funding and I have paid the student registration fee?
If you are not selected by HENAAC to receive travel funding and you are unable to fund your own travel to the Conference, your registration fee will be reimbursed (minus a $10.00 administrative fee) provided that you notify the HENAAC office no later than September 12, 2008

Will I be able to share the same flights as other students at my university?
HENAAC will do its best to accommodate students from the same university so that flights times are the same. However this will depend when you each apply, on the availability of flights to and from the Houston airports, as well as airline specials.

Do I have the choice of a Conference departure date?
Yes – either Sunday, October 12th after 5:00 pm or the morning of Monday, October 13th. (Many colleges and universities are closed because Monday is the Columbus Day holiday.) However your choice depends on the availability of flights and is not guaranteed.

Does HENAAC provide shuttle transportation to and from the conference hotel?
HENAAC will arrange for your shuttle transportation to the airport from your hotel only, if HENAAC has purchased your airfare. Shuttle information to the airport will be posted at the hotel after the Student Leadership Luncheon.

Does HENAAC cover gas, mileage or parking?
No, HENAAC does not cover gas, mileage or parking for students who drive to the Conference or for the hotel or convention center.

What if I need to change my flight itinerary?
You will be responsible for any fee changes associated with the change in your flight itinerary and any related cost associated with the airline.

What if I miss my flight?
HENAAC is not responsible for any missed flights or airport transportation if you missed your flight. You will be responsible for arriving on time for your scheduled arrival and departure flights and scheduled shuttles from the hotel to the airport.

Will charter buses be sponsored?
Yes. If you have a group of 35 students, you may qualify for charter bus sponsorship. Charted bus travel is only sponsored for departure on Friday, October 10th. You will have the option of returning on Sunday, October 12th after 5:00 pm or the morning of Monday, October 13th. For charter bus information, please contact Adalina Rodriguez at (323) 262-0997 or adalina@henaac.org.

For additional information, please contact Kathy Borunda Barrera at (323) 262-0997 or kathy@henaac.org.