Texas Lawmakers Honor St. Edward's University for Commitment to Serving Latino Students
Austin, Texas — St. Edward’s University is proud to announce the Texas House of Representatives has adopted a resolution recognizing the university for earning the national Seal of Excelencia for its academic success, retention and graduation rates for Latino students.
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, university leaders, faculty, staff and students joined lawmakers of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas State Capitol for the reading of HR 23, a resolution filed by Representative Lulu Flores (HD 51) which recognizes St. Edward’s for receiving the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in Fall 2023. St. Edward’s is the only Catholic university, first private university in Texas and second private institution in the U.S. to earn this distinguished three-year certification.
“Receiving this distinguished recognition from the Texas House of Representatives is an acknowledgment of our ongoing and intentional commitment toward paving a path for success for our current and future students,” said St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes. "Our administrators, faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with increased access to scholarships, internships, research and advanced experiential learning opportunities that will position them for academic success and their professional career. Support from partners, donors and the community greatly enhance the potential to elevate the lives of St. Edward's University students.”
In addition to recognition for earning the Seal, the Texas House of Representatives congratulated the university for numerous remarkable achievements in 2023 — all of which reflect the university’s commitment to serving Hispanic and Latino students throughout their academic journey.
In Spring 2023, St. Edward’s received a more than $2.1 million grant from The Hector and Gloria López Foundation (HGLF) — providing full tuition assistance for first-generation Latino college students. St. Edward’s is the only Austin institution and first private university in Texas to receive an HGLF grant. In Summer 2023, the university received a $50,000 grant from The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA) to establish an endowment to provide future financial support opportunities for first-generation Hispanic Pre-Law Advising Program students.
This is the second time this year Texas lawmakers have acknowledged St. Edward’s at the Texas State Capitol. In the spring, the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate adopted a resolution commemorating February 9, 2023 as St. Edward’s University Day — recognizing the hilltop’s long legacy of success and our efforts to enrich communities beyond campus.
Enjoy Video of the Texas House of Representatives Recognizing St. Edward's University on Tuesday, November 7, 2023
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 50 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 21 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2024 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #6 in the Best Regional University in the West category.
