Alumni are critical to HACER's success as a club. Former Rice students are our pioneers as well as our supporters. The history committee will chronicle the accomplishments and experiences of Rice Hispanic alums. In addition, we will use this page to publicize events of interest to alums. We coordinate our efforts with the Society of Latino Alumni of Rice (SOLAR) and the Office of Alumni Affairs. Alumni can update their current address online.

Alumni
	Please contact HACER if you are interested in: Attending social mixers with undergrads. Mentoring Hispanic undergrads such as pre-med and pre-law students. Helping us update our records of past officers & advisors.

Scholarships for Service

On December 1, 2001, SOLAR awarded its first Scholarships for Service during the Posada dinner and entertainment celebration sponsored by HACER. Rice students Maricela Alarcon '02, Marco Campos '02, Alexandra Varela '03, and Jose Ramirez '03 were each awarded $250 for their dedication and efforts to make a difference for Latinos at Rice and in the Houston community. The awards were made possible because of SOLAR membership dues and gifts and a generous donation from Dorothy Farrinton Caram '55, who donated to the scholarship fund in memory of her late father, Curtis Farrington '38. Read about past scholarship competitions.

HACER Posada, 1-Dec-2001

Maricela Alarcon '02, Marco Campos '02, Alexandra Varela '03, and Jose Ramirez '03 received awards presented by Mike Gomez '97, Elisa Garza '91, and Dr. Alberto Roca.

SOLAR Homecoming Reception

SOLAR hosted the organization's first homecoming dinner and presentation in November 2001. Thirty-four SOLAR members, faculty, Rice alums and guests attended the gathering, which was organized and hosted in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Affairs, Maria Govea Villenas '91, and Dr. Alberto Roca, an HACER staff advisor. Because the event was such a success, several new members joined the organization, and alums who returned to Houston for the event were able to reconnect with classmates and their alma mater. Highlights of the evening included Rey Ocañas '91 reflecting on life after Rice during the last 10 years and Elisa Garza '91 reading from her recent chapbook of poetry, Familia. Alumni who attended included Dorothy Farrington Caram '55, Cristina Niño Cox '58, Marcos '76 and Martha Garcia Aguilar '76, Adan Vega '76, Donald '79 and Martha Niño '79, Arthur Niño '86, Carla Mendiola '91, Jaime Fernandez '92, John Garza '93, and Mike Gomez '97.

Homecoming, 10-Nov-2001

Jaime Fernandez '92, Rey Ocañas '91, Elisa Garza '91, Carla Mendiola '91, and Maria Govea Villenas '91. More photos.

Rice Centennial, 16-Sep-2012

Alumni from the classes of around 2002.

History Committee

The longterm goal of this committee is to document and evaluate the experiences of Hispanics students and staff at Rice University. To accomplish this we anticipate working on projects such as the following: Plan meetings/receptions honoring Rice Hispanic alumni from past decades: October 19, 2000: 1920's & 30's. Read about this event. Sadly, Mr. Gonzalez passed away in June. April 7, 2001: 1940's & 50's. November 15, 2002: 1970's and RAMAS/HACER 30th anniversary celebration. Survey Hispanic Rice alumni about their experiences. Certain alumni from the meetings described above have been interviewed. These oral history tapes and other materials have been archived at the Woodson Research Center of the Fondren Library. Collect photographs and other memorabilia for a display. We hope to construct exhibits at locations such as the Fondren Library atrium during Hispanic Heritage Month. Collect any relevant published materials from sources such as the Campanile yearbook, the Rice Thresher, Rice News, Houston Post, and Houston Chronicle. Work with the Office of Alumni Affairs to identify former Rice students who are Hispanic. Such information was not systematically recorded before the 1970's. In the process we hope to figure out who was the first Hispanic student to graduate from Rice. In collaboration with History Professor John Boles, we will identify independent study students who will write scholarly research papers on some topic concerning the history of Hispanics at Rice. We hope to collect several such papers to publish a book. Write short feature stories about Hispanics at Rice to be printed in publications such as HACER's El Tecolote newsletter, Cornerstone (the Rice Historical Society Newsletter), Rice Thresher, Sallyport, etc. We will also publish such stories on the HACER web site with supporting multimedia material. Examples below: Their experience, our legacy: a brief history of Hispanics at Rice Rice University Hispanics of the 1940's and 1950's This will be HACER's opportunity to involve former students in our club as we learn from their experiences. This is a great way to network with Hispanic leaders. The University administration supports our efforts since it encourages alumni to get involved. Finally the problems that Hispanic students face today are almost certainly not new. Let us learn from the hardships that our ancestors endured and let us capitalize upon the successes that they championed.

HACER History Presentation, 19-Oct-2000

Four generations of the Gonzalez family were present for Edumundo Gonzalez's discussion of Rice in the 1920's. From left: Cesar, Edmundo, Jorge, Jason, and Rice alum Ana (Wiess '88).