D.D. Hachar Program
The D. D. Hachar Visiting Hispanic Media Professionals Program is a joint venture between the university and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Students visit campus for the day to participate in presentations by mass communication professionals and visit campus facilities, including campus media and residence halls. For many of the students, this was their first visit to a college campus. More than half of the students indicated they would be the first in their family to attend college. The Laredo students traditionally visit campus in October during Mass Communication Week so they can mingle with college students and benefit from a variety of mass communication professionals who speak on campus for the event. About 600 Laredo students have visited Texas State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication since the beginning of the partnership with the D.D. Hachar Charitable Trust in 2004.
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Schedule: D.D. Hachar Program – MCWeek 2025 for Wednesday, October 8th, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
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Arrival 9:30 AM
- Description: Student Arrival
- Location: Live Oak Hall Studios
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Welcome 9:45 AM
- Description: Welcome by Dr. Judy Oskam, School of Journalism and Mass Communication Director, and Dino Chiecchi, MFA Associate Professor of Practice
- Location: Like Oak Hall Studio
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Live Oak Hall Studio Tour 10 AM
- Description: Students will have a grand tour of the state-of-the-art facilities
- Location: Like Oak Hall Studio
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First-Generation Student Panel 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
- Description: Student Panel with Joseph Chavarria, Lesdy Hernandez, Kate Maddison
- Location: Like Oak Hall Studio
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Student Media Tour 11 AM - 11:45 AM
- Description: Students tour the University Star newsroom and KTSW-FM radio station
- Location: Trinity
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Lunch - 12:15 PM
- Location: Harris Hall
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Speaker - 1:30 PM
- Description: Kolten Parker, KSAT-12 Manager of Content And Coverage
- Location: LBJ Student Center 315
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Photo Challenge - 2 PM
- Location: LBJ Student Center Bookstore
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Bookstore Tour - 3 PM
- Location: LBJ Student Center Bookstore
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Departure - 3:30 PM
- Students return to Laredo
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FAQ
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Who is Demetrio D. Hachar?
Don Demetrio David Hachar, a Lebanese-born immigrant who moved to Laredo and shared his business’ success with the community, made a promise to help finance young ‘Laredoans’ with their formal education. Upon his death, a trust fund, a living legacy to his promise, was set in 1980 and has helped hundreds of Hispanic students from Laredo complete higher education and succeed.
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What is the purpose of the program?
Provide funding primarily for higher education, particularly scholarships to financially needy residents (of at least three years) of Laredo, Webb County, and surrounding counties in TX, who must maintain a GPA of 2.75. Students planning to attend a technical or vocational school will be considered on an individual basis as far as grade point average is concerned.
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What is the D. D. Hachar Visiting Hispanic Media Professionals Program?
The D. D. Hachar Visiting Hispanic Media Professionals Program with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University hosts professionals in the field of communications to visit Texas State University during Mass Comm Week.
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Which Laredo High Schools have visited the campus?
The Vidal M. Trevino School of Fine Arts and Communication magnet school has visited Texas State University from Laredo for the last 12 years, bringing over 600 students. The Lyndon B. Johnson High School of the United ISD has also visited San Marcos with its students
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What makes this program unique?
The commitment of instructors, advisors, media professionals and faculty members who mentor the dedication and hard work of Hispanic students in Laredo make the program a one-of-a-kind program.
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What is “The Hachar Promise?”
Don Demetrio David Hachar once said, “With education, people do not need outside help; they can help themselves”.
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When was the program founded?
The D.D. Hachar program was founded in 1980.
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D.D. Hachar Contact
D. Hachar Charitable Trust Fund
2200 Post Oak Blvd., 19th Fl.
Houston, TX United States 77056-4700
Telephone: (956) 764-2811
Fax: (956) 764-1592