THE HISPANIC ALUMNI ALLIANCE’S FALL 2024 FAMILY WEEKEND TAILGATE brought some 300 Horned Frogs — alumni, students and parents — to the Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center for pregame tacos and socializing. The alliance, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has seen attendance at its popular tailgate triple in the last three years.

The Hispanic Alumni Alliance operates as an affinity group — a group formed around a similar interest or common goal — under the umbrella of the TCU Alumni Association.

Class of 2003 alumna Victoria Herrera was a member of the Hispanic Alumni Alliance’s founding board.

“We really love the fact that we’re heavily involved with the TCU Alumni Association,” said Victoria Herrera ’03, an active member who was on the founding board. “They guide us, welcome us, and they’re open to our ideas because they know that we want to abide by the philosophy of TCU.”

An executive board of five, led by Luis Flores ’74, president, formed the alliance in 2004 and gathered a board of directors 13 members strong. Their mission was to encourage Hispanic students to attend TCU, build a campus presence and community and reach alumni who felt disconnected from Horned Frog culture.

“Back then, there was a small amount of diversity,” Flores said. “TCU and Fort Worth didn’t work in cooperation together like they do now.”

Hispanic students made up only 6.1 percent of TCU’s student body in 2004. By fall 2023, that number had increased to 17.8 percent.

In 2008, the Hispanic Alumni Alliance established a scholarship in memory of founding board member Greg Treviño ’95 (MLA ’04), who worked on campus in the alumni and intercultural services offices. The Greg Treviño Memorial Scholarship, now endowed, has since helped 26 students.

“This scholarship has helped me continue to further my educational goals at TCU and has shown me what a true Horned Frog looks like,” said Isabella Niño, a senior geology major. “I wish I had the honor of meeting Greg Treviño to express my gratitude for all he did for the TCU community, and I will honor him by continuing to share his passion and love for TCU.”

Maria Mason is the TCU National Alumni Board’s first Latina president.

Horned Frogs enjoy the Hispanic Alumni Alliance’s Family Weekend tailgate.

Luis Flores served as the Hispanic Alumni Alliance’s inaugural president.

Horned Frog faithful take a selfie during the September Family Weekend tailgate.

Isabella Niño is a recent recipient of the Greg Treviño Memorial Scholarship.

In addition to hosting its popular tailgates — two this football season — the Hispanic Alumni Alliance holds a welcome dinner for the families of incoming students each August and a family gratitude dinner each fall. Maria Mason ’02, a Fort Worth Realtor and founder of Camino Real Estate, which sponsored the Family Weekend tailgate, has hosted a Latina alumnae social each year since 2022. This year, the festivities moved from her home to the Kelly Center to accommodate a growing list of attendees.

“Hispanic alumni have really embraced what we’re doing at TCU,” said Mason, who also serves as president-elect of TCU’s National Alumni Board, the first Latina alumna to hold the position. The alliance has also connected with the larger TCU population, she added. “They want to see what we have going on. The community is embracing us.”