Texas A&M University-San Antonio hosted its 17th Annual Dream Maker Scholarship Celebration on November 21, 2025, at the Witte Museum’s Mays Family Center, bringing together more than 500 guests from across San Antonio and Bexar County to champion student success.
The evening unfolded against the backdrop of one of San Antonio’s most cherished spaces, creating a setting that reflects the University’s deep roots in the community. The event supports A&M-San Antonio scholarships, helping turn its students' dreams into reality.
The Dream Maker Scholarship Celebration, the University’s largest fundraising event, raised an impressive total of over $310,000 this year. This year’s Title Sponsor was the Muriel F. Siebert Foundation and the Dream Maker Sponsor was Students + Startups: Internships Powered by the 80|20 Foundation. In just the last decade, Dream Maker has generated nearly $2.6 million in scholarship support, helping thousands of students with financial need achieve their educational goals.
The Dream Maker Scholarship Celebration honors an individual who has made an indelible impact on the education of A&M-San Antonio students. This year’s Dream Maker honoree was San Antonio civic leader Jane Macon. She was honored for her pioneering career in law and public service, as well as her tireless advocacy for education and community advancement. Her story is woven into the fabric of San Antonio’s progress, and her influence continues to inspire future leaders.
“It could not be more fitting that we honor one of the very first pioneers of A&M-San Antonio, Jane Macon,” said President Salvador Hector Ochoa. “I have had the sincere pleasure of getting to know Jane personally, and I can attest to what a trailblazer she is. Like a true Texas pioneer, she saw the potential of South San Antonio and our entire community. She is an advocate for the power of higher education and is known across San Antonio as an unstoppable force.”
Speakers at the event included Texas A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar, Romanita Matta-Barrera, Henry Cisneros, Tony Plana, and emcee Ernie Zuniga. Past scholarship recipients joined the celebration, underscoring the campaign’s lasting impact and serving as a powerful reminder that the Dream Maker legacy is not measured in dollars alone, but in the lives transformed across Bexar County and beyond.
Student Alberto Hernandez-Ontiveros was this year’s student honoree. A junior majoring in biology with a pre-health concentration, he came to A&M-San Antonio to pursue his dream of becoming a surgeon one day.
“Growing up, my dad let me dream, he always told me ‘the sky’s the limit’,” said Hernandez-Ontiveros. “Texas A&M-San Antonio really piqued my interest. It was definitely amazing getting those scholarships because I wasn’t going to leave my parents with that financial burden. The community that Texas A&M-San Antonio bolsters shows you that you’re not in it alone.”
The Dream Maker Scholarship Celebration is a testament to the power of community partnerships in San Antonio. By investing in scholarships, local leaders and donors are helping first-generation and underrepresented students access higher education, fueling workforce development and economic growth in South Texas. The University’s commitment to affordability and opportunity continues to transform lives and strengthen the region’s future.
The University would like to thank all of the event’s sponsors who helped make this another record-breaking year.