Texas A&M University-San Antonio will host its 18th Annual Dream Maker Scholarship Celebration on Friday, Oct. 30, at the Mays Family Center at the Witte Museum. The University’s signature fundraising event brings together hundreds of community leaders, philanthropists and supporters who invest in student success and help Jaguars turn their educational and professional dreams into reality.
This year’s emcee is Ernie Zuniga, a veteran TV and media personality and an anchor/reporter at KSAT. Guest Speakers will include Glenn Hager, who started as the chancellor of The Texas A&M University System in 2025.
Presented by H-E-B, the San Antonio-based retailer founded in 1905, this year’s celebration continues a tradition of making a transformative difference for A&M-San Antonio students. Over the past decade, Dream Maker has generated nearly $2.6 million in scholarship support, helping thousands of students with financial need pursue their educational goals.
“Dream Maker represents what is possible when a community comes together to invest in the potential of its students,” said President Salvador Hector Ochoa. “Every scholarship represents more than financial support; it represents an opportunity for a student to pursue a degree, build a career, and create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. We are deeply grateful to the leaders and supporters who make those opportunities possible and who believe in the dreams of our Jaguars.”
Each year, the Dream Maker Scholarship Celebration honors an individual whose leadership and commitment have made a meaningful impact on higher education and A&M-San Antonio students. This year’s honoree is Roxanne Orsak, H-E-B president and chief operating officer.
Orsak is a trailblazing leader whose 38-year career at H-E-B reflects a commitment to innovation, excellence and servant leadership. The first woman to serve as president in H-E-B’s history, Orsak has played a key role in the company’s growth while inspiring future generations of women to lead with vision, integrity and purpose.
Orsak began her H-E-B career in 1988 as a store management trainee and went on to hold a variety of leadership positions before being named chief operating officer in 2022 and president four years later. During Orsak’s tenure with H-E-B, the grocer has supported A&M-San Antonio through scholarships, sponsorships, career collaborations and generous donations that help the University address student food insecurity.
This year’s Dream Maker student honoree is A&M-San Antonio alumna Karina Lyssy, who graduated in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Lyssy began working for H-E-B as a freshman in 2022 and received multiple scholarships during her time with the company. Her experience eventually led to two summer internships, where she helped address real-world cost challenges and applied skills she developed at A&M-San Antonio, including time management, accountability and collaboration.
Lyssy plans to pursue an MBA at A&M-San Antonio and eventually hopes to operate her own H-E-B store.
What: 18th Annual Dream Maker Scholarship Celebration
When:
Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
6 p.m. Cocktail Reception | 7 p.m. Program
Where:
Witte Museum
3801 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78209