Awards

This award is given at Homecoming and is granted to an alumnus/alumna based on the following criteria:

• Professional excellence and substantial contributions to his/her profession
• Substantial community service contributions
• Exemplifies leadership and ethical standards
• Record of continued support to the university and its programs
• Graduated more than 20 years ago

2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

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Michael Wyatt MBA ’01

Master of Business Administration

Michael Wyatt MBA ’01 is honored with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for his globally recognized leadership in cybersecurity, his commitment to public service, and his enduring support for St. Edward’s University. Graduating from the MBA program in 2001, Michael exemplifies the highest standards of professional excellence, ethical leadership, and community contribution.

“When I decided to get my MBA,” he says, “I was working for IBM/Tivoli as a product manager with extensive international travel. I needed a program designed for working professionals, and St. Edward’s fit the bill. In addition, I appreciated that many of the faculty had worked in the industry prior to becoming professors, which brought real-world experience into the classroom. I thoroughly enjoyed my MBA – in many ways, even more than my undergraduate experience.”

Michael’s career has been defined by substantial contributions to the field of cybersecurity. He is the global
leader who built and doubled Deloitte’s identity management practice into the largest in the world, serving
clients with a team of over 4,300 dedicated professionals. His expertise is frequently called upon for high-
stakes public matters; notably, he was instrumental in helping the State of South Carolina recover from the
largest public sector breach at the time, establishing a robust, enduring cybersecurity program from the
ground up. He continues to serve as Deloitte’s cybersecurity leader for State, Local, and Higher Education,
helping institutions across the nation become more secure and resilient.

Still, Michael says his proudest moment as an alumnus has been, “Seeing [The Bill Munday School of Business]
achieve AACSB accreditation... It’s certainly well deserved.” Michael is a generous supporter of both The Bill
Munday School of Business and its students. Through personal gifts and matching contributions from Deloitte,
he has significantly impacted today’s students. Every year, MBA students receive financial support through
The Wyatt Family Endowed Scholarship, which he established to ensure promising students would not be
limited by financial circumstances.

Michael’s commitment to service extends even further. As an adjunct professor at the University of Texas, he
mentors the next generation of cybersecurity leaders, constantly stressing the importance of remaining
curious and open-minded in a rapidly changing world. His dedication to mission-driven work was
demonstrated during his time as a student when he helped a team develop the internship program for
Huston-Tillotson University, a project he described as highly rewarding. Michael says the most valuable piece
of advice he’s ever received is: “If you knew how little people thought of you, you would not worry so much
what people think of you.” He says, “It’s great advice. You can ruminate on how people feel, and what I have
learned over time is that if you do your best and keep moving forward, the outcomes are what is important.”
The outcomes of Michael’s work and community commitments are evident in his outstanding record of
leadership, driven by a philosophy of perseverance—"Finish what you start"—in addition to his ethical
fortitude. The Alumni Association is proud to award Michael Wyatt with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.

This award is given at Homecoming and is granted to an alumnus/alumna based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated potential for professional excellence and contributions to his/her profession
• Contributes to his/her community
• Exemplifies leadership and ethical standards
• Record of continued support to the university and its programs as an alumnus/alumna
• Alumni are eligible five years after graduation

2025 Alumni Achievement Award Recipient

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Chris Bolner ’89

BBA in General Business

Chris Bolner ‘89 is an inspiring example for generations of Hilltoppers, and we are proud to honor him with the 2025 Alumni Achievement Award. In doing so, we recognize the many ways he has extended Holy Cross values and improved lives – from serving millions of people through his family’s spice business, to his faithfulness to God and family, his enduring commitment to St. Edward’s, and much more.

Chris was initially drawn to St. Edward’s because he sought the close-knit, Catholic community atmosphere of our Hilltop family — and it was a perfect fit, especially once he learned of the Holy Cross connection to Notre Dame. He says, “The most valuable lesson I learned was to keep God close to your heart. In college, you need Him to carry you through term papers and exams... Work hard and dedicate time to develop the talent He gave you, and be gracious along the way.” Chris says that walking across the stage to receive his diploma was not only the culmination of his studies and growth at St. Edward’s, it was also his proudest moment as a student.

While Chris deepened his faith and knowledge at St. Ed’s, he also learned that if something interests you, you
should explore it. Likewise, if you come across a problem, you should stop and resolve it right away. Now, he
applies lessons like these to his professional and personal life. He celebrates a remarkable 35-year career with
his family’s well-known spice business, Bolner’s Fiesta Products, Inc. As Vice President, he says his passion is to
invent new spice blends that taste good and that people will love to cook with. To today’s students, Chris says,
“If you try hard and dedicate yourself to a worthy cause, job, or event, you have a great chance to succeed.”

Giving generously of time, talent, and treasure is a family tradition that Chris believes in strongly. In honor of
Chris and his experience at St. Ed’s, his family established The Christopher B. Bolner '89 Endowed Scholarship
in 2002 so that generations of business students from San Antonio can access a transformative education.
And, Chris says spending quality time with family – especially his wife, Magdalena, and their children – is his
greatest interest. He advises, “When you get up in the morning, thank God for letting you open your eyes.
Next, tell your significant other you appreciate all they do for you. Always thank your mom and dad for giving
you the gift of life. [Then] when you go to sleep, thank God for a great day.”

In honor of his servant’s heart and his faith-fueled personal and professional achievements, the Alumni
Association is proud to present Chris Bolner with the Alumni Achievement Award.

This award is given at Homecoming and is granted to an alumnus/alumna based on the following criteria:

• Extraordinary ongoing service to the Alumni Association
• Exemplifies leadership and ethical standards
• Proud and loyal ambassador for St. Edward’s University
• Record of continued support to the university and its programs as an alumnus/alumna
• Lives out the mission of St. Edward’s University

2025 Alumni Service Award Recipient

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Lauren Hill ’15

BA in Liberal Studies

Lauren Hill ’15 is a steadfast and passionate ambassador for the St. Edward’s University family, and we are profoundly honored to recognize her with the 2025 Alumni Service Award. In her first encounters with St. Ed’s, Lauren says, “Even though I had never toured the campus… something about it intrigued me. My decision became clear after attending an admission brunch for prospective African-American students at The Breakfast Klub. There, I met Dinah Sbelgio Kinard, whose warm presence left a lasting impression. She said, ‘St. Edward’s is home away from home.’ Those words stuck with me. In that moment, I knew it was where I belonged.”

As a student, she demonstrated early leadership and dedication, notably serving as the Registration Director on the Board of Directors for The BIG Event and the Student Government Association (SGA) during her senior year. She says her experiences at St. Ed’s played a major role in shaping who she is today, recalling: “Participating in the Brother Dunstan Bowles Persuasive Speaking Contest for three consecutive years – despite never winning – was incredibly meaningful. Through that experience, I discovered my voice, gained
the courage to speak in front of an audience, and built lasting confidence in my communication abilities.” In fact, her commitment to campus life and the Hilltop community set the stage for her lifelong relationship with the university.

As an alumna, Lauren has distinguished herself through a record of continued support and engagement, living
out the university’s mission to create safe, inclusive spaces for growth. She carries the valuable lesson of
mentorship—a core insight she gained from her SEU experience—forward into her current roles as an Adjunct
Professor at Houston City College and Director of a Summer Residential Program at the University of North
Carolina School of Arts. Of her proudest accomplishments beyond the Hilltop, Lauren says, “I became the first
in my family on both sides to earn a Master’s degree – a milestone that once felt like a dream deferred. With
prayer, perseverance, and encouragement, I was given the opportunity to pursue and complete my degree at
Abilene Christian University.”

Lauren exemplifies high ethical and leadership standards by using her own journey of resilience to inspire
others. She encourages today’s Hilltoppers to embrace the community, find a mentor, and know that SEU truly
is a second family. She says, “The most valuable piece of advice I’ve ever received was to be unapologetically
myself. I hold this close because being myself means embracing every part of who I am – my healing,
struggles, independence, joy, misunderstandings, and courage. At SEU, I found a safe and inclusive space
where I could grow into my most authentic self, surrounded by people who encouraged and accepted me…. As
an alum and lifelong educator, I continue to live by this advice.”

Lauren’s personal mission to advocate for mental health and educational access, and to help students discover
their calling and vocation, reflects a deep commitment to the Holy Cross values and the betterment of her
community. We proudly celebrate Lauren Hill ’15, whose dedication ensures the Hilltop experience continues
to be meaningful and transformative for future generations. The Alumni Association is honored to present her
with the Alumni Service Award.

This award is given during Homecoming and is granted to an alumnus/alumna based on the following criteria:

• Graduated within 5 years
• Has demonstrated professional excellence and substantial contributions to their field
• Has exemplary ethical and leadership standards
• Has contributed to their community through volunteer service
• Has a record of engagement and support to the university and its programs

2025 Rising Star Award Recipient

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Allison Moujaes ’19

BBA in Management

Allison Moujaes ’19 is most deserving of the 2025 Rising Star Award, and we are delighted to celebrate her inspiring example as a professional committed to community leadership in the Holy Cross tradition. “When I went on the tour [of St. Edward’s] it was love at first sight,” says Allison. “St. Edward’s was perfect because it is peaceful, a great community, plenty of interesting opportunities, and one of the best views of the city.”

As a student, Allison demonstrated exceptional leadership, most notably serving in various capacities within Alpha Phi Omega throughout her time on campus, culminating in the role of president her senior year. Alpha Phi Omega is a national, coeducational service fraternity based on the principles of leadership, friendship, and service. “While I have been proud to be a part of many opportunities from study abroad to assisting with the bio/neuroscience projects to the Spring Break Experience in El Paso, I would say that it has been a great honor to lead Alpha Phi Omega,” she says. “Alpha Phi Omega was an organization that I committed to from my second month on campus up until graduation.”

In her professional life, Allison has quickly established herself as an exemplary leader, currently serving as an Executive
Assistant at the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Demonstrating a commitment to professional
excellence and community contribution, Allison proudly graduated from the Hispanic Austin Leadership (HAL) program.
During the nine-month program, she collaborated with a cohort of amazing Hispanic professionals to study topics like
civic engagement and environmental sustainability. For her team's final project, they successfully hosted a panel on
generational wealth. Allison’s commitment to community is also reflected in her hobbies, where she loves volunteering,
going to events, and discovering new places.

Allison credits her SEU experience with instilling the importance of learning from and helping improve your community.
The valuable advice she lives by is to, “Take all the opportunities but also know when to slow down and rest. You can't
help others if you can't help yourself.” Allison encourages current students to embrace curiosity, take every opportunity
presented, and believe they deserve it.

Indeed, today she continues to live out a lesson from SEU: the importance of learning from and helping to improve your
community. This tenet is reflected in her career and hobbies. “Whether it’s volunteering, going to events or workshops,
or discovering a new place or hidden gem,” she says, “I love being out in whatever community I am in.”
In light of her outstanding personal and professional achievements and her commitment to the values of St. Edward’s
University, the Alumni Association is pleased to present Allison Moujaes ’19 with the Rising Star Award.