Celebrating Our 2023 Award Winners
In a year filled with many pivotal moments in our university’s history, our Hilltoppers continued to excel in their academics, and took every opportunity to embody our mission. We’re proud of our students' accomplishments and we’re honored to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our Class of 2022-2023.
Among this year’s graduates are 11 Presidential Award winners who embraced their college experience to consistently live excellence out loud. Throughout their journey, they received academic honors and accolades, led student organizations and created meaningful campus engagements centered on social justice, service and advocacy. They took on rewarding internships and conducted groundbreaking research. And they volunteered their time in Austin and communities beyond to serve others.
Below, we share some of their top achievements along with some life lessons in their own words. See how these standout students gained the most from their time on the hilltop — and how they’re taking on their world.
Adoree Benke ‘23, International Business | Criminal Justice
ON THE HILLTOP
- Served as president of the St. Edward’s Chapter of It’s On Us, a national organization that raises awareness about college sexual assault and educates youth about consent and bystander intervention. Adoree coordinated campus events that contributed to the overarching organizational goal of ending sexual violence.
- Volunteered for Safe Walk, a student-run organization dedicated to safely transporting students across campus after dark. She was also a member of the Title IX Committee and Title IX Student Advisory Board.
- Served as a member of the campus business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, and a writer for Hilltop Views.
A LIFE LESSON
“The many opportunities for leadership, service, and scholarship at St. Edward’s have ignited my growth. I accepted these roles as a desire to contribute more to my community. I have always had big dreams, and as these dreams come more into focus, I’d like them to grow into a legacy of progress.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Adoree plans to continue down a path of lifelong advocacy by pursuing a career in law.
Sharee Eggleston ‘23, Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Higher Education
ON THE HILLTOP
- Her doctoral dissertation addressed the real and perceived financial barriers to higher education in the United States. As a part of this research, she has been helping students complete their FAFSA applications.
- With over a decade of experience in education and language instruction, Sharee has mentored at-risk youth through a variety of roles and taught English as a second language to adult non-native English speakers.
- During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on schools, she supported children in her community by providing homeschooling instruction.
A LIFE LESSON
“All of my endeavors have been to strengthen my impact in this vein. This is my pursuit through leadership, service and scholarship. I plan to continue evolving into my best self and making even greater contributions to family, community, and society.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Sharee currently serves as a guardian ad litem with CASA of Travis County and a volunteer with BreakFree Education, an organization that helps incarcerated youth to earn their high school diplomas. She plans to continue living out her mission through each of her future professional and volunteer experiences.
Daniel Guerrero ‘22, Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Higher Education
ON THE HILLTOP
- His doctoral dissertation research involved enhancing mentoring skills with the San Marcos Fire Department, resulting in requests from other City agencies to conduct similar studies with them.
- Completed his Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Ethics at St. Edward’s.
Relied on the empathy, compassion, and resilience he gained through his Holy Cross education during his three, two-year terms as Mayor of San Marcos, TX.
A LIFE LESSON
“I began each semester with a lesson in self-reflection, articulating your vision, and embracing authenticity. All of these have been essential lessons from my professors and mentors from St. Edward’s University. I love my job and believe the experiences I have gained as a student and servant leader have empowered me with the skills to inspire a new generation of leaders.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Daniel is currently the Chair of the MBA Program at Concordia University and volunteers with Sunshine Kids Organization while serving on the Board of Directors for Discovery Camps, both of which serve children with cancer. He is also a volunteer Santa Clause for various Central Texas organizations, and a Board Member for the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
Victoria Hernandez ‘23, Entrepreneurship | Marketing
ON THE HILLTOP
- Recognized for academic excellence as a McNair Scholar, she conducted graduate-level research on unequal access to healthcare which she presented at multiple national conferences.
- Leaning on her personal experience as a CAMP scholar, she served as a CAMP Enrichment Week facilitator, in addition to regularly mentoring CAMP freshmen through the Peer Academic Program.
Landed a Community Impact Internship with the Austin FC, which allowed her to advance corporate social responsibility efforts by working with professional goalkeeper Brad Stuver on a free laundry service project and collaborate with Austin Pets Alive to find homes for over 50 rescue pets.
A LIFE LESSON
“I always emphasize how much I want to change the world. Austin FC taught me a few of the different ways in which corporations can do so as well.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Victoria plans to attend graduate school and continue meaningfully living out her values in her professional career.
Evan Mao ‘23, Communication | Digital Media Management
ON THE HILLTOP
- As president of Hilltop Hospitality, Evan revamped the way the group operates events like Choose SEU and other opportunities for tour guides to strengthen their bond with one another in order to be more successful in recruiting the next servant leaders of St. Edward's.
- Served as a retreat leader for Campus Ministry which allowed him to recognize that true connection isn’t just built by listening to others, but by being vulnerable enough to share your own life experiences with them as well.
- Participated in two Service Break Experiences: one as a participant on a trip to Puerto Rico to restore homes destroyed by Hurricane Maria, and the other as a leader on an immersion at the homeless shelter Andre House in Phoenix, Arizona.
A LIFE LESSON
“My week at Andre House exemplified my servant-leader outlook. I shared stories with many different people, made permanent memories in my heart and mind, and provided guidance by actively encouraging my group to engage with others with appreciation, humility, trust, and genuine empathy and care: all traits of Holy Cross servant-leadership."
WHAT’S NEXT
Prior to graduation, Evan secured a full-time position as a Creative Services Specialist with Snowflake, a company that he interned with mid-freshman year. He also plans to continue pursuing his acting dreams!
Courtney Reed ‘22, Psychology | Religious and Theological Studies
ON THE HILLTOP
- Served as president of the Black Student Alliance and spearheaded a “Power to the People” event to educate the student body on meaningful activism. Courtney also initiated a Student Diversity Leadership Roundtable to voice the concerns of underrepresented students to campus leadership.
- For her honors thesis, she explored misogynoir, racism, gendered racial microaggressions, and outcomes for Black women in higher education.
- Served as a Resident Assistant in Fall 2020, and as she helped distribute clean drinking water to residents during the 2021 snowstorm, she realized that sometimes togetherness means performing small acts of service with joy.
A LIFE LESSON
“I couldn’t help but glance around in the realization that this was community. The understanding of true and impactful togetherness dawned on me. I can confidently say that my most valued feat has been learning how to not only foster community for those around me, but to be a part of it as well.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Courtney plans to integrate her faith, activism, and commitment to education by pursuing graduate studies in educational administration and policy.
Calista Robledo ‘22, Writing and Rhetoric | Catholic Studies | Creative Writing
ON THE HILLTOP
- Led an unofficial Summer Playwriting Salon with Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and Rhetoric Tim Braun, and led retreats for Campus Ministry.
- Served as editor for The Sorin Oak Review and writer for the Arete Academic Journal.
In February 2020, she served as the Spiritual Development Coordinator for Campus Ministry, a position that allowed her to facilitate faith development programs at a time when many students were feeling lost and hopeless as a result of the global pandemic.
A LIFE LESSON
“I became the person I’m meant to be at St. Edward’s University. I realized how my creativity as a writer holds a place in my ministry; both are integral to my being, and both were cultivated on the hilltop.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Since graduating in December, Calista is pursuing graduate school opportunities to begin her next chapter.
Kelly Salinas ‘22, Biology | Teacher Education
ON THE HILLTOP
- Awarded the Noyce Scholarship from the Robert Noyce Foundation, which provides scholars from STEM backgrounds the opportunity to enter the education field by working in a Title I school.
- Served as Design Editor for Hilltop Views.
- Served as a leader and active member of Campus Ministry, and a Resident Assistant and Student Orientation Leader.
A LIFE LESSON
“I cannot help but be grateful for the ways that leadership and service have shaped my approach to life.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Since graduating in December, Kelly has been educating hearts and minds at Del Valle High School in Austin. Although she is teaching Science, she is also imparting Holy Cross values to her students. After all, she has earned, as she calls it, “a degree in the science of loving others.”
Maya Smalls ‘23, Criminal Justice | Accounting
ON THE HILLTOP
- Interned with the Travis County Juvenile Justice Department, where she had the opportunity to mentor youth at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Detention Center. She developed life skills lesson plans, facilitated a hip-hop therapy program, and assisted in preparing youth for job applications and interviews.
- Served as captain of the Women’s Volleyball team. She helped lead the team to make the first ever Conference Tournament Championship Match in the Lone Star Conference in Fall 2021.
- Served as a leader and active member of the Student Government Association, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Campus Ministry, and the Black Student Alliance.
A LIFE LESSON
“Being involved allowed me to grow beyond being a student-athlete; it taught me how to be a leader. I was soon an athlete passionate about social justice working to maintain a safe space for Black students.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Maya will attend Angelo State University in the fall where she will be pursuing a master’s in Business Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Management.
Sabrina Loren Tabibian ‘23, Social Work | Psychology
ON THE HILLTOP
- Served as president of the Social Work Student Association. Under her leadership, the organization grew from 15 members to over 110.
- Served as a member of the St. Edward’s chapter of Generation Citizen, which allowed her to volunteer with middle school students.
- As a member of Monarchs, she helped to establish the university’s first food pantry and led ally training to create a more inclusive campus community.
A LIFE LESSON
“Being able to visibly see my impact was life-changing. “The more I ventured out of my comfort zone, the more at home I felt and the more connected I felt to myself. I found where my heart was meant to be.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Sabrina is graduating with a 4.0 GPA and has been accepted to a graduate degree program in Social Work. She plans to continue guiding, supporting, and educating others by pursuing a career as a crisis social worker and, eventually, a professor who can impact the lives of young students the way her professors have impacted hers.
Saida Wiltz ‘23, Biochemistry
ON THE HILLTOP
- Researched race-based health disparities which focused on how inadequate health care for black communities is often the result of implicit bias.
- Served as a member of the Student Diversity and Inclusion Leaders Roundtable, where she provided recommendations on how to enhance DEI initiatives on campus.
- Co-founded the Black Student-Athletes and Allies Committee (BSAAC), organizing meetings between black student-athletes and campus allies who came together to talk openly about their personal experiences with racism.
A LIFE LESSON
“It’s daunting to read statistics and learn about systems of oppression, but being the leader of BSAAC taught me how creating spaces where people feel seen and heard can encourage growth and combat implicit bias in others. This experience taught me that small changes of thought can lead to more people becoming anti-racist.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Saida plans to bring her St. Edward’s education back to her home community in Southern California, where she hopes to work for a hospital and establish community centers for black youth focused on health and wellness.
