Nearly 500 alumni, friends and university supporters will come together for the 2026 UT San Antonio Alumni Gala on Saturday, August 8, at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa.
This year’s gala marks a new chapter for the Alumni Association as it brings together alumni from across the integrated university. For the first time, the event’s distinguished alumni honorees include graduates of UT San Antonio’s health professional programs, broadening the celebration to recognize the achievements of alumni across the institution.
Hosted by the UT San Antonio Alumni Association, this year’s gala will embrace the theme “One Giant Leap,” celebrating Roadrunners whose accomplishments are making an impact in San Antonio and beyond. The annual event also raises support for student scholarships and alumni programs.
The gala also helps advance the Alumni Association’s work throughout the year. The association awards more than $150,000 in scholarships annually and serves a network of more than 210,000 alumni, creating meaningful connections between Roadrunners and the university while helping open doors for the next generation of graduates.
“The Alumni Gala has always been an opportunity to celebrate the exceptional people who make our alumni community what it is, and this year that community is broader and bigger than ever,” said Russell Wagner, assistant vice president of alumni engagement. “We are honored to recognize alumni from across UT San Antonio and celebrate the many ways they are making a difference in San Antonio and beyond.”
The evening will recognize four distinguished alumni whose careers span renewable energy, medicine, professional sports and cancer care.
2026 Alumni Gala awardees
Sabah Bayatli ’15, president of OCI Energy, began his career in Türkiye’s energy sector before moving to San Antonio in 2013 to continue his education at UT San Antonio.
A mechanical engineer specializing in thermodynamics, Bayatli entered the renewable energy industry as an intern with OCI Energy and advanced through the company. At age 38, he became its youngest president.
Richard A. Becker, MD, FACP, ’71, is a retired physician and the founder and owner of Becker Vineyards. Becker built a distinguished career in medicine through clinical practice, teaching and professional service.
He and his wife, Bunny, later founded Becker Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country, growing it into a nationally recognized winery and one of the largest wine producers in the state.
Michael Setser ’97, vice president of corporate sales and retentions for Spurs Sports & Entertainment, has built his career around leadership, relationship building and community engagement.
Setser has also remained closely connected to his alma mater through service on the Carlos Alvarez College of Business Advisory Board, the UT San Antonio Alumni Association and the Roadrunner Foundation.
Jessica Treviño Jones, MD, ’13, is an oncologist at the Mays Cancer Center at UT San Antonio.
A former scholarship recipient at the university’s Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, Jones is dedicated to advancing cancer care through clinical practice and research. Her work focuses on improving patient outcomes and expanding access to innovative therapies.
Together, this year’s honorees represent the growing reach of the UT San Antonio alumni community and the impact its graduates are having across a wide range of fields.
Guests will also have several opportunities to support student scholarships and alumni initiatives throughout the evening, including a silent auction and the gala’s popular wine and whiskey pull.
The auction will feature items, services and experiences donated by university supporters and community partners. Gala attendees and supporters can preview the available packages and participate in the raffle and silent auction.
Proceeds from the gala will help expand scholarship opportunities and strengthen alumni engagement, ensuring future generations of alumni have access to the same opportunities celebrated during the evening.
