HilltopSecurities Donates $80,000 to Texas Schools with Hilltop Hunt Program

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 9, 2026--

Dallas-based Hilltop Securities Inc. (HilltopSecurities) has concluded its fifth annual Hilltop Hunt by donating $80,000 to support Texas schools. The statewide online contest invited prekindergarten through 12th grade educators to solve daily Texas-themed riddles for a chance to win donations for their schools’ education foundations and prizes for their classrooms.

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“In this milestone fifth year of the Hilltop Hunt, and as we celebrate HilltopSecurities’ 80th anniversary, we’re proud to continue our commitment to Texas educators,” said HilltopSecurities President and CEO Brad Winges. “Teachers play an essential role in shaping strong communities, and this program is one way we give back to those who give so much of themselves every day.”

As in previous years, the contest followed the virtual travels of Hilltop’s mascot, Mo the Buffalo, as he visited iconic Texas landmarks. From Oct. 5 through Oct. 23, educators across the state logged on to HilltopHunt.com to solve daily riddles about Mo’s whereabouts. Each correct answer earned entries into a drawing for a share of the prizes.

Following the conclusion of the Hunt, 18 winners were selected through a random drawing. Eight Gold Prize winners each received a $10,000 donation to their school district's education foundation, or a comparable eligible teacher support organization, along with a pizza party for their homeroom class. Ten Silver Prize winners received a pizza party for their homeroom class.

Mo the Buffalo and HilltopSecurities representatives visited Gold Prize winners across Texas to present their donations and honor the educators’ contributions to their students and communities.

Gold Prize Winners

Roosevelt ISD, Alaina Golightly

Mo the Buffalo and HilltopSecurities Chief Operating Officer David Holleran traveled to Roosevelt Elementary School to present Alaina Golightly with a $10,000 check for the Roosevelt Education Foundation. Golightly is a fifth-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary in Lubbock, Texas.

Sharyland ISD, Amy Gonzalez

Mo and HilltopSecurities Chief Administrative Officer Clare Graca honored Amy Gonzalez with a $10,000 check for the Sharyland ISD Education Foundation. Gonzalez is a sixth-grade math and science teacher at John H. Shary Elementary in Mission, Texas.

North East ISD, Brandon Moore

HilltopSecurities Chief Administrative Officer Clare Graca and Mo presented Brandon Moore and his students with $10,000 for the North East Educational Foundation. Moore is a teacher and golf coach at James Madison High School in San Antonio, Texas.

Quitman ISD, Connie Simon

Mo the Buffalo and HilltopSecurities Head of New Business Development Clayton Sheppard visited Connie Simon to present her with a $10,000 check for the Quitman Lake Country Charitable Foundation in support of the Quitman ISD Education Fund. Simon is a special education teacher at Quitman Junior High in Quitman, Texas.

Princeton ISD, Janice Mitchell

HilltopSecurities Chief Administrative Officer Clare Graca joined Mo and students to celebrate Janice Mitchell and present her with a $10,000 check for the district’s teacher support fund. Mitchell is an inclusion paraprofessional at Lowe Elementary School in Princeton, Texas.

Maypearl ISD, Kayle Davis

HilltopSecurities Chief Operating Officer David Holleran and mascot Mo the Buffalo visited Kayle Davis to present her with a $10,000 check for the Maypearl Education Foundation. Davis is a teacher at Maypearl High School in Maypearl, Texas.

Greenwood ISD, Mayra Alvarado-Lopez

Mo the Buffalo and HilltopSecurities Human Resources Director Melinda Fleming traveled to Greenwood Elementary School to present Mayra Alvarado-Lopez and her students with a $10,000 check for the Greenwood Education Foundation. Alvarado-Lopez is an ESL teacher at Greenwood Elementary in Odessa, Texas.

Hutto ISD, Sarah De Amaral

Mo the Buffalo visited Sarah De Amaral to present her with a $10,000 check for the Hutto Education Foundation. De Amaral is a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Veterans Hill Elementary School in Round Rock, Texas.

Silver Prize Winners

About Hilltop Securities Inc.

HilltopSecurities is a full-service municipal investment bank and wealth advisory firm providing a full suite of financial services for public entities, institutional investors, housing finance agencies, broker-dealers, and individual investors. Founded in 1946, its primary areas of focus include public finance, capital markets, structured finance, retail brokerage, clearing services, and securities lending. Hilltop Securities Inc.’s goal is to build long-term relationships to help communities, businesses, and individuals thrive. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH), HilltopSecurities’ affiliates include Momentum Independent Network, HilltopSecurities Asset Management, HilltopSecurities Insurance, PlainsCapital Bank, and PrimeLending. Learn more at HilltopSecurities.com. Member: NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

Hutto ISD

Greenwood ISD

Maypearl ISD

Princeton ISD

Quitman ISD

North East ISD

Sharyland ISD

Roosevelt ISD

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Cyprus on Monday, days after dispatching a warship to the east Mediterranean island nation, where a Shahed drone struck a British air base on its southern coast last week during the Iran war.

Macron ordered the French frigate Languedoc to waters off Cyprus to bolster the European Union member country's anti-drone and anti-missiles defenses. The French president also decided to send ground-based anti-drone and anti-missile defenses to the island, which sustained the first drone attack on European territory.

France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is also expected to arrive in the Eastern Mediterranean in the coming days.

Macron will meet with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Cyprus' main air base on its southwestern edge where four Greek air force F-16s have been deployed.

“Together with our European partners, the aim will be to strengthen security around Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean,” a statement from Macron's office said.

Macron has been deeply involved in diplomatic talks in recent days to try to avoid further escalation in the Middle East. On Sunday, he had talks with Iranian President Massoud Pezechkian and urged him to stop strikes.

Cyprus government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis on Sunday said that the three leaders would assess regional developments and the close coordination on preemptive measures that have been taken. Letymbiotis repeated Cyprus' gratitude for the leaders' quick response to the island's call for assistance.

Last week, Macron ordered France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to move from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean to help protect allied assets, citing the drone strike on Cyprus. He said that Cyprus was an EU member with which France has recently signed a strategic partnership.

Greece's state-of-the-art Kimon and Psara frigates are already patrolling off Cyprus' southern coast. Warships from Italy, the Netherlands and Spain are expected in the coming days, while U.K. destroyer Dragon will arrive next week.

Despite the military buildup, the three leaders have urged against any expansion of the conflict. Christodoulides repeatedly has underscored that Cyprus won't take part in any military operation.

The Shahed drone caused minor damage to a hangar at the RAF Akrotiri air base minutes after midnight on March 2. No one was injured. Another two drones were intercepted by British Typhoon and F-35 warplanes that were scrambled from the air base shortly after midday that day.

Cyprus officials confirmed last week that the Shahed drone originated from Lebanon and speculation is that it was launched by the Hezbollah militant group, Iran’s proxy in the country. Hezbollah’s arsenal notably includes exploding drones, similar to the ones used by Iran.

Lebanon’s foreign minister, Youssef Rajji, on Sunday condemned the drone attack.

“I called on our Cypriot friends not to confuse the Lebanese state with those acting outside its authority and legal framework,” said Rajji, a staunch opponent of Hezbollah.

The Lebanese government has ordered its security agencies to crack down on non-state groups carrying out attacks.

Menelaos Hadjicostis reported from Nicosia, Cyprus. Kareem Chehayeb contributed to this report from Beirut.

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, is welcomed by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, second right, ahead of their meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, Cyprus, on Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

The aircraft transporting French President Emmanuel Macron lands ahead of his meeting with Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides at Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, Cyprus, on Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

French President Emmanuel Macron, background, is welcomed by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, foreground, at Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, Cyprus, on Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, is welcomed by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, left, at Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, Cyprus, on Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at Andreas Papandreou Air Base ahead of his meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos, Cyprus, on Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

The German UNIFIL ship FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen is docked at the port of Limassol, Cyprus, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

A German U.N. soldier stands aboard the UNIFIL ship FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen while the vessel is docked at the port of Limassol, Cyprus, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech next to the submarine 'Le Temeraire' (The Temerarious) at the Nuclear submarines Navy base of Ile Longue in Crozon, France, Monday March 2, 2026. (Yoan Valat/Pool Photo via AP)