Bolners back Business Honors Program
San Antonio couple backs Mays Accounting Program
The Mary Pat and Michael J. Bolner ’73
T. Randall “Randy” Cain ’82, a partner at Ernst & Young, considers
Business Honors Scholarship, created by a
the pipeline of outstanding students from Mays Business School so valuable
$100,000 donation to Mays Business School, will be
that he and his wife have committed $100,000 to Texas A&M’s Accounting
used to fund scholarships for students enrolled in
Program.
the Business Honors program. Bolner runs the sales
Cain, vice chair and southwest regional
and marketing arm of the San Antonio–based family
managing partner of the firm where he
business, Fiesta Spices, which distributes cooking spices
has worked for 30 years, says he and
in 40 states.
“I have found if you help students when they need help, they will help someone else later on. It starts a nice chain of events.” –Michael Bolner
you can give someone
his wife wanted to create the Randy ’82 and Jyl Cain Accounting Education Excellence Fund to help
is a helping hand while
ensure continued excellence in accounting
they are in college,”
education at Mays.
“One of the best gifts
says Michael Bolner. “I
Matching funds from the Ernst & Young
have found if you help
Foundation will be used to complete the
students when they
gift, which is being funded through the
need help, they will help someone else later on. It starts a nice chain
Texas A&M Foundation. “Without the quality students Texas A&M provides and the top-notch graduates from Mays,
of events.”
we would have a hard time meeting our professional goals,” he explains.
Bolner says he and his
Proceeds from the fund
the best of the best.”
focus on doing what
“We are so very appreciative of the Bolners for their
attract the top students
generosity and support of our students,” said Mays
and provide them with the
“Hopefully, it will allow more flexibility to the professors so they can focus on doing what they do best, which is to attract the top students and provide them with the knowledge they need to succeed.”
Dean Jerry Strawser. “Because of their support,
knowledge they need to
–T. Randall Cain
our school will be in position to attract the very best
succeed,” Cain explains.
wife enjoy meeting the scholarship recipients and their families. He says he chose to support the Business Honors Program because he wanted to help Mays retain its high standing. “I think Mays Business School graduates can stand up against any other in the country, and I wanted to help
students to study at Mays, and our students will receive critical financial support for their education.”
will be used to support strategic initiatives of the accounting department. “Hopefully, it will allow more flexibility to the professors so they can they do best, which is to
He praised the accomplishments of Mays Dean Jerry Strawser and Accounting Department Head James Benjamin, and added, “We are trying to give them the tools — the arrows in their quiver.” “It is difficult to envision how anybody could participate more in the life of our school,” said Strawser. “Whether hiring our students, speaking to our classes, serving on advisory boards or providing financial support, Randy has literally impacted thousands of Mays graduates. We are truly blessed to have him as an advocate for our students and programs.” The Cains’ affinity for Texas A&M has trickled down to the next generation: daughter Courtney and son-in-law and Tim Kuhn ’06 were part of the Professional Program at Mays, each earning a bachelor’s in accounting and a master’s in management information systems. Daughter Meredith Cain ’13 is also at Texas A&M, studying recreation, park and tourism sciences.
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