Hilderbran in 2004 was named the recipient of the Vietnam Veterans of America Texas State Council's "Legislator of the Year Award", as well as the 2001 "Legislator of the Year" award by Texas Young Republicans. In 1999, he received the "Bob Bullock Award for Outstanding Public Stewardship", named for former Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock. Hilderbran also won the "Legislative Courage Award" for his involvement in school finance reform. He was named "Freshman of the Year" in 1989 by the Young Conservatives of Texas.