Hall of Fame
Distinguished San Juan Unified alumni.
Honoring excellence. Celebrating leadership.
At the San Juan Education Foundation, we believe in honoring those who shine brightly in their fields and communities.
Established in 2009, the STARS Hall of Fame celebrates exceptional alumni of San Juan Unified who exemplify commitment, leadership, and excellence.
These remarkable individuals remind us that the spirit of San Juan Unified continues long after graduation — in the innovative ideas they lead, the communities they strengthen, and the inspiration they provide to future generations.
Each year, our Hall of Fame inductees are honored at the San Juan Education Foundation’s signature gala: An Evening with the STARS.
Meet Our STARS Hall of Fame Honorees
Melissa Lloyd
Deputy Director, Child Protective Services
Holst/Coyle/Carmichael ES, Churchill MS, Mira Loma HS '90
Joanna Rowland
Children's Author
Cottage & Cowan EL, Arcade MS, El Camino HS '96
2024
Liliana Ferrer
Career Diplomat, Ambassador of Mexico to Thailand and Cambodia
Del Campo HS ‘82
Alexandra Huynh
5th National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States
Del Paso Manor \ Winston Churchill Middle School \ Mira Loma High School ‘20
Skip Maggiora
Founder, Skip’s Music & Lifelong Sacramento Musician
Encina HS ‘65
2023
Tina Macuha
Anchor, Good Day Sacramento
Pope & Del Paso Manor ES| Arcade MS | Mira Loma HS
Danielle Vigilone
Professional Basketball Player/Assistant Coach Los Angeles Sparks
Northridge ES | Carnegie MS | Del Campo HS
Shawna Yang Ryan
Author
Greer & Cowan Fundamental ES | Arcade MS | Mira Loma HS
2022
Ambassador Tracey Jacobson (Thomas)
Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Kingswood Elementary School | Carnegie MS | San Juan HS
Kent Kern
Superintendent, San Juan Unified School District, Retired
LeGette Elementary School | Arcade MS | Bella Vista HS
William S. Pretzer
Senior Curator, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution
Mariemont ES| Arden MS | Rio Americano HS
2021
Chip and Ken Gracey
Founders and leaders of Parallax, Inc
Garfield ES | Winston Churchill MS | Mira Loma HS
Charles M. Rice, Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate, Virologist, Chair in Virology at The Rockefeller University
Mariemont ES | Arden MS | Rio Americano HS
2020
Hill Harper
Actor, Youth Advocate & NY Times Best-Selling Author
Bella Vista High School
Cristina Mendonsa
EMMY/Murrow award-winning multimedia journalist
Coyle ES | Will Rogers MS | Del Campo HS
Staci Slaughter
Executive Vice President, Communications & Senior Advisor to the CEO, San Francisco Giants
Skycrest ES | Will Rogers MS | San Juan HS
2019
Heidi Poppelreiter Parris
NASA Scientist & Flight Controller
Green Oaks ES | Arcade MS | Casa Roble HS
Scott Pease
Visionary Game & Toy Designer
Earl LeGette ES | Carnegie MS | Bella Vista HS
H. Michael Shepard, Ph.D.
Biotech Pioneer & Cancer Researcher
Del Campo HS
2018
Diane Bryant
Tech Executive • Engineer • Equity Advocate
Northridge ES | Carnegie MS | Bella Vista HS
Shannon L. Callahan Souma
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Mira Loma High School
Dr. Heidi Wittenberg
Director, MoZaic Care & Medical Director, Gender Institute at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
El Camino HS
2017
Craig Chaquico
Grammy-nominated Solo Artist & Founding Member, Jefferson Starship/Starship
La Sierra HS
Channing Dungey
Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group & U.S. Networks
Rio Americano High School
2016
Amy Brooks
Executive Vice President, Team Marketing & Business Operations (TMBO) & Chief Innovation Officer, NBA
Bella Vista HS
Kevin Gordon
President & Founding Partner, Capitol Advisors Group
San Juan High School
2015
Alex Stamos
Cybersecurity Leader & Digital Safety Advocate
Cambridge Heights ES | Arcade MS | Bella Vista HS
2014
Mary Lynn Ferguson McHugh
Global Business Leader & Integrity-Driven Executive
San Juan Unified Alum
Dr. John C. Williams
President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Encina High School
2013
Lt. General John Goodman
Combat Aviator • Strategic Leader • Veteran Advocate
Encina HS
Justice Goodwin Liu
Associate Justice, California Supreme Court
Rio Americano HS
Dr. David Wineland
Nobel Prize–Winning Physicist & Quantum Pioneer
Encina HS
2012
Dr. Peter Mansoor
Military Historian • Scholar • Strategic Advisor
Mira Loma HS
Farid Senzai
Policy Scholar & Professor of Political Science, Santa Clara University
San Juan High School
2011
George Barris
“King of the Kustomizers” • Custom Car Legend
San Juan High School
Timothy B. Schmit
Bassist & Vocalist, Poco & Eagles • Solo Artist
Rio Americano HS
2010
Joe DeRisi, PhD.
Biomedical Scientist & Global Health Leader
Charles Peck ES | Arcade Fundamental MS | Del Campo HS
Lisa Ling
Investigative Journalist • Documentary Host
Albert Schweitzer ES | John Barrett MS | Del Campo HS
Michele Wong
Executive Director, MOSAC; CEO Emerita, Synergex & CleanWorld
Del Campo High School
2009
Holly Lohuis
Marine Biologist & Education Associate, Ocean Futures Society
Rio Americano High School
Fred Teichert
Retired Executive Director, Teichert Foundation
Arden MS | El Camino HS
Nominate the Next STAR Hall of Famer!
Do you know a San Juan Unified graduate whose accomplishments deserve to be celebrated? Nominate an alum who embodies excellence, leadership, and the spirit of San Juan.
The STARS Hall of Fame is proudly presented by the San Juan Education Foundation in partnership with the San Juan Unified School District. Together, we invest in education and enrich lives.