Notable Former Students
California’s chief justice, government and labor leaders, Academy Award-winning actors, musicians, authors, Olympic athletes and more have started their journey at California’s community colleges. Their stories highlight how we are transforming lives and changing our communities for the better.
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Aaron Rodgers
taniMost Valuable Player Super Bowl XLV - Butte College -
Adam Steltzner
NASA Jet Propulsion Labs lead engineer - College of Marin -
Adriana Ocampo
Planetary Geologist - Pasadena City College -
Amy Tan
Best-selling Novelist/Author-San Jose City College -
Rep. Anna G. Eshoo
U.S. Congresswoman - Cañada College -
Annette Bening
Actress - San Diego Mesa College -
Antonio Villaraigosa
Mayor of Los Angeles - Los Angeles City College -
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Former Governor of California, Actor - Santa Monica Community College -
Beverly Cleary
Best-selling children's author - Chaffey College -
Bruce Fabrizio
Co-inventor Simple Green cleaning product - Mt. San Antonio College -
Courtney Force-Rahal
National Hot Rod Association Funny Car driver - Santiago Canyon College -
Dolores Huerta
Co-founder, United Farm Workers - San Joaquin Delta College -
Ernest Gaines
Author - Solano Community College -
Eugene Dong
Heart Transplant Doctor/Professor, Lawyer - Hartnell College -
Félix Sánchez
Track and Field Athlete - San Diego Mesa College -
Florence Hyman
USA Volleyball Olympian/Activist - El Camino College -
Frank Cruz
Co-founder of Telemundo - East Los Angeles College -
Fred Ruiz
Founder, Chairman Emeritus, Ruiz Foods – College of the Sequoias -
Gabrielle Union
Actress - Cuesta College -
Gaddi Vasquez
Former Peace Corps Director, U.S. Ambassador - Santa Ana College -
George Lucas
Director - Modesto Junior College -
Ginger Elizabeth Hahn
Northern California chocolate boutique specializing in chocolate bonbons, macarons and ice cream - Santa Barbara City College -
Guy Fieri
Celebrity Chef and TV Personality - College of the Redwoods, American River College -
Jackie Robinson
Hall of Fame baseball player, civil rights pioneer - Pasadena City College -
Assemblymember James C. Ramos
The first California Native American elected to the Legislature. -
Jan Dehesh
Dev. Dir., UC San Diego Jacob's School of Engineering - San Diego Miramar College -
J. Craig Venter
Entrepreneur, Genomic Researcher - College of San Mateo -
Jenni Rivera
Singer/Businesswoman - Long Beach City College -
Jeremy Lee Renner
Actor - Modesto Junior College Alumni -
Jessica Chastain
Actress - Sacramento City College -
Jim Sinegal
Co-founder of Costco Wholesale Corporation - San Diego City College -
J. Mario Molina
President and CEO, Molina Healthcare Inc. - Long Beach City College -
John Madden
NFL Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster - College of San Mateo -
Jose Montoya
Poet/Professor/Artist/Activist – San Diego City College -
Julian Nava
Professor, First Mexican American Ambassador to Mexico - East Los Angeles College -
Ken Grossman
Founder/Owner, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Butte College -
Larissa Miyachi
Award-winning Scholar, Stanford University Medical Student - Yuba College -
Lindsay Pearce
Actress/Singer - Modesto Junior College -
Margarita Colmenares
Engineer, clean energy advocate - Sacramento City College -
Michael Fincke
United States Astronaut - El Camino College -
Michele Serros
Author, TV Comedy Writer - Ventura and Santa Monica colleges -
Octavia Butler
Science Fiction Author - Pasadena City College -
Phil Lopes
Politican, Professor, Peace Corps volunteer - West Hills College Coalinga -
Reyna Grande
Award-winning author, instructor - Pasadena City College -
Rick Tigner
President, Jackson Family Wines - Modesto Junior College -
Robin Williams
Actor/Comedian - College of Marin -
Steve Jobs
Co-founder, Apple Inc. - De Anza College -
Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Chief Justice of California - Sacramento City College -
Teri Hatcher
Actress - De Anza College -
Timothy P. White
Chancellor, California State University - Diablo Valley College -
Tom Hanks
Actor/Director - Chabot College -
Warren Moon
Houston Oilers quarterback, NFL Hall of Fame - West Los Angeles College -
Past and Present Olympians
Past and present Olympians with connections to the California Community Colleges
