(Santa Ana, Calif.) – The Santa Ana College Foundation and its Alumni Hall of Fame Committee are proud to announce the induction of four distinguished alumni into the 2025 Santa Ana College Alumni Hall of Fame class: Lucy Santana, Alondra Diaz, Anthony Hung Cao, and José Refugio Muñoz Jr.
These outstanding alumni have achieved distinction through their professional, community, and personal endeavors since leaving Santa Ana College, representing the thousands of students who graduate from Santa Ana College each year. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, individuals must have graduated from Santa Ana College or have completed a minimum of 30 units of coursework. The selection and review process are very competitive with a committee made up of community leaders, board members, alumni, and past Alumni Hall of Famers. Along with personal achievements, nominees must also demonstrate a significant impact in their pursuit of education, their professional success, and contributions to their community.
Santa Ana College has honored outstanding alumni for 69 years. The tradition began in 1955 when the first three award recipients were named. Over the years, more than 180 outstanding alumni representing all walks of life have received the Alumni Achievement Award. A formal Alumni Hall of Fame was developed in 1991 by the SAC Foundation and Office of College Advancement, with a biennial ceremony to honor the inductees.
The Office of College Advancement at Santa Ana College plays a vital role in fostering a strong and dynamic alumni community central to advancing the college's mission. By cultivating meaningful connections with alumni, the office amplifies their inspiring stories, celebrates their achievements, and showcases the transformative power of education.
Santa Ana College alumni have gone on to become Harvard physicians, lawyers, White House officials, community leaders, and role models for current students and the Santa Ana community. As proud representatives of their alma mater, they embody the spirit of giving back and inspire the next generation to dream big.
“I think one of the most rewarding things is seeing how critical a role Santa Ana College has made on these students' lives," said 2025 Chair of the SAC Foundation Alumni Hall of Fame Committee, Ken Purcell. “Seeing their accomplishments and how far they have come since being students at Santa Ana College is truly remarkable."
With over 110 years of history, Santa Ana College has produced students who went on to become leaders in their communities and innovators in their respective fields, which is a testament to the impact Santa Ana College has on its student body.
“In our work as a college, we are always focused on what matters: our students. We are reminded how much students contribute to the school's culture and community when we look at what they have gone on to do in their lives," said Santa Ana College President Dr. Annebelle Nery. “This year's Alumni Hall of Fame inductees: Lucy Santana, Alondra Diaz, Anthony Hung Cao, and José Refugio Muñoz Jr., show us and our community what is possible and why we are here, and that is inspiring."
Lucy Santana: A Legacy of Empowering Girls
For 25 years, Lucy Santana has been the driving force behind one of the largest Girls Inc. affiliates in the nation, empowering over 9,000 girls—most from economically disadvantaged backgrounds—to be “strong, smart, and bold." Her journey began as a proud Santa Ana College alumna, where she worked tirelessly as a part-time student to earn her Associate of Arts Degree before transferring to Cal State Fullerton to major in criminal justice.
Lucy's leadership has transformed Girls Inc., with a nearly 15% increase in girls served over the past year alone. Her innovative programs tackle vital topics like healthy body image, literacy, financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness. Under her stewardship, the organization has also built enduring partnerships with industry leaders such as Edwards Lifesciences, Disneyland Resort, PIMCO, and Allergan.
Earning an impressive amount of funding through corporate donors, individual donors, and grants, her exceptional ability to secure funding ensures that Girls Inc. can continue its mission of inspiring young girls to be “strong, smart, and bold."
By supporting and inspiring the new generation of women leaders, Lucy's work is a testament to her belief in the transformative power of education and community support.
Alondra Diaz: Turning Adversity Into Advocacy 
Alondra Diaz's story is one of resilience and hope. Growing up facing homelessness and other challenges, she persevered by focusing on her education, inspired by the unwavering belief of her teachers. Today, she is a third-grade bilingual educator in the dual-language immersion program at Ralph A. Gates Magnet Elementary in Lake Forest, California.
“Fortunately, I had amazing teachers who believed in me even when I didn't," she shared. “Now, I get to live my dream every day—teaching in Latinx communities and serving as a role model. ¡Sí, se puede!"
With a Bachelor's degree in peace studies and a Master's in education from Chapman University, Alondra uses her platform to advocate for language acquisition and cultural pride. Her dedication earned her the 2020 Woman of the Year award in community and education from the National Hispanic Women's Business Association, as well as recognition from the OC Register in 2021 as one of the most influential people in Orange County.
Through her work and public speaking, Alondra continues to inspire others, embodying the power of perseverance and education.
Dr. Anthony Hung Cao: Nurturing Culture and Creativity
For the past eight years, Dr. Anthony Cao Minh Hung has enriched his community by running a free youth talent development program for children ages 5 to 18. Through vocal lessons, dance classes, and cultural education, he ensures that students not only hone their artistic talents but also connect deeply with their Vietnamese heritage.
Dr. Hung also produces and hosts Hạt Mầm Việt Nam (Seeds for Future), a weekly TV show on Little Saigon TV that fosters cultural pride through trivia contests and storytelling. To date, he has hosted over 400 episodes, promoting music, culture, and history to the Vietnamese community.
In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Hung was honored by the US 117th Congress in 2022 and received the Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Award from State Senator Tom Umberg. His dedication to his profession and community remains an inspiring model of leadership and service.
José Refugio Muñoz Jr.: Building a Legacy of Service
For 16 years, José Refugio Muñoz Jr. has forged a successful career with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Internal Revenue Service. Starting as an intern while pursuing his Bachelor's in Business Administration at Cal State Fullerton, he leveraged his education and work ethic to build a thriving career in public service. He later earned a Master's in International Business Administration from Strayer University in Washington, D.C.
José's achievements are numerous, from professional awards at DHS to accolades like the United Nations President's Volunteer Service Award and recognition from UNICEF Mexico. Reflecting on his journey, José often shares words of wisdom from his father: “Ayudar unos a otros"—help one another. His wife's advice, “Cada quien es el arquitecto de su propio destino"—everyone is the architect of their own destiny—serves as a guiding principle for his life and work.
Through his career and community involvement, José exemplifies a commitment to service, education, and inspiring others to chart their own paths.
The Alumni Hall of Fame induction will be taking place in Fall 2025, with further details still in works. For those interested, please visit sac.edu/foundation for more information on the event, other alumni stories and to stay updated on SAC Foundation's events, programs, and campaigns.
About Santa Ana College:
Santa Ana College (SAC), founded in 1915, serves more than 70,000 students yearly for credit and noncredit classes. At present, SAC students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career/workforce training or a bachelor's degree in occupational studies. In 2025, the college will offer a second bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies. As part of Santa Ana College, the School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center offers free classes throughout the community for adults of all ages and academic backgrounds. Santa Ana College is an award-winning college and was recently ranked as one of the nation's top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students and named one of the best community colleges in California by Intelligent.com for a 2nd consecutive year. The college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel.
