It’s common for high schools to produce celebrities, whether influencers, athletes, actors, or musicians. Santiago High School is yet one of those schools that has produced notable alumni.
Santiago has been a high school since September 5th, 1995, enrolling thousands of students each year. In addition to more students being enrolled, more teachers have been teaching. Santiago High School is highly rated, with the 2022-2023 year 3,460 students enrolled and attending school, with the teacher-to-student ratio being 26 to 1.
Santiago hosts various athletic events, including track and field, baseball, football, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, water polo, cross country, volleyball, and swimming.
A student most notable for their athletics is Chris Benard. Chris Benard (April 4, 1990) is an American track and field athlete most recognized for the triple jump event. His record in high school for the triple jump event is 17.48 m (57 ft 4 in), the record set in 2016. As a senior in high school, he won the California state title for his event. Benard then represented USA track and field nine times at the Summer Olympics, four World Athletics Championships, and three NACAC (North American, Central American, and Caribbean) Championships.
Another athlete who graduated Santiago is Tyler Hoechlin (born September 11, 1987) – now an actor most notable for his appearance as Derek Hale in MTV’s Teen Wolf as well as the film Road to Perdition as the character Michael Sullivan Jr. and is currently acting as Clark Kent/Superman in the CW television series, Superman and Lois. Hoechlin, being in the 2006 class, played baseball. His various achievements include: 
- Being named the Best Defensive Player on his team as a sophomore, eventually helping his team go to CIF,
- Being twice named Second Time All-Mountain View League,
- Earned the Most Improved Player as a junior,
- Earned three varsity letters and was named team captain as a senior,
- Earned the Coach’s Award as a senior as well.
- Appeared in the 2004 and 2005 Area Code Games
He earned a baseball scholarship to Arizona State University, playing infield while majoring in film. Hoechlin then transferred to UC Irvine to pursue his acting major. At 23, he got injured, and he had to decide whether he would choose baseball or acting. He chose acting, landing in several successful roles since then.
Other baseball players who came to Santiago were Chance Sisco (catcher for St. Louis Cardinals) and Brice Turang (second baseman for Milwaukee Brewers).
Another athlete who attended Santiago was professional football linebacker Mitchell Agude. Agude (born March 10, 1999) is currently playing for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. Agude, after graduation, attended RCC (Riverside Community College) but only attended for one year. He then transferred to UCLA, then Miami. Agude played for the Miami Hurricanes – a team that competes in the NCAA’s Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision, the nation’s highest level of collegiate football. Agude’s jersey number for the Detroit Lions is number 50. 
Another professional athlete is Monique Billings (born May 2, 1996), a WNBA forward for the Phoenix Mercury. Before the WNBA was even an option for Billings, while in high school, she received a four-year letterman and participated in track and field for the high jump event. After graduation, she attended UCLA and played basketball for all four years. While being a Bruin, as a senior, the team reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. Before being traded to her current team, she was drafted into the Atlanta Dream in 2018 and has played for the Dream and Dallas Wings. Billings signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in February 2024, so she then signed with the Dallas Wings temporarily while Natasha Howard sustained an injury. She recovered, but more team members were injured, which made Billings stay in Dallas. When the rest of the team recovered, Billings left the team. On August 18, 2024, Billings signed a seven-day contract with the Phoenix Mercury. After the week, Billings signed a rest-of-the-season contract with the team and has remained on the Phoenix Mercury since then.
More athletes and successful individuals have graduated from Santiago. What you decide to do can make an impact, whether in your community, your neighborhood, your friends, or your family.
