Notable Alumni from Bonita Vista High School

Media
Dec 20, 2024
2 min read

Aerial view of Bonita Vista High School. Photo by Rene Zaballa

Bonita Vista High School (BVH) is a public four-year high school in Chula Vista, California. It is part of Sweetwater Union High School District and offers both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes.

History

Bonita Vista High School opened in the fall of 1966 at a construction cost of $2.5 million. A student committee chose the Baron mascot over a Patriot and a Crusader.

Jennifer Ekstein, a science teacher at Bonita Vista High School, was recognized as the 2024-25 San Diego County Teacher of the Year. In April, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and Cox Communications recognized all 51 district teachers of the year at a special event, where five winners were later selected.

Academics

The school is placed as the number 1 school of the Sweetwater Union High School District, with an Academic Performance Index score of 851 for the 2011 school year, meeting the statewide standard and exceeding amongst other schools in the same district.

Athletics

In 2015, Baron athletic teams won California Interscholastic Federation championships in football and girls' tennis. The football team plays games off-campus at Southwestern College. In 2018 the Barons girls basketball team won California Interscholastic Federation division I championship. The girl's basketball team is one of the premier teams in San Diego County.

Performing Arts

BVH has two competitive show choirs, the mixed-gender group "The Music Machine" and the all-female "Sound Unlimited". The school formerly had an all-male group, "Barontones". The Music Machine and Sound Unlimited have both advanced to national-level competitions. The Music Machine was one of the most progressive show choirs in the western United States in the late 1900s. The program hosts an annual competition, San Diego Sings!

Notable Alumni

Beth Accomando, film critic
Greg Bell, professional footballer running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL)
Matt Cameron, drummer of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden
Charisma Carpenter, actress
Costa Dillon, writer
Hannah Flippen, softball player
Byron Frisch, football player
David Garza, Paralympic footballer
Shirley Horton, politician
Guido Knudson, MLB player
Jennifer Lalor, soccer player and coach
John Macaulay, NFL player (1984)
Ramon Martin Del Campo, soccer player
Monica Montgomery Steppe, politician
Steve Peace, politician
Raquel Pomplun, Playboy Playmate of the Year (2013)
David Schipper, professional soccer player
Scott Shields, football player
Joel Zumaya, baseball player