On Saturday, November 2nd, Sahuaro held its annual Cougar Foundation breakfast. Sahauro provided everything for the breakfast, from the music to the food.
Select students from the student council opened the doors, welcoming all the guests. As alumni, family, and friends arrived at the breakfast, smiles and laughter filled the room with nostalgia and old memories.
The Culinary Club dedicated countless hours to preparing a delicious buffet for all the breakfast guests. Chef Aaron Vanuga shared, “I was here at 4:00 a.m., and these guys started arriving at 6:00 a.m. to begin preparing the food.” Their hard work truly made the morning special for everyone in attendance.
Before the main events began, Sahuaro’s guitar ensemble, led by Mr. Hemmo, performed delightful tunes as guests settled in and enjoyed breakfast. Aliana Trotter, a member of the guitar ensemble, shared, “It’s really great” to be part of the breakfast. Next, Sahuaro’s hardworking choir took the stage to perform Alma Mater, The Star-Spangled Banner, and Ad Astra, led by Ms. Barnes, who expressed her excitement, saying it was, “exciting to sing for these dedicated and generous alumni; they are very supportive of Sahuaro…and I’m really appreciative of them and I’m glad we do this every year.” The marching band joined the choir for the first two songs and performed the Sahuaro fight song for all attendees. All three groups sounded amazing and set the tone for the event, reminding us of our incredible talent here at Sahuaro!
The Cougar Foundation chooses a select few Sahuaro alumni to induct into the Sahuaro Hall of Fame every year. Before the awards were given out, Principal Estrella welcomed all the guests. He praised the school saying that “Sahuaro is thriving” and we have “great alum supporting us.” Special thanks were also given to the girl’s basketball team who helped set up the gym for breakfast. Principal Estrella said, “The biggest thing for me is that it helps keep the Sahuaro community connected…we get to see the communities (past and present) collide this morning and come together.”
The first to receive an award was Adam Kaye, a Sahuaro graduate from the class of 1987 who was born in New York and is the youngest of six. Adam was a teaching assistant at Sahuaro, participated in various clubs, and played on the tennis team. He attended the University of Arizona, then completed a three-year Pharm. D. program at the University of the Pacific. Adam works with medical students at LSU and volunteers on weekends at local events. He co-wrote a bestselling book, Essentials of Pharmacology for Anesthesia, Pain Medicine, and Critical Care, and specializes in studying opioid overdoses. His brother described him as “mature, special, and talented.” After receiving his award, Adam gave a heartfelt speech, thanking family and friends and saying, “At Sahuaro, I always believed everyone had an opportunity to be successful.”
Barbara Macfarlane accepted her award next. Barbara is from New York and taught AP U.S. History at Sahuaro High School from 1996 to 2009. Barbra was very involved, always being seen at various school events, and even volunteering to run the National Honors Society which she always encouraged her students to join. When she was introduced on stage, she was described as someone whose “actions are louder than her words… she didn’t just teach history here; she made history.” In 2000 she was named “Educator of the Year” by Arizona Athletics and Channel 13.
Third was Pamela Penn, who graduated from Sahuaro in 1979. While in high school she was very involved, playing volleyball, joining track and field, and was an avid member of the student council. Not only was Pam a part of these teams and clubs but she excelled at them. She described the teachers of Sahuaro as “they made you want to learn.” Pam earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and has been teaching elementary through middle school for 35 years. She has earned many awards during her time teaching including the California State Assembly Extraordinary Teacher Award. Pamela signed off by saying that she’ll “never be a perfect human” but she is content “being perfectly human.”
The next inductee is Laurie Beaver San Angelo, a 1975 Sahuaro graduate who rose to serve as a Pima County Superior Court Judge. During her time at Sahuaro, Laurie was involved in the National Honor Society, track, yearbook, and more. After high school, she attended Baylor University. Introduced by her husband of 39 years, Laurie spoke about her work as an attorney dedicated to protecting children. In her remarks, she shared that “Sahuaro is a special place” and expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you for this honor.”
Gina Snyder, Class of 2014, was not in attendance, but her award was accepted on her behalf. She excelled at Sahuaro, leading the softball team to the State Playoffs each of her four years. Gina also earned All-Southern Arizona honors every year and played ASA softball on multiple teams throughout her career.
Lastly, the 1994 State Champion Football Team was inducted into the Hall of Fame, becoming only the second group to earn this honor. The team had an outstanding season, winning 11 out of 12 games and leaving a lasting legacy at Sahuaro. Several former teammates were present at the ceremony, along with their coach, Coach Breinig. The induction celebrated not only their athletic achievements but also the enduring bond they formed as a team, capturing the spirit of camaraderie that defined their championship season.
The annual Cougar Foundation Breakfast transformed the gym into a warm, nostalgic gathering space, bringing together alumni across the decades. Whether you graduated in 2024 or 1975, the event reminded us all of the shared pride and spirit that unites the Sahuaro community. As stories were exchanged, meals were eaten, and awards were won, it was clear that once a Cougar, always a Cougar.
