The Sunnyvale Alumni Association has named Chris Bugbee (SJH ‘90) the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2026. He will be honored at halftime of the Homecoming Game on Friday, October 16 by the Alumni Association.
Bugbee was appointed President and CEO of OneStar Foundation, the State Service Commission for Texas, by Gov. Greg Abbott. He leads statewide efforts to expand volunteerism, support nonprofits and build momentum for service in communities across Texas. OneStar also works to strengthen community resilience and support disaster recovery throughout the state.
“Chris was very mature, very sweet and funny and from a young age always knew he wanted to help others,” junior high English teacher Laura Jones said. “He was always very determined and driven. I know Miss Holland, who was very special to him, would have been so proud of him.”
That drive has carried Bugbee from Sunnyvale to Washington and back to Texas. After earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in public service and administration from the Bush School of Government and Public Service, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also served at the White House as Associate Director in the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and as a Senior Intergovernmental Officer for the U.S. Secretary of Labor.
At the White House, Bugbee oversaw the implementation of several of the President’s key State of the Union initiatives, including a prisoner reentry program and a program that provides mentoring for children of prisoners.
He joined OneStar in 2006. In 2008, the Governor of Texas selected him for the Governor’s Executive Development Program, a leadership program for top executives in state government. In July 2014, he was named a finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s “Best Nonprofit CFO/COO” Award.
“It is a privilege to lead an organization focused on helping people serve their communities and make a lasting difference,” Bugbee said.
Where It Started
Bugbee’s life and career have been built on service, and he credits Sunnyvale with planting that seed. He attended Sunnyvale schools from kindergarten through eighth grade, and the lessons he learned in Sunnyvale classrooms still shape his work more than three decades later.
“Sunnyvale felt like an extended family where we were friends with not just our classmates, but their parents, too,” he said.
He remembers pep rallies, the fall carnival, musicals and field days, all times when the whole community came together. Those moments showed him early what people can do when they show up for each other.
“I was so proud to be a Raider,” Bugbee said. “I loved every year and every teacher, and I am grateful for all of the lifelong friendships I made. Even 36 years later, I still love my Sunnyvale family. It truly was the best place to grow up.”
A Message for Today’s Raiders
Bugbee has spent his career helping people find ways to serve. His advice to current students is simple: don’t wait to be asked.
“We all can make a difference, no matter who we are or where we start,” he said. “Don’t just sit on the sidelines. Get involved, seek out ways to help, and be part of something bigger than yourself.”
He believes service gives back more than it takes, and that everyone has a part to play.
“Whether you are in kindergarten, a senior, or a longtime alum, we can all make a difference,” he said. “We have all been blessed by being part of the Sunnyvale community, and we can honor that gift by finding ways to give back. We are stronger together!”
Bringing People Together
Looking ahead, Bugbee wants to keep doing work that makes a real difference in people’s lives and strengthens communities. He sees service as a way to bridge divides.
“In a world that often feels divided, I want to be part of bringing people together rather than driving them apart,” he said. “I believe we have more in common than we sometimes realize, and that when we focus on what unites us and work together to help others, we can accomplish incredible things.”
Bugbee and his wife, Heidi, live in the Austin area with their two sons. From the hallways of Sunnyvale to the statewide stage, he is proof that the Raider spirit of community and service lasts a lifetime.