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5 joining Sierra Hall of Fame on Sunday
Gutierrez--Fundraiser-Pic
Chez Shari owner Frank Guinta, left, in this file photo is shown planning a fundraiser with Dio and Maggie Gutierrez to help cover the cost of hyperbaric treatment Dio was undergoing. - photo by Bulletin file photo

FAST FACTS

WHAT: Sierra High Hall of Fame induction

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sierra High School library

Five individuals are being inducted into the Sierra High Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.

The inductees are Lorie Hoffman Garnett for leadership/business, Frank Guinta for community service, Katherine “Bup” Greenwood for education, Nigel Malone for athletics, and Melanie Schoeppe for education.

Lorie Hoffman Garnett

Garnett is a 2010 Sierra High School graduate. During her senior year, she was the A.S.B. President and a track and field team captain. Garnett was a member of the All-Valley Oak League 4 x 100 relay team that qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet. She was also one of the top pole vaulters in the Sac-Joaquin Section. 

She attended Utah Valley University as a student from 2010-2012 where she was a pole vaulter on the UVU Track and Field team. In 2012 she transferred to Brigham Young University and pursued her education in the public relations program. Garnett interned at the Utah County Habitat for Humanity, helping to create a strategic plan to gain more donors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations from BYU in 2014. 

While a student at BYU, Garnett served as a Sports Information Director for the Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Prior to her experience as an SID, she was a sports reporter for the student newspaper, The Universe, covering Track and Field, Swimming and Diving. She was recently hired as the Sports Information Director for Utah Valley University. She is the main contact for all media relations, statistics, and record keeping for Cross Country, Track and Field, and Women’s Basketball. 

Frank Guinta

Guinta has significantly contributed to the betterment of Sierra High School for the past 20 years and he has been actively involved in the Manteca Community for over 50 years. He has helped, and continues to help Sierra, as a supporter and a fan of Sierra’s athletic programs, booster club, and Sober Grad. 

Beside his significant contributions to Sierra, Guinta has helped pioneer Manteca’s youth football program and coached countless athletic teams in football, basketball and baseball. Guinta has done most of his coaching as an act of community service. He also has served on the boards of non-profit organizations like Agape Village, Manteca Chamber of Commerce, Manteca Parks and Recreation and Give Every Child a Chance. 

Through athletic and business connections, Guinta has been teaching a hard work ethic, dedication, team work, integrity, and loyalty to countless young people in Manteca for the past fifty years. Many of the young people he has influenced through work or athletics are present day teachers and coaches of our youth. 

Katherine 

“Bup” Greenwood

Greenwood, or “Bup”, as she is affectionately known by the people who worked with her, was an original staff member when Sierra High School opened in 1994. She was an original member of the English Department, eventually serving the school as English Department Head, SBCP Coordinator, BTSA Support Provider, and various other roles during her tenure. 

During her years as an Advanced Placement teacher, her students consistently scored well on the AP exams in Language and Literature. In fact, for a decade, her students had the highest pass rate of any school in the Manteca Unified School District. After retiring in 2009, Greenwood continued to be a driving force behind success at Sierra. Two years after retiring, she returned to help with the preparation for a full accreditation visit. Tirelessly giving of her time and energy, Greenwood led the staff to a successful accreditation.

Nigel Malone

Malone is a 2008 Sierra High School graduate. While at Sierra, Malone was an All-Valley Oak League Football and Track and Field athlete. In Track, he was an integral part of the 2008 Valley Oak League championship team, capturing the Sac-Joaquin Section long jump championship and earning a 5th place medal at the California State Track & Field Championships. 

Football was his No. 1 sport. After a two-year career at San Francisco City College, where he was part of a Northern California championship team, he enjoyed a full ride scholarship and an All-American career at Kansas State.

In two seasons as a starter at defensive back, he recorded 12 interceptions and was named the Big 12’s Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year by ESPN, a Jim Thorpe Award finalist and he appeared on just about everyone’s All-American list. After his senior season, he was honored as Second-team Walter Camp All American, Third-team Associated Press All-American, and he was an Honorable Mention All-American by Sports Illustrated.

After earning his Social Science degree from Kansas State in 2012,

Malone received professional tryouts with the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos. 

Malone has since returned home to Northern California, where he is now giving back to his community. He is currently working at a group home, Mary’s Help, in Vallejo, assisting at-risk youth. He hopes to soon go into the field of education.

Melanie Schoeppe

Schoeppe graduated with honors as the Salutatorian of the Sierra High School Class of 2003. She attended Cal Berkeley on an academic scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare with a minor in Public Policy in 2007. During her undergrad years at Cal, Schoeppe worked at the Suitcase Clinic, helping the local homeless community. She also worked in the City of Berkeley Planning Department.

After graduating from Cal, she joined Teach for America and taught 3rd and 5th grade at Greenleaf Elementary School in East Oakland for three years. She was promoted in the Teach for America program, coaching and mentoring teachers during the 2010 school year. 

She returned to Cal Berkeley, earning her Master’s Degree in Public Policy in 2012. She was hand-picked for a program called New Leaders, and as fate would have it, she was placed back at Greenleaf Elementary School, this time as the Principal. At the age of 28, Schoeppe had become one of the youngest principals in the Oakland Unified School District.

Although she could return to Manteca anytime, she has chosen to stay in Oakland, working in a community that desperately needs a positive role model and energetic leadership. Her passion for education is contagious and no doubt influences her staff and students on a daily basis.

The first class of Hall of Famers was inducted on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Some inductees have lived all over the world, while others have chosen to spend their entire lives in Manteca, the town they grew up in and came to love and serve for a lifetime. Currently, 13 people/teams have been enshrined into the Sierra Hall of Fame.

• Class of 2012: Rick Arucan-Education, Vern Gebhardt-Education/Athletics, Lindsey Pavao-Entertainment, David Ulibarri-Business.

• Class of 2013: Rigo Ledezma-Education, Jamie Hernandez Ledezma-Business, Mario Enriquez-Leadership/Business, Michael Torres-Entertainment, Sharon Amick-Community Service, Ed Almaas-Education, Manuel Pires and the 1999 girls Soccer team, the first girls Sac-Joaquin Section championship-Athletics, Mike Rosendin and the 1995 boys Cross Country team, the first boys Sac-Joaquin Section championship-Athletics, and Matthew Vaughn