La Quinta Hall of Fame Celebration to Honor Entrepreneur, Air Force General and Standout Athletes

• Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Garden Grove Unified School District’s La Quinta High School will honor four distinguished alumni during its Hall of Fame festivities on November 10, 2026, marking the first year the school will expand its recognition beyond athletics to celebrate graduates’ achievements in military service and entrepreneurship.

The honorees are retired U.S. Air Force General Jim Hogue, Class of 1971, and entrepreneur Andy Nguyen, Class of 2002. They will join athletic honorees Troy Paulsen and Bart Recktenwald, both members of the Class of 1986, for a celebration showcasing the many paths Aztecs have taken to success.

The festivities will begin during the school day, when Nguyen and Hogue will speak with students in La Quinta’s Performing Arts Center about their lives, careers and lessons learned along the way. Their presentations will give students the opportunity to connect with accomplished alumni whose experiences demonstrate the possibilities that await beyond high school.

Hogue graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976 and retired in 2011 after 36 years of military service. A command pilot with more than 14,000 flight hours, he earned numerous honors, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. Before his military career, Hogue excelled in aquatics at La Quinta and later coached at the Air Force Academy.

Nguyen has built a career at the intersection of food, fashion and culture, launching approximately 20 clothing and restaurant brands. His ventures include Afters Ice Cream, Trill Burgers, Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Café, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’s Pizzeria, among others and his approach combines creative storytelling, distinctive branding and community building. Food Network dubbed him the “mash-up king” for his work bringing food, popular culture and creative collaborations together.

Nguyen was raised in Westminster’s Little Saigon as the son of Vietnamese immigrants. He is a proud product of GGUSD having attended Anthony Elementary and McGarvin Intermediate before graduating from La Quinta where he participated in choir, honor choir, Key Club, Impact Club, Vietnamese Club and was voted “Best Dressed” and “Social Butterfly” by his senior classmates.

Nguyen has returned to La Quinta more than a dozen times to speak with students about entrepreneurship. He also collaborated with the school on an IMKING x La Quinta T-shirt and is developing events and partnerships to raise funds for student clubs. As part of the celebration, Nguyen will provide ice cream for students during a special extended lunch and will host a curated Night Market outside of the basketball gym with 10% of sales being donated to La Quinta High School Clubs.

The evening will bring together students, staff, alumni and families for La Quinta’s returning faculty basketball games and Hall of Fame recognition. The girls basketball team will take on faculty at 5 p.m., followed by the honoree recognition and speeches at approximately 6:20 p.m. The boys basketball team will face faculty at approximately 7 p.m.

Paulsen, a standout Aztec shortstop and Orange County Player of the Year, was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1986 but chose to attend Stanford University. He helped Stanford win consecutive national championships in 1987 and 1988, earned All-American honors and was named to the 1990 College World Series All-Tournament Team.

Recktenwald helped lead La Quinta’s football team to the CIF finals in 1985 and earned All-Orange County honors. He went on to become an All-American at Orange Coast College, distinguishing himself as a versatile running back and returner who once held the national junior college record for total yards in a season. He has continued serving students as a longtime teacher and high school basketball referee.

“We are grateful for the many ways our alumni contribute to their communities and give back to inspire the next generation,” said Board of Education President Bob Harden. “La Quinta’s expanded Hall of Fame celebrates the diverse paths our graduates have taken to success and shows today’s students how their talents, determination and commitment to serving others can make a lasting difference.”

Admission to the evening festivities is $5. In addition to the basketball games and alumni recognition, guests will enjoy performances by La Quinta’s band, choir, cheerleaders and Movement dance team.

By expanding its Hall of Fame, La Quinta is celebrating excellence in athletics, service and entrepreneurship while helping today’s students envision how their own talents and interests can lead to meaningful careers and lasting contributions.

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