Many CKM graduates go on to make their mark on the state, national, and international stage. Their influence is felt in many fields such as the arts and sciences, politics, law, and sports.

Abe Cunningham is a musician best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band the Deftones.

Anthony Kennedy is an American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1988 until his retirement in 2018. 

Arthur G. Scotland served as Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District from 1998 until his retirement in 2010.

Chino Moreno is a musician best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative rock band the Deftones.

Craig Wilson (‘65) was appointed in 2010 to serve as the State’s first Delta Watermaster.

Curtis Michel was a NASA astronaut during the 1960’s; he was a professor of astrophysics at Rice University in Houston, Texas, until his retirement.

Deborah V. Ortiz served in the California State Assembly and Senate from 1996 until 2006. 

Dion James spent 11 years as an outfielder for a number of Major League Baseball teams including the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. He was named the Brewers’ Rookie of the Year in 1984.

Gabe Nelson is a rock musician best known as the bassist for the alternative rock band Cake.

Joan Didion is an acclaimed American writer, journalist, essayist, and screenwriter. Her book, The Year of Magical Thinking, won the National Book Award in 2005.

Larry Bowa gained fame as a major league baseball player—primarily with the Philadelphia Phillies. During his career, he won two Golden Gloves. He continues to be affiliated with professional baseball, most recently as a third base coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Malcolm Floyd is a former National Football League wide receiver who formerly played for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and the St. Louis Rams. He now serves as varsity football coach for CKM.

Michael V. Drake, M.D., in August 2020, became the 21st president of the University of California’s system of 10 campuses, six academic health centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 290,000 students and 230,000 faculty and staff. President Drake also holds faculty appointments at the UCSF School of Medicine as a professor of ophthalmology and at the UC Riverside School of Medicine as a professor of medicine. Dr. Drake graduated from C.K. McClatchy in 1967.

Nick Johnson is a Major League baseball first baseman currently playing with the Washington Nationals. Previously, he played with the New York Yankees and the Montreal Expos.

Robert Matsui served as a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing Sacramento’s congressional district from 1975 until his death in 2005.

Rowland Office spent 11 years as a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees.

Steve Brown is a former National Football League player with the Houston Oilers. He is currently affiliated with college football, serving as the defensive coordinator for the University of Kentucky.

Steve Holm plays catcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball’s National League, West Division.

Tani Cantil-Sakauye was confirmed in 2010 as the 28th Chief Justice of California. A 1977 CKM graduate, she is the first Asian-American to lead the California Supreme Court.

Xavier Becerra is currently the 33rd Attorney General of California. He is the first Latino to hold the office in the history of the state. He graduated from CKM in 1976.