The Saratoga Springs High School Hall of Distinction will honor two outstanding individuals for their extraordinary professional accomplishments at the 2025 Hall of Distinction Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
The 2025 Annual Hall of Distinction inductees are Sonny Bonacio and Dr. Jenny Lounsbury. The Hall of Distinction was established to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding graduates of Saratoga Springs High School who have made exceptional contributions and excelled in their chosen fields. The distinguished alumni named to the Hall of Distinction represent an extraordinary range of personal and professional achievements.
Sonny Bonacio
A lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs, Sonny Bonacio graduated from Saratoga Springs High School, earned his degree in Construction Management from SUNY Canton, and in 1988, founded Bonacio Construction, Inc. He married his wife, Julie Bonacio, in 1992, and she joined the company shortly thereafter. Together, they have three children: Gianna, Will, and Luca, who have also joined the family business.
After 35 successful years, Sonny has grown Bonacio Construction, along with its sister companies Bonacio Development and Bonacio Management, into leaders in enhancing the architectural and economic landscape of the Capital Region and beyond.
Under Sonny’s leadership, Bonacio has developed over 2.8 million square feet of real estate in Saratoga Springs, establishing the condominium and downtown apartment markets while perfecting mixed-use development. He led the revival of a downtown movie theater with the opening of Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas, now known as AMC Saratoga Springs 11. He honored Spa City’s history with The Washington, built in the image of the former Masonic Temple and located on the same site in the heart of Broadway. One of Bonacio’s most recent projects, Brookmere, has transformed the site of the former Longfellows into a new resort featuring expanded hotel and amenity offerings, including the Arbor Spa, Regent Restaurant, and large ballrooms and event spaces. Projects in Glens Falls, Rome, NY, Schroon Lake, and Troy have contributed to revitalizations these communities have not seen in decades.
Sonny runs Bonacio with precision and integrity, earning the trust and respect of his colleagues, clients, and competitors. He has held numerous influential positions, including serving on the boards of the Saratoga Builders Association, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and Universal Preservation Hall. Sonny, along with Julie, is proud to be part of Saratoga’s philanthropic community, contributing to organizations in need through a built-in volunteering program within their businesses. They and their employees regularly work with Franklin Community Center, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, RISE Housing and Support Services, Habitat for Humanity, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
Sonny has received numerous accolades, including induction into the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame, the Community Impact Entrepreneur Award from Siena College’s Civitella Entrepreneurial Awards, and recognition as one of The Saratoga 25 by Saratoga Living alongside Julie. Most recently, they received RISE Housing and Support Services’ Get It Done Award for their efforts in establishing the Adelphi Street Shelter.
Dr. Jenny Lounsbury
Dr. Jenny A. Lounsbury is a 2001 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, a forensic scientist for the State of Texas, and a goalkeeper for USA Masters Field Hockey.
At SSHS, she earned two varsity letters in field hockey and participated in Recorder Club and Symphonic Orchestra, serving as Concert Mistress her senior year. Additionally, she graduated with honors and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Following graduation, she attended Utica College (UC) of Syracuse University (now Utica University), earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2005, graduating magna cum laude. She continued her education by earning a Master of Science in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven in 2007 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from the University of Virginia (UVA) in 2012.
During her time at UVA, Dr. Lounsbury published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and presented at several national conferences on her work, which focused on the miniaturization and acceleration of forensic DNA analysis. She served as a graduate teaching assistant and tutor, fostering her love for teaching and mentoring, and earned the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in 2012. Her doctoral work culminated in a dissertation titled DNA Preparation and Amplification on Plastic Microfluidic Devices for Genetic Analyses. Upon completing her Ph.D., she continued her research at MicroLab Diagnostics.
Dr. Lounsbury began her career as a forensic scientist in 2013 with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in Houston, where she currently serves as a Forensic Scientist IV in the Trace Evidence Section. She has developed expertise in the analysis of hairs, fabrics and fibers, paints and polymers, footwear and tire impressions, physical fits, pressure-sensitive tapes, and lamp filaments.
At DPS, she has served three terms on the Trace Evidence Advisory Board, including one as Chair. She was a team lead for the Houston Crime Scene Team from 2013 until its disbandment in 2020. In addition to providing expert testimony in criminal trials, she trains and mentors fellow analysts. Passionate about outreach, Dr. Lounsbury has helped expand DPS’s community engagement, offering workshops and presentations to local schools, community centers, and law enforcement agencies. She also participates in career fairs and judges forensic science competitions. Her contributions have earned her the 2014 Young Leadership Award from Utica University and the DPS Employee of the Quarter honor for Q4 of 2023.
Dr. Lounsbury is actively involved in advancing the field of trace evidence analysis through several national professional organizations. She serves as the Executive Secretary of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) Trace Materials Subcommittee and is an affiliate of its Footwear and Tire Subcommittee. OSAC, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Department of Justice, develops national standards and guidelines. Additionally, she is the Secretary of the American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE), where she previously served as a Director, and is also a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and the Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (SWAFS).
Dr. Lounsbury is equally passionate about field hockey. She began playing as a freshman at SSHS, starting as goalkeeper for both the junior varsity and varsity teams for two seasons. She continued her athletic career at Utica College, where she was the starting goalkeeper for 2.5 seasons. During her junior year, she helped lead the team to a NYSWCAA Championship title. In her senior year, the team achieved a 15–3 record, earned a #10 national ranking, and reached the semifinals of the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament. Her accolades at UC include Empire 8 All-Conference First Team, North Atlantic Region First Team, and North Senior All-Star. She still holds the school’s career records for save percentage (0.828), goals-against average (1.35), and shutouts (14).
Dr. Lounsbury has remained active in field hockey, representing the U.S. in 2024 at the Masters Indoor Cup in Nottingham, England (Over-35 team), and the Masters Outdoor World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa (Over-40 team). She currently serves as the Goalkeeper Coach for Houston Velocity and the Head Coach at Lamar High School, mentoring young players with the same drive and passion she developed as a student-athlete.
Dr. Lounsbury credits her years at SSHS with laying the foundation for her success—not only in her career as a forensic scientist but also in her lifelong dedication to the sport of field hockey.