MHS 2026 grads overachieving, responsible, loyal
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – They ran the halls on their first day (July 23, 2025) and on their last day (May 15, 2026) while walking them in between those dates, fueled on both occasions with prepared meals by volunteer members of the Morenci Fire Department, as other Morenci High School students have done before them. Their brief trek through the building preceded a final school-wide assembly in Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium, followed by an all-classes field day, and concluded with a yearbook signing session.
A week later, they were led onto the Lawson Stadium field on May 22 by class sponsor Renee Stills. A second sponsor, Esther Kessler, brought up the back of the line. Following their celebration ceremony, their final moments together were spent encircling the block “M” adoring the artificial surface. All 86 of them were deemed to have completed the needed requirements for graduation. Their formal high school education ended with that moment. Some may never leave the area, and some may never return.
Guest speaker and alum Misty Kerrigan told the Class of 2026 five keys to adhere to and follow for success, mentioning, “I didn’t know I left Morenci High School in 1996. These keys come from this town, these people, from growing up in a place where you learn really quick that character matters and people show up for each other. And, while these keys may not make life easier, I hope it’ll make you navigate it better.”
First, your reputation matters, integrity follows you everywhere, protect it like it’s the most important thing you own because it is; Second, your community matters, involve yourself with the people who believe in you, you are not meant to do life alone; Third, show up and be present, this is simple but it is the hardest; Fourth, dream big and go after it, build something no one expected; and Fifth, never forget where you came from, your past shapes you.
The musical entertainer, diminutive class member Margarita Aguilera, stunned classmates, administrators, faculty members, and the entire audience with her rendition of Sam Cooke’s 1964 “A Change is Gonna Come.” They promptly responded by lighting up their phones along with a lengthy ovation.
While visiting with current teachers, Kerrigan described the Class of 2026 as “overachievers, responsible, and loyal.”
The 86-member Class of 2024 had 47 or more than half receive scholarship offers with two of them totaling six figures, 19 five figures, and 22 four figures worth of financial help; 29 received associate degrees plus 22 earned certificates, 50 completed GIFT/CTE programs, and 17completed an initially offered Seal of Personal Finance from Eastern Arizona College two weeks before accepting their high school diplomas; and 82 earned memberships in honor societies with 24 of those wearing the National Honor Society hood. There were three with five honor society cords, 10 with four, four with three, 10 with two, and 31 with one. The national honor societies included Art, Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics), Quill and Scroll (journalism or media), Science, Spanish, Tri-M (music), and Technical (vocational).
The class Top 10 students offered scholarships were, No. 1 Emily Marie Lewis: Flinn Semi-finalist Tuition Scholarship, University of Arizona Wildcat Tuition Award, Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Tuition Scholarship, Penn State Discovery Award, Purdue Fort Wayne Scholarship, Sumitomo Mining Mineral Company Scholarship, U of A W.L. “Tex” Neal Memorial Scholarship, Coty Denogean Memorial Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Scholarship, and Mr. & Mrs. Merry Christmas; No. 2 Isabella Sophia Cardenas Leyba: U of A Wildcat Tuition Award, U of A Vivian Bancroft Swift Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Mr. & Mrs. Merry Christmas;
No. 3 Abraham Ian Cortez: Arizona State New American University President’s Scholarship, Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation Scholarship, Andres Mias Ortega “Forever 8” Memorial Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; No. 4 Maxwell Corban Clancy: University of New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Scholarship, Shirley E. Biles Memorial Scholarship, Morenci Fire Department Darrah D. Milligan Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship;
No. 5 Leighton Analise Colvin: UA Wildcat Tuition Award, U of A Phil Davidson Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; No. 6 Ella Pearl Hooper: NAU Lumberjack Tuition Scholarship, ASU Provost Scholarship, Gila Health Resources Medstart Scholarship, American Heart Association Blood Drive Scholarship, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #28 Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship;
No. 7 Destiny Rae Lamoree: ASU New American University Scholarship, Shirley E. Biles Memorial Scholarship, Coty Denogean Memorial Scholarship, 500, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; No. 8 Matthew Bryce McGahee: Culinary Institute of America Excellence Award, Culinary Institute of America recognition Award, Culinary Institute of America Early Application Award, Morenci Fire Department Darrah D. Milligan Memorial Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, Coty Denogean Memorial Scholarship, Deborah Armbrust Memorial Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Scholarship, and MHS Paw Express Scholarship;
No. 9 Merrick Taft Williams: Adams State Wrestling Scholarship, Sumitomo Mining Mineral Company Scholarship, Greenlee County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; and No. 10 Shaylee Alexis Wichmann: U of A Wildcat Tuition Award, Greenlee County Catholic Lifeteen Youth Program Scholarship, U of A Phil Davidson Memorial Scholarship, Coty Denogean Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship;
Other class members offered scholarships were Alicia Nicole Ahumada: Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Julien Mike Aragon: Selena Hernandez Memorial Scholarship and Andres Mias Ortega “Forever 8” Memorial Scholarship; Mia Bonita Avila: Eastern Arizona College Presidential Award of Excellence; Kennadi Jo Blackman: EAC Presidential Award of Excellence; Adriana Mishelle Carbajal: ASU New American University Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship;
Lawrence Dean Chee: NAU Lumberjack Tuition Scholarship, Sumitomo Mining Mineral Company Scholarship, Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Tony Boling Memorial Scholarship, and Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship; Madilynn Michelle Clark: U of A Garcia Family Foundation Scholarship, NAU Lumberjack Tuition Scholarship, U of A Wildcat Merit Scholarship, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Scholarship, Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship;
Selena Theresa Cruz: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Keyra Christine De Leon: NAU Dean’s Tuition Scholarship, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Scholarship, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #28 Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; CeAnna Nicole Dowell: EAC Presidential Award of Excellence; Aaron Michael Esquivel: EAC Foundation-Automotive Scholarship;
Kiarah Gabrielle Fernandez: NAU Dean’s Tuition Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Jaime Lee Sardanas Frisby: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Rozlyn Justine Funari: MHS Student Council Scholarships; Izzalana Sonet Gobert: EAC Presidential Scholar Award, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, Coty Denogean Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Kiya Renee Gonzales: Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Scholarship, and Coty Denogean Memorial Scholarship;
Jaymz Daniel Guzzo: U of A Wildcat Tuition Award, ASU New American Dean’s Scholarship, Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation Scholarship, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Scholarship, Greenlee County Catholic Lifeteen Youth Program Scholarship, Morenci Fire Department Darrah D. Milligan Memorial Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, Andres Mias Ortega “Forever 8” Memorial Scholarship, Mr. & Mrs. Merry Christmas, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Jaliyah Rose Hernandez: EAC Presidential Scholar Award, Jaim’ee Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship, Tom Powers Family “All Wildcat” Scholarship, and Greenlee County Historical Society Scholarship;
October Faith Hernandez: Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Derick Mikel Lytle: Morenci Fire Department Darrah D. Milligan Memorial Scholarship, Andres Mias Ortega “Forever 8” Memorial Scholarship, and Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship; Summer Nikole Luster: EAC Presidential Scholar Award and Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Scholarship; Johnny Aries Madrid: William D. Smith Memorial Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship;
Karina Andrea Marquez-Curiel: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Cynthia Belle Martinez: Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship; Zachary Zaine Montoya: Selena Hernandez Memorial Scholarship; Mary-Jane Alazae Nofchissey: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Monoxide Devan Pratt: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Elyse Marie Rivera: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Anthony Ray Rogers: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Eleasah Alilee Spean-Austin: MHS Paw Express Scholarship;
Alannah Inez Suarez: EAC Presidential Award of Excellence, Joseph and Frances Galusky Memorial Scholarship, Selena Hernandez Memorial Scholarship, Andres Mias Ortega “Forever 8” Memorial Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Scholarship, and MHS Student Council Scholarships; Jose Kiano Torres: Sumitomo Freeport McMoRan Scholarship; Jamie Lynn Turner: EAC Presidential Scholar Award; Laycee Alexis Ulibarri: Greenlee County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, Sons of the American Legion Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Scholarship, and Coty Denogean Memorial Scholarship;
Stosh Levi Vineyard: United Way Scholarship and Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation Scholarship; Lyndale Donta Waterhouse Jr.: NAU Opportunity Tuition Scholarship, EAC Presidential Scholar Award, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club George Lopez Memorial Scholarship, Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation Scholarship, and Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship; and
Sebastian Kaled Guevarra Zeballos: NAU Lumberjack Tuition Scholarship, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Scholarship, Cameron Orona Memorial Scholarship, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #28 Scholarship, and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship.
The 29 class members earning Associate of General Studies Degrees were Julien Aragon, Mia Avila, Kennadi Blackman, Adriana Carbajal, Lawrence Chee, Maxwell Clancy, Madilynn Clark, Leighton Colvin, Abraham Cortez, Selena Cruz, Keyra De Leon, CeAnna Dowel, Kiarah Fernandez, Rozlyn Funari, Jaymz Guzzo, October Hernandez, Ella Hooper, Emma Sage Kerrigan, Destiny Lamoree, Emily Lewis, Isabella Leyba, Derick Lytle, Cynthia Martinez, Adrian Thomas McCallum, Matthew McGahee, Laycee Ulibarri, Merrick Williams, Shaylee Wichmann, and Sebastian Zeballos.
Earning certificates were Alicia Ahumada, Yasmine Ennia Alvarez, Yelene Sophia Alvarez, Yelena Inez Anderson, Kennadi Blackman, Adriana Carbajal, Mandi Rose Casoose, Madilynn Clark, Selena Cruz, Jayden Jaymes Cueto, Ella Hooper, Emma Kerrigan, Emily Lewis, Isabella Leyba, Derick Lytle, Karina Marquez-Curiel, Zachary Montoya, Elyse Marie Rivera, Richard Vincent Rodriguez Jr., Alannah Suarez, Jose Torres, and Lyndale Waterhouse Jr.
The 50 completing Gila Institute for Technology/Career Technology Education (GIFT/CTE) programs included Alicia Ahumada, Yasmine Alvarez, Yelene Alvarez, Yelena Anderson, Julien Aragon, Illeana Felice Bejarano, Zachary Morris Biggs, Logan Dewayne Taj Billy, Kennadi Blackman, Mandi Rose Casoose, Michael Anthony Chavez, Lawrence Chee, Isaiah Dezmon Cook, Jayden Cueto, Daeyet Dayzen Cutter, Keyra De Leon, Kiarah Gabrielle Fernandez, Ally Briele Finch, Jaime Frisby, Anaya Lanyss Giacoletti, Izzalana Gobert, Jose Enrique Gomez, Deja Denae Gros, October Hernandez, Ella Hooper, Emma Kerrigan, Samuel Ray Kitcheyan, Emily Lewis, Isabella Leyba, Jesus Rene Licano, Summer Luster, Derick Lytle, Jesse Ray Mahler, Matthew McGahee, Manuel Jesus Medina, Zachary Montoya, Mary-Jane Nofchissey, Monoxide Pratt, Elyse Rivera, Richard Rodriguez Jr., Anthony Rogers, Anthony Renee Roybal, Eleasah Spean-Austin, Alannah Suarez, Carla Marie Tahnazani, Alexxis Jubylee Tarlton, Jose Torres, Laycee Ulibarri, Stosh Vineyard, and Lyndale Waterhouse Jr.
Seal of Personal Finance members were Margarita Alicia Aguilera, Yasmine Alvarez, Yelene Alvarez, Jason Michael Cabrera, Mandi Casoose, Ariza Nicolette Espinoza, Aaron Esquivel, Ally Finch, Izzalana Gobert, Kiya Gonzales, Blanca Danielle Macario, Karina Marquez-Curiel, Elyse Rivera, Eleasah Spean-Austin, Alexxis Tarlton, Jose Torres, and Tristan Alejandro Yanez.
Eight members completing the class were Jorge Reynaldo Aguilar, Corin Jaymz Gooday, Jedidiah Nathan Hernandez, Aundre Deshawn McCauley, Aaliyah Sky Monjaras, Isabella Olivia Perez, Alayna Alexis Redhouse, and Kiano James Torres.
“Home isn’t where you never leave, home is a place you are always welcomed back,” MHS Principal Don Goodman said in closing. “Success isn’t measured by how far you get from home; sometimes it’s measured by what you carry from home into the world.
Carry the best parts of this little mining town with you: the resiliency, the loyalty, the grit, the way small communities show up for one another. Go build something, serve someone, solve problems, work hard at something that matters. Be the person others can count on, explore new places, and new ideas. Change your mind when you need to, surprise yourselves.
And whether you choose to stay here or come back in five years or 30 years, or even if you return only in memory, understand this: there will always be people who are proud to say “that’s one of ours!”
The Class of 2026 left as the 121st graduating class, taking the knowledge they attained in and out of the classroom, the athletic fields of competition, and whatever they deemed of interest to them.
