Desert Ridge High Celebrates Dedicated Seniors

Desert Ridge High recognized the accomplishments of dedicated seniors at their annual Senior Awards Night on May 12th. Students and their families gathered in the DRHS cafeteria to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of their Class of 2026.

This Awards Night is a great opportunity to shine a light on the hard work of Desert Ridge’s seniors and honor them before graduation and baccalaureate ceremonies in late May, but more than that, it serves as a fun way to motivate the school’s underclassmen to strive for future accomplishments.

Many students were recognized, including:

Students with the top 2% GPA
The senior with the highest GPA 
Scholar-Athletes: recognizing athletes from each sport who maintained a high GPA while excelling in their sport
Scholar-Athletes of the Year: recognizing one male and female selected from all Scholar-Athletes
Department Students of the Year
The Jim Lavin Award recipient: awarded in honor of Desert Ridge’s late athletic director.

All awards acknowledged the Class of 2026’s hard work, dedication, and perseverance throughout this school year, but one award received a special, personal touch.

The Jim Lavin Award honors the legacy of the school’s late athletic director Jim Lavin and  was presented by Kevin Swann, our athletic director. This award went to a student who most closely embodied the following attributes:

Is Humble - can take compliments as well as criticism
Is Hard Working - gives 110% in all they do
Is Dedicated - puts in the extra time on and off the court/field
Is Caring - looks out for and lifts up other teammates or people in the community
Is a Motivator
And possibly has encountered some hardships (injuries, illnesses, other struggles) and has persevered and stayed strong.

The impact of these recognitions was obvious on the students’ and parents’ faces. All in attendance were ecstatic to be able to enjoy an evening where these deserving students were recognized so publicly. Lots of photos with smiling faces were a testament to those feelings.

 

Student Awardees

AVID Excellence Award - Amelia Berry

AVID Vision Award - Gabrielle Bunz

Outstanding NHS Senior - Kai Perkins, Taylor Thie, Gabrielle Bunz

 

Fall Student Athlete of the Year Awards

Football - Trenton Crawford

Flag Football - Giana Rod

Swim & Dive - Tyler Rogers and Scarlett Bridi

Golf - Carter Glenn and Madelyn Moreno

Volleyball - Sophie Hooper

Beach Volleyball - Elijah Jordan

Cross Country - Christian Ingram and Jazelle Leavitt

 

Winter Student Athlete of the Year Awards

Basketball - Jayden Mangahas and Hailey Pace

Soccer - Caden Dye and Rebecca Tomerlin

Wrestling - Dallas Robinson and Athea Valenzuela

 

Spring Student Athlete of the Year Awards

Baseball - Beau Schafer

Softball - Elin Burger

Tennis - Benicio Marquez and Amanda Pester

Track & Field - Cameron McKay and Aubree Hyer

Volleyball - Talon Schad

 

Year Round Student Athlete of the Year Awards

Chess - Sahil Bhakta

Pulse - Allie Weid

Robotics - Dominic Micheletto-Munk

Cheer - Emma Van Camp

Marvel Rivals - Ryder Willcoxson

Rocket League - David Brown Jr.

 

Female Student Scholar Athlete of the Year - Rebecca Tomerlin

Male Student Scholar Athlete of the Year - Beau Schafer

Student Athlete Spirit of the Jag Award - Brooklyn Parks

Jim Lavin Award -  Dallas Robinson

 

Academic Seniors of the Year

Business - Emma Barnes

Engineering Project of the Year - Carter DeGuzman, Orlando Gastelo, Adan Felix Camacho, Ashton Montano

Engineering Project of the Year - Scarlett Bridi, Isabella Chaparro, Cooper Weaver

English - Treyson Caryl and Tori Parente

Fabrication - Myrrhissa Larsen and Matthew Daniels

Early Childhood - Calli Caputo

Culinary - Gael Avilez

Mathematics - Cali Sauceda and Gabe White

Band - Vivian Flynn and Jaylen Killion

Orchestra - Michelle Szewc and Luke Smith

Science - Elin Burger and Dallas Wootan

Social Studies - Elisabeth Janson and Treyson Caryl

Visual Arts - Nathan Brown and Payton Reitz

World Language - Carter Glenn and Heilly Phan

 

Marine Corps Award - Michael Corrales (DEP Certificate)

 

Top 2% - Sahil Bhakta, Heilly Phan, Elisabeth Janson, Kayden Apodaca, Elin Burger, Taylor Thie, Bailey Jackson, McKenna Fairchild, Brooke Reed

 

Highest GPA - Treyson Caryl

 

Congratulations to all seniors who received an award and to all of the DRHS Class of 2026!