MHS Class of 2017 offered more than $935,000 in scholarships

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: The Morenci graduating Class of 2017 was offered more than $935,000 in scholarships.

By Raymundo Frasquillo

The time to work was temporarily put on hold for a pause to celebrate and enjoy the fruits of one’s labor.

Morenci’s highly self-motivated Class of 2017 was collectively offered 109 scholarship awards worth more than $935,488, some to specific institutions of higher learning, others to a vocational field of their choice. One student amassed a six-figure total, 20 a five-figure total, while others were awarded a two-figure sum. Regardless of the amount, with continual rising costs of higher education, it all helps.

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Reynaldo Placencio walks off the stage with a check from a U.S. Army enlistment for his continuing education.

The Wildcat Country’s graduating class lists a 79-member roster, some more academically accomplished than others, but all of them understanding the purpose of being in high school. Not only did the top 10 percent (8) get financial assistance, but 37 total, or 48 percent, (37-79) of the class members were offered scholarships.

“Their GPA (grade point average) and or ACT (American College Testing) test or SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test, SAT Reasoning Test – SAT-I, SAT Subject Tests – SAT-II) test score determines who gets some scholarships,” fourth-year Morenci guidance counselor Veronica Morales said. “Some scholarship applications I can hand out to students as they pass by, but I don’t have time to hand out all the forms. They are available on the counselor school web page.”

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Morenci native son Casey Woodall gave the keynote talk to the graduating class. The two-time collegiate All-American and three-time Academic All-American was near giving up following his first year as a wrestler at Adams State College, but decided to return and work harder. His message was to not be afraid to fail, learn from your mistakes.

All students are aware of what is available as an orientation takes place before students set foot in a high school classroom. A session is held in May for eighth graders prior to being promoted to high school.

“We have a meeting with parents and students before they take a class to explain how they can leave high school with further education being paid for,” Morales said. “We have another meeting during their sophomore year to see if they are eligible to take college-level classes in their junior and senior years.”

There is also one-on-one guidance throughout the school year.

“Not all students apply for available scholarships,” she said. “They fail to take the time to fill out forms or turn in by the deadline.”

The following students were offered scholarships.

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Top 10 percent class member Elyssa Vigil wears an ear-to-ear smile as she returns to her seat after receiving her high school diploma. She was one of 15 Morenci students to receive an Associate Degree from EAC this spring.

Marcus Anthony Aguallo*: University of Arizona Wildcat Excellence Scholarship, Arizona State University Provost Scholarship, Sumitomo Mining Mineral Company Scholarship, U of A Phil & Edgar Davidson Memorial Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship, Science National Honor Society Scholarship, Morenci High School Student Council Scholarship and MHS Tri-M Modern Music Masters Society Scholarship.

Shelby Rowena Aguallo*: Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Scholars Award Scholarship, U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarship, Freeport-McMoRan “FMI Scholarship” Award, Sumitomo Mining Mineral Company Scholarship, Copper Valley Telephone Academic Scholarship, The Morenci SME Section Scholarship, MHS-CHS Alumni Association & Scholarship Foundation Alumni Scholarship, Sons of the American Legion Squadron #28 Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship and Science National Honor Society Scholarship.

Isaiah Jordan Aguinaga: MHS Quill & Scroll Honor Society Scholarship; Daniel Hood Alba: United States Marines Enlistment Certificate; Jordan Gregory Arbizo: Northwest Kansas Technical College Wrestling Merit Award; Caitlynn Nicole Blair: Morenci Fire Association Darrah D. Milligan Memorial Scholarship and MHS Quill & Scroll Society Honor Society Scholarship; Gabriel Luis Castillo*: U of A Phil & Edgar Davidson Memorial Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship, Science National Honor Society Scholarship and MHS Student Council Scholarship.

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Christian White checks his legacy as he prepares to leave Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium for a final time as a high school student. The 3-time state wrestling champion is one of six Morenci grads who will have further education paid for by his athletic prowess.

Jose Manuel Cazares: Gila Health Resources MEDSTART Scholarship, U of A W.L. “Tex” Neel Memorial Scholarship, Mares Bluff Veteran’s Memorial Scholarship, Joseph & Frances Galusky Memorial Scholarship, Mount Graham Regional Medical Center Medical Staff Scholarship, American Legion Auxillary Lloyd C. Hill Post #28 Scholarship, MHS Student Council Scholarship and MHS Tri-M Society Scholarship; Krystyna Grace Chavarria: Selena Hernandez Memorial Scholarship and Tom Powers Family “All Wildcat” Scholarship Award; Andrew Patrick Esparza: Eastern Arizona College Preferential Scholarship.

Jacob Matthew Fernandez: Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Dustin Taylor Friend: MHS Quill & Scroll Honor Society Scholarship; Vincent Frimpong: U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarship; Alyssa Breann Garcia: U of A Phil & Edgar Davidson Memorial Scholarship, The Copper Miner’s Daughter Scholarship, Albert & Nellie Calderon Memorial Scholarship, American Legion Auxillary Lloyd C. Hill Post #28 Scholarship and MHS Tri-M Society Scholarship.

Francisco Mendoza Gonzalez: University of Dubuque Dean’s Merit Scholarship, New Mexico Highlands University Academic Athlete Success Scholarship, Greenlee County Republican Party Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club Tony Boling Memorial Scholarship, MHS-CHS Alumni Association & Scholarship Foundation Tony Boling Scholarship and Greenlee County Historical Society Scholarship; Caiden John Harper: Morenci Fire Association Darrah D. Milligan Memorial Scholarship, The Morenci SME Section Scholarship and EAC Paul Cueto Memorial Scholarship;

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Multi National Honor Societies member and Gift program completer Vincent Frimpong waves to relatives and friends after receiving his diploma.

McKayen R. Johnson*: NAU President’s Scholarship; Stephanie Aaliyah Manuz*: NAU President’s Scholarship, ASU New American University Scholarship, Tabor College Dean Scholarship, Tabor College Track and Field Scholarship, Mount Graham Regional Medical Center Medical Staff Scholarship; Sabyn Daelynn Martinez*: EAC Softball Scholarship, Morenci Lions Club George Lopez Memorial Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship.

Kalee Nicole McBride: EAC Scholar Tuition Scholarship and EAC Music Scholarship; Merissa Yvette Mendoza: U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarship, Science National Honor Society Scholarship and MHS Student Council Scholarship; Myles Taylor Miranda: NAU Dean’s Scholarship; Kylee Adaline Munoz: Eastern Arizona Academy of Cosmetology Scholarship; Alyssa Rose Murillo: NAU Lumberjack Scholars Award Scholarship, U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarship, MHS Quill & Scroll Honor Society Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship and MHS Student Council Scholarship.

Madelyn Sue Olmsted*: New Mexico State University Out-of-State Competitive Award, Freeport-McMoRan “FMI Scholarship” Award, NMSU Hadley Honors Out-of-State Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship and MHS Student Council Scholarship; Reynaldo Nathaniel Placencio: United States Army Enlistment Certificate and Signing Bonus, MHS Quill & Scroll Honor Society Scholarship, and MHS Tri-M Society Scholarship; Marissa Aurora Razo: MHS Paw Express Scholarship.

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Student speaker Madelyn Olmsted used herself as an example of overcoming a language barrier to become the class valedictorian. The New Mexico State University bound student needed to learn a foreign language to start school in South America.

Marco Rey Rojas: NAU President’s Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship, and MHS Student Council Scholarship; Jonas Eli Romero-Villanueva: EAC Award of Excellence Scholarship and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Shae Marie Sanchez: Gila Health Resources MEDSTART Scholarship and MHS Student Council Scholarship; Kristopher Kyle Swann: Arizona Christian University Firestorm Award Scholarship and ACU Phoenix Awardv Football Scholarship; Maria Isabel Tavison: MHS Student Council Scholarship.

Esai Arturo Vanegas: EAC Award of Excellence Scholarship, EAC Sumitomo Freeport McMoRan Scholarship, Science National Honor Society Scholarship and Morenci Lions Club Scholarship; Elyssa Rochelle Vigil*: NAU Lumberjack Scholars Award Scholarship, MHS Quill & Scroll Honor Society Scholarship and MHS Student Council Scholarship; Marissa Maquel Webb: U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarship; Christian Diego White: Newberry College Athletic Wrestling Scholarship; James Gabriel Williams: EAC Preferential Scholarship, EAC Engineering Tuition Scholarship, and Newman Board Sustaining Scholarship.

During the previous five years (2012-16), Morenci graduates have been offered more than $4,346,715 worth of scholarships for 223 of 431 students, or 53 percent. Some scholarships had an unknown amount when the totals were compiled.

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Jonas Romero-Villanueva accepts one of six Morenci Lions Club scholarships from President Frank Maldonado and Melvin Jones Fellow Tom Powers.

Individual classes were offered more than $1,355,000 for 45 students, or 49 percent (45-91) in 2016, $ 1,031,949 for 40 students, or 40 percent (40-99) in 2015, $773,149 for 50 students, or 57 percent (50-88) in 2014, $935,202 for 47-82 students, or 57 percent in 2013, and $251,415 for 41-71, or 58 percent of students in 2012.

Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Kalee McBride provided the musical entertainment during the baccalaureate ceremony. The Eastern Arizona College bound student also sang at the commencement exercises.

This year’s class also had 15 of its members, or 19 percent, (15-79) receive an AGS (Associate in General Studies degree), the most from one class in school history, two weeks before getting their high school diploma. They included Marcus Aguallo, Shelby Aguallo, Gabriel Castillo, Jose Cazares, Alyssa Garcia, McKayen Johnson, Stephanie Manuz, Merrissa Mendoza, Myles Miranda, Madelyn Olmsted, Modesto Ortega, Marco Rojas, Elyssa Vigil, Marissa Webb and James Williams.

There were three students receiving an AGEC-A (Arizona General Education Curriculum) status, of being able to transfer to a public university without loss of credits. Those were Sabyn Martinez, Alyssa Murillo and Shae Sanchez.

Additionally, 17 students, or 22 percent, (17-79) completed the GIFT  Program (Gila Institute for Technology). They include, Vincent Frimpong, Stephanie Manuz, Myles Miranda and Madelyn Miranda in Sports Medicine;  Marcus Aguallo, Jose Cazares and Alyssa Garcia in Licensed Nursing Assistant; McKayen Johnson, Jadye Rivas and Elyssa Vigil in Law Enforcement Technology; Tayson Daniel, Caiden Harper and Esai Vanegas in Industrial Electrician; William Baber and Marissa Razo in Culinary Arts; Caliegh Breshears in Cosmetology; Jonas Romero-Villanueva in Computer Aided Drafting and Tayson Daniel in Welding.

Morenci High School is an A+ School of Excellence  award recipient presented by the Arizona Educational Foundation.

 

* Top 10 percent

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