Gila Ridge News

More than 500 Yuma Union High School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) students participated in the district’s first Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) officer leadership training, designed to strengthen leadership skills and prepare them for college, careers and their communities.

The half-day training was held over three days at the Pivot Point Conference Center and was facilitated by TEAMTRI, a leadership development company. Students received the same high-quality leadership training that is typically provided to state CTSO officers.

“Our new districtwide CTSO Leadership Training program reflects our commitment to expanding student leadership opportunities in CTE and equipping students with the tools to lead with confidence,” YUHSD Director of CTE Nereida Lansman said. “By providing greater access to high-quality leadership development, we are empowering more CTE students to excel in their officer roles, strengthen their CTSO chapters, and build valuable skills that will support their success in college, their careers, and their communities.”

The training focused on three key areas: discovering students’ leadership voices, building strong officer teams, and becoming ready to lead. Students developed skills in communication, teamwork, decision-making, goal-setting, and chapter management while connecting with CTSO leaders from across the district.

The first day included 172 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) students, followed by 204 SkillsUSA students on the second day and 159 Future Farmers of America (FFA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students on the third day.

“Today was an amazing experience, I loved to see everyone collaborating with each other," Somerton High School HOSA student Afrika Carranza said. “Being able to learn skills from our guest speakers and being able to apply them to our chapters is super beneficial.”

The training expanded access to leadership development by nearly 45 percent and provided a more consistent leadership experience for CTE students across the district’s campuses and programs.

Students enrolled in CTE programs are encouraged to participate in CTSOs, which are an integral part of the CTE experience. Through these organizations, students can compete at the local, regional, state, and national levels while showcasing the knowledge and skills they have gained through their programs.

More than 700 Yuma Union High School District certified and classified employees took part in the district’s annual professional development day on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026.

This year’s theme, “The Measure of Our Work,” highlighted the learner-centered practices taking place across YUHSD schools and classrooms. The day featured 102 sessions led by 65 presenters, including 39 YUHSD educators. Topics addressed all areas of the YUHSD Instructional Framework, with 55 percent focused on Instructional Design. 

“As an educator, I enjoy the PD days because we get to collaborate and inquire with our peers across our district,” Yuma High School teacher Jessica Gastelum said. “We get to see what works in their classrooms, what they are seeing across our students and how we can come together to bridge the gap and offer all of the students within the Yuma community a better education and more resources.”

The day began with all teachers gathering in the auditorium, where each school principal presented one teacher from their respective campus with a gold educator champion belt, recognizing them as champions for their students. 

Here are the school champions for fall 2026:
Kari Lofton, Cibola High School; Maria Palacios, Gila Ridge High School; Adrienne Beck, Kofa High School; Jesus Rojas, San Luis High School; Yolanda De Hernandez, Somerton High School; Cathy Jones, Vista High School; and Zachary Kelly, Yuma High School.

Classified staff also participated in targeted professional learning, with six additional sessions facilitated by the procurement, human resources, and finance departments. 

In addition to staff training, students also gained valuable experience during the event. Career and Technical Education students from Gila Ridge High School and San Luis High School’s Film and TV Production programs, along with students from Kofa High School’s Digital Photography program, collaborated with the YUHSD Communications team to document the day.

“Working alongside other students and capturing the hard work teachers put into their schools was an amazing experience,” San Luis High School student Zoe Castillo said. “Recording, interviewing and participating in this hands-on experience to do something I’m so passionate about was a great way to learn more about what goes into the career. Overall, working on this project has contributed to my own growth while allowing me to contribute something that highlights the hard-working staff at YUHSD.”

YUHSD typically hosts professional development days for teachers and staff once per semester to provide an opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other. The second professional development day, recognized countywide, will take place in February 2027. 

While the district was closed to the public, students were engaged through Canvas, the district’s learning management system, while working from home. School resumed as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Gila Ridge High School and Yuma High School have been named winners of the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights Sweepstakes, earning $5,000 each to support their schools. 

The two schools were among 1,000 winners nationwide selected to receive the award.

“Winning the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights Sweepstakes is an exciting honor for Yuma High School and the entire Criminal community,” Yuma High Athletic Director Steve Anderson said. “This generous award will help us enhance the student-athlete experience by supporting improvements to our athletic programs, equipment, and facilities. We are grateful to T-Mobile for investing in our students and helping us continue to build school spirit, pride, and opportunities at Yuma High School.”

Yuma High will use the funds to purchase new athletic equipment and make improvements to its facilities, while Gila Ridge will dedicate half of its award to painting its field at Veterans Memorial Stadium and the remaining $2,500 toward improvements to its weight room.

To qualify for the sweepstakes, schools were required to submit an application, write a narrative about their school and provide photos and videos. Schools also had to demonstrate an active social media presence, highlighting their school culture while tagging T-Mobile in their posts.

“Gila Ridge Athletics is incredibly grateful to T-Mobile for their continued support through the 5G Friday Night Lights Grant,” GRHS Athletic Director Johannah Elliott said. “For two years running, this funding has helped us meet essential needs for our athletic teams while also making meaningful enrichment purchases possible. It’s support that truly makes a difference for our student-athletes.”

This is the second consecutive year that Gila Ridge has been awarded. In 2025, the funds were used for gym equipment, installation of a livestream gym camera, and scoreboard repair. Yuma High is a first-time winner.  

Twenty-one Yuma Union High School District teachers were awarded the Arizona Public Service (APS) “Supply My Class” Grant, which provides educators with $500 to use on classroom supplies. 

The annual program awards $500 prepaid gift cards to 500 randomly selected K-12 public school teachers within APS’ service territory. In 2026, the program received 8,386 applications, and 62 teachers from the Yuma County area were selected.

“I am incredibly grateful and pleasantly surprised to receive the APS Supply My Class grant,” Kofa High School teacher Sarah Figueroa said. “As a second-year teacher, I am still slowly building my classroom and working to create a welcoming space where students feel comfortable, connected, and excited to learn. I plan to use the grant to create that welcoming space as well as purchase more hands-on materials for class projects, along with stress balls and fidget tools that can help students stay focused and manage stress during class.”

Representatives from APS alongside the campus principal visited the classroom of each grant recipient to surprise them with the award. 

“By helping provide teachers with the resources they need, we're investing in students, supporting educators, and strengthening our communities,” APS Senior Material & Services Coordinator Shannon Olson said. “Seeing the positive impact these supplies have in the classroom is inspiring and reminds us that even small acts of support can make a lasting difference.”

The APS “Supply My Class” Program is in its ninth year and has supported over 6,000 teachers since its inception. In 2025, 19 YUHSD educators received the grant. 

2026 YUHSD grant recipients: 
Cibola High School: Shaylinn Mays, Tyffany Sitzmann, Belina Vargas
Gila Ridge High School: Brianna Flores, Kristi Jurgens, Tracey Lee-North, Suzette Reyes, Caelin Sandoval, Ulises Torres, Lena Wilde
Kofa High School: Clarissa Monroy, Sarah Figueroa
San Luis High School: Vanessa Correa, Malinalli Tapia, Lizbeth Valera, Daniel Correa
Somerton High School: Claudia Sohnleitner, Kateri Carrasco, Lejuna Ratcliff
Vista High School: Adam Camarena
Yuma High School: Meredith Young 

For the fifth consecutive year, Yuma Union High School District reported a decline in its dropout rate, a number that has continually trended around 3 percent better than the state average.

According to data compiled from Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Connect, YUHSD’s dropout rate for the 2025-26 school year was 1.01 overall, while the Arizona state average dropout rate was 4.14. It is the lowest dropout rate in YUHSD’s history since ADE Connect began tracking the data.

YUHSD has outperformed the state of Arizona every year since 2012.

“I think every year we do our best to have the lowest dropout rate possible,” San Luis High School Dropout Prevention Specialist Rigoberto Conde said. “This year we are also tasked to form a committee to not just work on dropout prevention, but attendance. It will help us prevent students from not just dropping out but get also them to school and stay in school all day

All YUHSD campuses employ a Dropout Prevention Specialist as part of their respective guidance counseling departments. The group of Yescina Cuming at Cibola, Beatriz Felix at Gila Ridge, Edgardo Gonzalez at Kofa, Rigoberto Conde at San Luis, Chris Reese at Somerton, Arisbey Garcia at Vista, and Anet Solorzano at Yuma High has been nationally recognized for the role they play in keeping students in school.

Dropout Prevention Specialists are part of the collaborative effort between the counseling department, teachers, and support staff members to intervene with students before they consider dropping out. This includes phone calls, one-on-one conversations with students, and home visits.

Here is a list of dropout data for all YUHSD schools from the 2025-26 school year:
Cibola: 1.19 percent
Gila Ridge: 0.49 percent
Kofa: 0.93 percent
San Luis: 0.92 percent
Somerton High: 0.82 percent
Vista: 0.34 percent
Yuma High: 1.24 percent

Here are YUHSD’s dropout rates for the past five years:
2025-26: 1.01 percent
2024-25: 1.13 percent
2023-24: 1.42 percent
2022-23: 2.14 percent
2021-22: 2.85 percent

Yuma Union High School District schools received a grant worth $14,000 from the Albertsons Companies Foundation to distribute evenly amongst all seven YUHSD schools. 

YUHSD superintendents were invited to apply for the grant by Albertsons Foundation officials in an effort to give back to the community after recently remodeling their Avenue B location in Yuma.

“We truly value this partnership with Albertson's and appreciate their investment in our students and our community,” YUHSD Associate Superintendent Lilian Campa said. “We're proud of the opportunities our schools provide every day, and support like this helps us continue that important work. We thank Albertson's for believing in our students and standing alongside YUHSD.”

Each campus received $2,000 in unrestricted funds, allowing schools to determine how the funds will best meet their needs. Campuses are intending to use them for everything from classroom supplies and instructional materials to professional development. 

YUHSD leaders were invited to a ribbon cutting event on July 8 to be recognized along with the newly remodeled store, and accept the $2,000 checks for each school from the Albertsons Companies Foundation. 

Yuma Union High School District, in partnership with Onvida Health, will be hosting a no-cost sports physical event on July 31, 2026 at Somerton High School.

The event is open to all YUHSD student-athletes. Parents/guardians must be in attendance. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. and exams will conclude at 7 p.m.

Exams will be conducted by Onvida Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Director Dr. Ryan Zerr and other medical residents.

A physical is required to participate in Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) competition. All physical examinations completed at the event will cover the student-athlete for the 2026-27 school year.

Families my access the physical forms prior to the event by visiting: https://www.yumaunion.org/district1/athletics/clearance-documents

More than 80 individuals from the Yuma Union High School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) program are advancing to nationals after multiple state competitions over several weeks this spring. 

More than 700 students from all seven YUHSD schools competed in SkillsUSA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and Future Farmers of America (FFA) throughout April and May, with FFA leadership competitions still to come in June. 

“It is wonderful to have CTSO winners from all of our campuses this year,” CTE Executive Director Lorie Honeycutt said. “We are very proud of each competitor for doing their best, and we are especially excited for those who have the opportunity to advance to the national level and represent us in even more challenging circumstances.”

In addition to individual and team achievements, all YUHSD CTSO chapters received awards for their work in community events and school activities, including bronze, silver, and gold chapter recognitions. Kofa High School Law & Public Safety teacher Eric Frost was also recognized as Advisor of the Year for SkillsUSA. 

Kofa’s Marine Corps JROTC program competed in several events and earned recognitions at all of them, as well as received the highest honors associated with the Leadership and Employability Skills Industry Credential Assessment. The Army JROTC took the assessment for the first time this year. Twenty-two cadets earned a passing score.

YUHSD has national competitors in every CTSO event taking place in various locations across the United States. See the full list of individuals who advanced to nationals below: 

FBLA
Aubri Anthony, Gila Ridge, Hospitality and Event Management; Ana Montes Burga, Gila Ridge, Hospitality and Event Management

FCCLA
Zada Rodriguez, Cibola, Baking and Pastry; Monico Rico, Cibola, Chapter Service Project Display; Trystan Walsh, Cibola, Chapter Service Project Display; Janessa Rodriguez, Cibola, Early Childhood Education; Angelita Robles, Cibola, Food Innovations; Ruehl Swenson, Cibola, Food Innovations; Leah Arcega, Cibola, State Officer First Vice President; Penelope Petersen, Gila Ridge, Entrepreneurship; Maliah Franco, Gila Ridge, Personal Finance; Isabel Offutt, Gila Ridge, Say Yes to FCS; Elena Packham, Kofa, Sports Nutrition; Jaidynn Soils, Kofa, Sports Nutrition; Orlando Alvarez, San Luis, Entrepreneurship; Angel Vargas, San Luis, State Officer Competitive Events

FFA
Lane Bacon, Cibola, Poultry Evaluation; Faith Escalante, Cibola, Poultry Evaluation; Drew Martinez, Cibola, Poultry Evaluation; Brooklyn Marchant, Gila Ridge, Agricultural Business; Samuel Ricker, Gila Ridge, Agricultural Business; Gage Sullivan, Gila Ridge, Agricultural Business; Lauren Sullivan, Gila Ridge, Agricultural Business; 

JROTC
Mildreth Hernandez, Kofa, Marine Corps Service Rifle Nationals; Thifanny Cardenas, Kofa, Marine Corps Service Rifle Nationals; Mildreth Hernandez, Kofa, Civilian Marksmanship Program State Rifle Championship (Individual); Mildreth Hernandez, Gunner Kinsey, Macrina Covarrubias, Garnet Ortiz, Kofa, Civilian Marksmanship Program State Rifle Championship (Team); Mildreth Hernandez, Kofa, NRA National Rifle Championship (Individual); Mildreth Hernandez, Thifanny Cardenas, Delila Mendez, Gunner Kinsey, Kofa, NRA National Rifle Championship (Team)

HOSA
Hillary Habecker, Kofa, HOSA History (Advisor); Dereck Damian, San Luis, Public Health; Natalia Medina, San Luis, Public Health; Santiago Penuelas, San Luis, Public Health; Juan Pinon, San Luis, Public Health; Carlos Rendon, San Luis, Public Health; Jose Santana, San Luis, Public Health; Afrika Carranza, Somerton, HOSA Secretary; Olivea Segovia, Somerton, Sports Medicine

SkillsUSA
Savanah Martinez, Cibola, Aesthetics; Cadence Pavey, Cibola, Aesthetics; Isabela Bean Davis, Cibola, State Officer; Clair Rubio, Cibola, State Officer; Fathyma Casillas, Kofa, American Spirit; Valeria Medina-Alvarado, Kofa, American Spirit; Jennifer Leyva, Kofa, American Spirit; Damian Burgos, Kofa, Career Pathways Showcase Business and Tech; Diego Enriquez, Kofa, Career Pathways Showcase Business and Tech; Zacaria Paredes, Kofa, Career Pathways Showcase Business and Tech; Koriina Ramos, Kofa, Occupational Health and Safety (Single); Sophia Rocha, Kofa, Occupational Health and Safety (Single); Zariyah Villa, Kofa, Occupational Health and Safety (Single); Amaya Kelln, Kofa, Power Equipment Technology; Samuel Alvarez, San Luis, Building Maintenance; Jose Gaxiola, San Luis, Firefighting; Martin Juarez, San Luis, Robotics and Animation; Raul Quiroz, San Luis, Robotics and Animation; Danytza Lopez, Somerton, Career Pathways Showcase Human Services; Danna Olivarria, Somerton, Career Pathways Showcase Human Services; Anahi Padilla, Somerton, Career Pathways Showcase Human Services

Yuma Union High School District is proud to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program at no cost for all children, ages 18 and younger. No registration or ID required.

ALL children are welcome at all sites. Meals are required to be consumed on-site at the following locations: Cibola High School, Kofa High School, Vista High School, and Yuma High School. Drive thru to-go meals (child must be present) and on-site meals at the following locations: Gila Ridge High School, San Luis High School, and Somerton High School. All sites are closed June 19 and July 3.

Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows: 

Yuma Union High School District reserves the right to change and/or cancel a site or serving period. Menu is subject to change depending on the availability of products.

Meals will be provided to all children, ages 18 and under, without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.  

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1.      Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2.      Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3.      Email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider

For the eighth consecutive year, Helios Education Foundation and Yuma Union High School District announced six recipients of the annual Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship.

Each scholarship is worth up to $15,000 per year and is renewable for up to three additional years. The scholarship program is part of Helios’ more than $2.6 million investment over 10 years in YUHSD students through the scholarship program, which began with the Class of 2019.

“Through the Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship, we are investing in students whose hard work, resilience and determination have led them to this point,” said Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “These students have already shown what’s possible when young people are surrounded by strong support systems and high expectations. We are proud to help remove financial barriers so they can continue pursuing their education and career goals.”

Students were surprised at school by their school counselors and principals with oversized checks and balloons. Videos of each surprise were shared on their respective school’s individual Facebook and Instagram pages with a full video compilation available on YUHSD’s official YouTube channel.

“This scholarship means so much more to me than just financial support, it gives me the opportunity to pursue my education without having to worry about tuition, something I never even imagined could be a real possibility for me,” said Cibola High School senior Adamariz Fernandez, who will attend the University of Arizona to study nursing.

“Because of this opportunity, I can focus on my education and future, pursuing a career that I’ve always dreamt about. Earning this scholarship shows me that my hard work has truly paid off and reflects how much I’ve grown over these past few years. This means so much more than a scholarship to me, it’s an opportunity shaping my future.”

The Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholars program supports graduating seniors with financial need who are attending an accredited post-secondary institution full-time and pursuing a 4-year degree in any field of study. Scholarships are renewable if students remain in good academic standing and maintain the required GPA.

Eighty-nine qualified applicants among the Class of 2026 were considered by Helios and the Arizona Community Foundation. 

Here are this year’s recipients, their high school, and what college or university they plan to attend: 

Adamariz Fernandez, Cibola High School, University of Arizona
Joshua Olan Lopez, Gila Ridge High School, Arizona State University
Genesis Cardenas, Kofa High School, Oregon Institute of Technology
Valeria Gutierrez, San Luis High School, University of Arizona
Evolhet Bonillas Valtierra, Vista High School, Northern Arizona University (Yuma)
Kimberly Flores, Yuma High School, Arizona State University

About Helios Education Foundation:

Helios Education Foundation exists to support postsecondary attainment for all students, with a focus on low-income and historically underrepresented communities, in Arizona and Florida. For more than 20 years, and driven by their fundamental beliefs of community, equity, investment, and partnership, Helios has invested more than $350 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving education outcomes in the two states they serve. Learn more at helios.org.

Gila Ridge High School teacher Greg Brown was named Yuma County’s 2026 High School Teacher of the Year by the Education Foundation of Yuma County.

“Winning this award was a great recognition of the hard work that goes on our campus,” Brown said. “Though it may be an individual award, it reflects on the staff at Gila Ridge and all they do to help educators like myself be the best I can be every day. I am one of many on the campus and throughout the district that could have received this award, and I hope I can continue to motivate colleagues and students as we push education forward in the coming years.”

Brown, who teaches science and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and coaches tennis and swim, has been with Yuma Union High School District for 14 years. He is the first Gila Ridge teacher to win the award since 2018.

“Greg builds capacity in students, colleagues, and our school systems that support learning and postsecondary readiness,” Gila Ridge Principal Kathy Hoover said. “His influence is consistent and generous. He insists that every Hawk gets the opportunity and support to chase their dream. That combination of service and vision is why he was chosen for this award. It is an honor for me to collaborate with him at Gila Ridge High School.”

The County Teacher of the Year awards are hosted annually by the Education Foundation of Yuma, a private, non-profit organization established to support and recognize the profession of teaching and raise public awareness of the importance and value of education.

Twenty Yuma Union High School District students from six high schools earned awards at the Southern Arizona Research, Science, and Engineering Foundation (SARSEF) fair at the University of Arizona.

Overall, 46 students representing Cibola High School, Gila Ridge High School, Kofa High School, San Luis High School, Vista High School, and Yuma High School,  traveled to Tucson to showcase their projects, connect with industry professionals, and further develop their skills in scientific research and presentation. 

"I’m really proud of our students for putting themselves out there and presenting at SARSEF,” Kofa biology teacher Jason Flora said. “That’s not easy, and they showed a lot of courage and confidence in sharing their work. Walking around the fair, it was awesome to see their excitement and passion—they weren’t just presenting, they were having real conversations about their discoveries with passion and conviction.”

The students spent the majority of the fall semester designing their projects, collecting necessary data, writing their narratives and creating their posters.

"My experience at SARSEF was a very fortunate and encouraging experience,” Kofa student Getzemani Gomez Linan said. “It was challenging knowing there were many other people competing in the same category, but also fun getting to know new people and also seeing their creativity."

SARSEF provides students opportunities to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, network with STEM professionals, and a chance to earn scholarships and prizes. 

Here are the names and awards each student/class received:

Cibola:
Samantha Chulamorkodt, third place, Applied Technology and AVNET High School Innovator Award; Daniyal Irfan, AVNET High School Innovator Award; Melanie Moore, Student Award for Geoscience Excellence and Environmental Awareness Award; Xavier Rendon and Adrian Ruiz Martinez, the Future of Aerospace Sciences and Engineering Award

Gila Ridge:
Daisy Boelts, first place, “Oh Deer, it’s E. Coli!”

Kofa:
Lilly Town, third place, “Can People Recognize AI-Generated Images?” 

San Luis:
Jose Amador, Spark of Innovation Award; Juan Contreras and Ximena Diaz, SARSEF Board Award; Karely Alvarado, Valeria Gutierres and Alondra Patron, second place, the Study of Tardigrades and Their Adaptability and Mayer Family Excellence in Science Award; Maria Morales, Dave and Buster’s Celebration Award

Vista:
Ayden Barnes, Tucson Electric Power Award of Excellence

Yuma High:
Noah Chan, NASA Earth System Science Award; Estrella Bernal Lopez, Outstanding use of the Metric System Award; Evelyn Stelton and Ava Schwaderer, Ricoh Sustainable Development Award; Dani McKenna, Naval Science Award

For the 12th consecutive year, seniors from all six Yuma Union High School District graduating classes will appear on billboards across Yuma County to promote the district’s ongoing commitment to EVERY student being college, career and community prepared upon graduation.

There are six billboards in total located near each respective YUHSD campus. Two students from each school are represented in the campaign. As part of the selection process, each student was required to write a brief personal essay and take part in an on-camera interview. To read their stories, watch their interviews, and see photos of the billboards, please visit the 2026 RNY Billboard Showcase on YUHSD’s official website.

“Being chosen as the face of the graduating class of 2026 and representing my school on billboards across Yuma is something I never imagined for myself,” Yuma High School senior Yanira Zavala said. “When people see that billboard, they see a senior ready to graduate. What they don’t see is the journey behind that moment, the doubts, the pressure, and the determination it took to keep going when things felt overwhelming.”

Principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and district administrators all played a role in recommending students for the billboards, which will run through most of the summer. Additionally, banners of each student are displayed on their respective campuses for the 2026-27 school year. 

“We started this program with the graduating class of 2015 as a way to showcase our Ready Now Yuma initiative,” YUHSD Chief Communications Officer Eric Patten said. “Since then, the campaign has continued to grow and, most importantly, highlights the diversity and opportunity available to students in Yuma Union High School District. Every one of our students has paved a unique path to reach graduation day. The 12 seniors on the billboards each year are representative of all their peers and classmates.”

The students featured in the 2026 campaign represent a wide-range of areas within the district, including AVID, Career & Technical Education, SkillsUSA, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), National Honors Society, drama, band, Mastery of the Arts Program, dance, athletics, YUHSD’s migrant student program, special education, Student Council, and many more.

2026 RNY Billboard Students:

Adamariz Fernandez, Cibola High School
Eric Heredia, Cibola High School
Karidee Ellsworth, Gila Ridge High School
Amias Davis, Gila Ridge High School
Rachel Whitson, Kofa High School
Julio Reina, Kofa High School
Ashley Mercedes Beltran Leon, San Luis High School
Alberto Buchanan, San Luis High School
Ziara Turner, Vista High School
James Miller, Vista High School
Yanira Zavala, Yuma High School
Jesus Patino Salgado, Yuma High School

Billboard Locations:

Cibola: Southbound Avenue B near 32nd Street
Gila Ridge: Eastbound Interstate 8 near Araby Road
Kofa: Eastbound 24th Street and 4th Avenue
San Luis: Southbound Highway 95 near County 15th Street
Vista: Eastbound 32nd Street near Avenue B
Yuma High: Southbound 4th Avenue and 19th Street