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San Manuel High School Valedictorian Peter West and Salutatorian Mariah McBride. Photo by Margaret Schofield
This year, graduating students at San Manuel High School earned more than $1.3 million in scholarships to aid them in their college pursuits. Valedictorian Peter West and Salutatorian Mariah McBride each received more than $170,000 in scholarships and there were more than a few others who also earned a serious amount of scholarships.
Peter West
West was awarded the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); San Manuel Elks Scholarship ($500); a State Elks Scholarship ($1,500); the Central Arizona College Academic Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032) and the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032). He also received the Arizona State University President’s Scholarship ($10,000 for four years or $40,000); a University of Arizona Scholarship ($9,500 for four years or $38,000); a Northern Arizona University Scholarship ($39,000); and a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($39,000).
McBride received the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); the Central Arizona College Academic Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032) and the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032). She was awarded the Arizona State University Dean’s Scholarship ($6,000 for four years or $24,000); a University of Arizona Scholarship ($6,000 for four years or $24,000); and a Northern Arizona University Scholarship ($39,000). Additionally, Mariah was awarded a Northern Arizona University “First Scholar” scholarship, worth $20,000 over four years. She also received a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($39,000) and a scholarship from the local Knights of Columbus ($750).
Nicole Encinas, one of 2016’s top ten graduates, received the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); a Northern Arizona University Scholarship ($39,000); and a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($23,000).
Michaela Esquivel, also a top ten student, earned over $160,000 in scholarships including the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); a SaddleBrooke Rotary Scholarship ($2,000); the Central Arizona College Academic Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); and the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032). She also earned a Northern Arizona University Scholarship ($39,000); a Cedarville College Scholarship ($6,000 for four years or $24,000); a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($27,000); and a University of Arizona Scholarship ($6,000 for four years or $24,000). Additionally, Michaela was awarded the University of Arizona Assurance Scholarship, worth $36,000 over four years.
Morgan Fisher
Morgan Fisher, another top ten student, received the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); the Vantage West Credit Union Scholarship ($1,000); the Arizona State University Provost’s Scholarship ($8,000 for four years or $32,000); a University of Arizona Scholarship ($6,000 for four years or $24,000); a Northern Arizona University Scholarship ($39,000); and a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($39,000). He also received both the Central Arizona College Academic Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032) and the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032).
Stephanie Morris, one of 2016’s top ten graduates, was awarded a Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); a Knights of Columbus Scholarship ($750); and a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($15,000).
Jacob Reidhead received a San Pedro Valley Lions Club Scholarship ($1,000) and a Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032). Reidhead is one of the top ten scholars.
Sabrina Robles, another top ten scholar in the class of 2016, was awarded the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); a Central Arizona College Academic Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($27,000); the Phillip Clark Memorial Scholarship ($500); the Rene Acosta Sr. Family Sueno American Scholarship ($1,000) and the Todd Myers Memorial Scholarship ($1,000).
Theresa Sweeney, a top ten student, was another top earner for the class of 2016. Her scholarships, totaling more than $125,000, included the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); a SaddleBrooke Rotary Scholarship ($2,000); the Central Arizona College Academic Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); the San Manuel Elks Scholarship ($500); and a Pima Community College Scholarship ($2,200 for two years or $4,400). She was also awarded a University of Arizona Scholarship ($6,000 for four years or $24,000); a Northern Arizona University Scholarship ($39,000); a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($27,000); and a McPherson College Scholarship ($4,000 for four years or $16,000). Theresa was also named the 2016 Outstanding Senior by her classmates.
Ashley Vargas earned nearly $140,000 in scholarships including the Embry-Riddle Scholarship, which is worth $72,000. She also received the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); the Central Arizona College Academic Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); a Cesar Chavez Scholarship ($1,000); a University of Arizona Scholarship ($6,000 for four years or $24,000); and a Grand Canyon University Scholarship ($27,000). Vargas rounds out the top ten students for the class of 2016.
Marisela Mota was awarded the Fred and Sally Littau Memorial Scholarship for $1,000; the Monica Juvera Memorial Scholarship ($1,000); the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Scholarship ($1,500 for four years or $6,000); the San Pedro Valley Lions Club Scholarship ($1,000); the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032); the Guardian Angel Scholarship ($500); and a Cesar Chavez Scholarship ($1,000).
Patrick Lopez received a Todd Myers Memorial Scholarship ($1,500) and the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032).
Brandon Garibay received the Monica Juvera Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 and the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032).
Lyana Waddell
Lyana Waddell received a scholarship from Western New Mexico University, which is worth $33,670 over four years.
Angela Navarro received a scholarship from Grand Canyon University ($8,000) and the Central Arizona College Promise for the Future Scholarship ($2,016 for two years or $4,032).
Andrea Castaneda received the Cesar Chavez Scholarship ($500).
Lexus Valenzuela was awarded a scholarship from Pinal County Federal Credit Union for $1,000.
Rebecca Head and Carlos Salas
Rebecca Head and Carlos Salas will be leaving San Manuel to serve our country in the United States Marine Corps. Their contracts are each worth $80,000.
The following graduates earned CAC Promise for the Future Scholarships: Jesus Gastelum, Ismael Williams, Richard Najera, Carlos Salas, Yasmine Gomez, Sarah Delauder, Matt Encinas, Javier Campos, Isaiah Franco, Justine Belknap, Omar Gallego, Maryssa Sanchez and Alec Newman.
We wish all the graduates good luck and much success in their futures.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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