City of Maricopa Honors 2026 Graduating Employees

Published on May 11, 2026

A graduate smiles, wearing a blue cap and gown with gold accents, in front of a textured gray wall decorated with circular elements.

As graduation season arrives, a group of student employees is closing out more than just their school years. They’re also celebrating the impact they’ve made serving our community. From welcoming residents at Copper Sky, to supporting youth programs, recreation activities, and library services, these seniors have spent their final school years helping shape daily life across the city.

Juggling homework, extracurriculars, and part-time responsibilities is no small task, yet these students consistently showed up ready to contribute wherever they were needed. Their work ethic, reliability, and positive attitudes have made them valued members of multiple city teams.

“In many ways, these students represent the future of Maricopa,” said Mayor Nancy Smith. “They’ve already demonstrated leadership, responsibility, and a commitment to serving others while still in school, and that’s something our community should be proud of.”

The graduating class of student workers includes recreation staff, lifeguards, aides, and office assistants who helped advance the City of Maricopa’s mission while preparing for life after high school. As they take their next steps toward college, careers, and new opportunities, city leaders say their contributions have already left a lasting impression.

Copper Sky Aquatics Team

Young man with red hair in a blue suit and plaid tie crouching beside a tree in a green, sunlit forest. He appears thoughtful and confident.

Troy Taylor
Graduating from Heritage Academy and Rio Salado College with two associate's degrees and a phlebotomy certificate.

Smiling graduate in a blue cap and gown takes a selfie indoors. Her expression conveys joy and achievement. Others in similar attire are in the background.

Madi Bratlie
Graduating with her Bachelor's of Science from Graceland University and will be attending Graduate School to become a physical therapist.

Young man with glasses and a smile, wearing a green shirt and jeans, leans on a chair in an outdoor setting. The mood is casual and cheerful.

Logan Bates
Graduating from Heritage Academy and will be going on a Mission after.

Young man in a blue shirt smiling, standing against a rust-colored metal wall. The lighting is warm, creating a casual and friendly atmosphere.

Dallin Huff
Graduating from Heritage Academy and will be going on a Mission after. Dallin plans to become an EMT or go into Heavy Machinery Repair Welding.

Young man with curly hair leans casually on a railing, wearing a pink jacket and jeans, smiling, with a blurred modern building entrance behind him.

Micah Gores
Graduating from Maricopa High School. Wil be studying International Relations at Wheaton College.

Young graduate in red attire, smiling and holding a tassel with

Brayden Demascio
Graduating from Maricopa High School. Will be going to Chandler to play soccer and is currently undecided on a future course of study.

Woman in a white lace dress and red graduation gown holding a cap stands smiling. Background features a blurred modern building facade.

Leana Guild
Graduating from Maricopa High School. Will be attending GCU for elementary education.

Young man with short hair and glasses sits on a metal chair backward, wearing a blue plaid shirt and jeans. He smiles warmly in a casual, outdoor setting.

Jack Mooney
Graduating from Maricopa High School. Plans to save and travel through summer.

Young woman with braided hair in a floral black dress leans against a concrete wall, smiling gently. Surrounded by greenery and red flowers.

Felicity Adams
Graduating from Heritage Academy. Will be going to University of Arizona to study wildlife conservation and management.

Young man sitting on grass in a red varsity jacket with a large

Holden Gehrke
Graduating from Maricopa High School. Will be attending University of Arizona for engineering.

Woman in a white dress and cowboy boots stands on a sunlit dirt path, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with mountains in the background.

Chloe Armstrong
Graduating from Desert Sunrise High School. Will be attending University of Arizona for Nursing.

Young woman in a red graduation gown and cap takes a mirror selfie. Room is softly lit with string lights, creating a celebratory atmosphere.

Emily Bachara
Graduating from Maricopa High School. Will be going to Central Arizona College for Nursing.

Copper Sky Fitness & Child Watch Team

Young man smiling, wearing a red graduation cap with a

Jordan Crawford
Graduating from Maricopa High School. Will be pursuing his Bachelor’s in Computer Science and plans to become a software engineer.

Smiling woman in a white dress holds a navy graduation cap by a stone wall. Sunlight and nature in the background create a joyful, celebratory tone.

April Garcia
Graduating from Heritage Academy. Plans to attend school to become a Dental Hygienist.

A person in a blue graduation gown and cap with gold accents smiles confidently, standing in a softly lit hallway. The mood is celebratory and proud.

Chris Gonzalez
Graduating from Desert Sunrise High School. Will be attending college to study engineering.

Young person with glasses smiling, wearing a denim jacket and white shirt. They stand near a lake, with a clear blue sky in the background.

Isaac Garcia
Graduating from Heritage Academy and will be entering into the Air Force post-graduation.

A young woman in a black evening gown stands in a warmly lit dining room. She smiles softly, wearing a red corsage on her wrist. Three star-shaped pendant lights hang above, adding an elegant touch. The room features a large wooden table, chairs, and plush bear-shaped stools on a patterned rug, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Emerald Johnson
Graduating from Heritage Academy. Will be attending Arizona State University for Technical Theatre and Design with hopes to work as a sound technician upon graduation.

A woman in a white dress lies on grass, holding a stethoscope. Books and a graduation cap surround her, conveying a sense of accomplishment.

Erynn Tyler-Floyd
Graduating from Desert Sunrise High School. Plans to attend Grand Canyon University to study Nursing.

Copper Sky Sports Team

A young man in a red sweater and jeans sits on a rock, smiling. He is outdoors with a blurred desert landscape in the background, conveying a relaxed, natural vibe.

Gavin Hayes
Graduating from Heritage Academy and plans to attend Arizona State University in the fall.

Young man in a gray suit with a red tie and boutonniere smiles with arms crossed, standing outdoors near a pond, surrounded by trees and grass.

Brandon James
Graduating from Heritage Academy. Plans to attend Arizona State University to study biomedical engineering.

Ezekiel Orian
Graduating from Desert Sunrise High School. Plans to attend Central Arizona College to study Business.

Copper Sky Membership Team

Young woman in a blue graduation gown and cap smiles against a desert landscape with rocky hills and a clear blue sky, conveying achievement and joy.

Kella Connelly
Graduating from Heritage Academy and plans to study Business Management, Fashion Design, and Cosmetology.

Young woman in a navy graduation gown holds a cap aloft in a desert landscape. She smiles warmly with rocky hills in the sunlit background.

Kelly Villalobos
Graduating from Desert Sunrise High School. Will be attending the University of Arizona, majoring in Architecture and minoring in Real Estate Development.

A smiling graduate in a black gown and cap stands in a sunny field, looking over her shoulder. The scene conveys a sense of achievement and joy.

Ysabel Maszk
Currently homeschooled, and upon graduation will be attending Rio Salado college to get her Associates in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.

A woman in a pink dress smiles while holding an orange cat in an outdoor setting. There are trees and a stone wall in the background, creating a warm, joyful atmosphere.

Alyssa Rivett
Graduating from AZ Primavera High School and plans to become a medical assistant and to go to central Arizona college.

Copper Sky Recreation Administration

A graduate wearing a black cap and gown with red and yellow trim holds a Park University diploma. He stands confidently against a gray brick wall.

Anthony Garcia
Graduated College from Park University and has recently accepted a full time position as the Recreation Administrative Assistant with the City.

Maricopa Library & Cultural Center

A woman in a black dress and glasses sits on a fallen tree. The background shows a serene lake surrounded by lush greenery, conveying a peaceful outdoor setting.

Alexia Olivas
Graduating from Maricopa Virtual Academy. Planning on going to Pima Medical Institute for Vet Assistant certificate and then finish through with getting Vet Technician License with the goal of becoming a Vet Technician Specialist in animal behaviors.

Development Services Department

Casey Norman
Graduating from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science, Urban Planning, and a Minor in Real Estate and Geography.

Carlos Gonzalez
Graduating from Colorado Technical University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management