Kofa News

Kofa High School art students claimed 77 awards at the 2025 Yuma County Fair, including two grand champions and two cash prize awards. 

All art projects submitted are judged on overall appearance, design, originality, creativity, workmanship, and appropriate presentation. Projects included acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pencil, color pencil, oil, acrylic ink, alcohol ink, and digital artwork. 

"We are so proud of our Kofa students and Ms. [Amy] Seeley for representing the Kingdom this year at the Yuma County Fair,” KHS Assistant Principal Joe Daily said. “We have amazing artists who are very creative. Thank you to Ms. Seeley for empowering our students to submit their projects and to be vulnerable to feedback from our Yuma County Art Judges."

Projects included acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pencil, color pencil, oil, acrylic ink, alcohol ink, and digital artwork. 

The two grand champion awards were awarded to KHS art students Austin Carter for his “Burnt Orange” watercolor painting and junior Sarah Ramirez for her “Starry Night” diamond painting. 

YUHSD is represented in the high school art competition hosted by the Yuma County Fair each year. Awards are typically selected by the donors who choose a piece in each category. 

The Kofa High School dance program will be presenting their spring showcase “Happily Ever After” on April 23-24, 2025 in the Kofa High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m.

“Happily Ever After” is a show inspired by different Disney movies and will feature many widely recognized songs featuring Kofa dancers from various dance levels. 

Professional choreographer Andrew Valle, a Yuma native and YUHSD alumnus, will be working with the dancers on the show finale. 

"We are incredibly grateful to Andrew Valle for sharing his talent and experience with our students,” KHS dance teacher Ashley Atherton said. “His journey from Yuma to performing at Disneyland for over a decade is truly inspiring, and having him choreograph our finale is an incredible opportunity for our dancers to show them that their dreams in the dance world are achievable.” 

General admission tickets are $7 and VIP assigned seating for the first 10 rows in the middle and three rows on the sides are $10. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased in front of the Kofa Auditorium on Monday and Tuesday, April 21-22, from 5-7 p.m. Tickets will also be sold at the door the day of. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Senior dancers will be recognized on Thursday, April 24, the day of the final performance, along with a guest performance from their Kiddie Clinic participants.

Yuma Union High School District will administer the ACT Aspire Exam on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 to 9th Grade (Class of 2028 cohort) students.

The ACT Aspire assessment is the first computer-based longitudinal assessment system for college and career readiness that connects student progress from elementary grades through high school.

Students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 (non-testers) will work independently from home* on their classes through the Canvas Learning Management System and enter their attendance through a Google form for each class.

Students in Grade 9 will be the ONLY students on campus on this day*. School will start at its regularly scheduled time and will be dismissed at the following times:

• Cibola, Gila Ridge, Kofa, Somerton, and Yuma High Schools: 2:40 p.m. 
• San Luis High School: 2:30 p.m. 
• Vista High School: 3:30 p.m.*

*Please note: Vista High School’s Grades 10, 11, and 12 (non-testers) will follow their regular bell schedule on April 15.

A late bus run is available for students needing additional time to complete the ACT Aspire.

All students will return to their respective campuses on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
 

The Kofa High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) Rifle Team placed 15th out of the top 27 teams at the All-Service National Rifle Championship March 19-22, 2025 in Camp Perry, Ohio. 

This is the first year a Kofa JROTC rifle team competed in the All-Service National Rifle Championship. The Kofa team was one of only two teams from Arizona that competed at the prestigious event. 

The Kofa rifle team is composed of senior Jasmine Escalera, junior Mildreth Hernandez, junior Thifanny Cardenas, and junior Delila Mendez. The cadets were scored on their performance and placed in the top 50. 

Escalera received four Excellence In Competition (EIC) points, Hernandez had a placement of 42nd and also received four EIC points, and Cardenas placed 61st  as well as received three EIC points. Cardenas also earned her bronze Non-Distinguished shooting badge for earning her first EIC points. 

Following this championship, the team will be traveling back to Camp Perry for the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Rifle Nationals in June. 

“This is a very proud moment for our Kofa MCJROTC Program and the Rifle Team,” KHS JROTC Instructor Major Todd Birney said. “We strive every year to make the Nationals, but this team showed the most potential. We came very close to achieving our goal of breaking into the top 10. The Cadets are already looking forward to next year’s nationals!”

The Kofa MCJROTC program, which is overseen by Sgt Maj. Brian Olea and Maj. Todd Birney, has earned numerous awards and recognitions over the past several years. Additionally, the program has been named a distinguished Naval Honors School on multiple occasions. 

The Kofa High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) Rifle Team earned second place at the MCJROTC State Rifle Championship on March 7, 2025 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. 

The Rifle team is composed of Cadets Mildreth Hernandez, Delila Mendez, Karla Villapudua, and Thifanny Cardena. Hernandez finished in fifth, Mendez in sixth, Villapudua in 14th, and Cardenas in 17th out of 39 shooters, respectively. .

Hernandez and Mendez also earned individual awards: Hernandez finished first place, gold, in the kneeling position and Mendez finished third place, bronze, in the kneeling position.

“The Rifle Team is having a great year, and we will continue on into Nationals in Ohio,” MCJROTC instructor Major Todd Birney said. “Our Freshmen Marksmen are improving every competition and will be the future for next year.”

The Kofa MCJROTC program, which is overseen by Sgt Maj. Brian Olea and Maj. Todd Birney, has earned numerous awards and recognitions over the past several years. Additionally, the program has been named a distinguished Naval Honors School on multiple occasions. 

Photography students from across Yuma Union High School District had the opportunity to learn about their craft from local photography experts on Friday, March 21, 2025 at Kofa High School. 

Students from digital photo Career and Technical Education programs at Kofa, Cibola and San Luis high schools took part in the annual event. 

“I haven't had many opportunities to experiment with photography at the level I'm in, so this is definitely a very fun opportunity to get to do that,” Kofa High School photography student Akemi Lopez said. “It’s fun to get first-hand knowledge from the presenters and pick their brains with questions.”

Students rotated through different workshops led by local professionals Aliyah Ashley, Carlos Yeomans, Luigi Ortiz, and Kim Garcia. Each workshop taught them a different photography technique. 

“It’s great to get them enthusiastic about the art and the profession of photography,” Photography Industry Professional Luigi Ortiz said. “I want to teach them to look at things that are not obvious to most people and to take it and see it in a beautiful way.”

The YUHSD Photography Expo has been an annual event since 2013, giving students the opportunity to get industry grade training by local professionals. Kofa has hosted the event the last two years. 

"The Photo Expo was established approximately ten years ago with the support of the YUHSD Digital Photography Advisory Board members to enhance students' photography skills through collaboration with industry professionals specializing in the field," said YUHSD Director of CTE Nereida Lansman, who conceived of the event 12 years ago while teaching at San Luis High School. "Since its inception, the Expo has provided students with opportunities to develop specific technical skills, significantly improving their participation and success in the SkillsUSA State Competition by better preparing them for both regional and state-level events." 

Three Kofa High School seniors have been selected as Dorrance Scholarship semifinalists out of thousands of applicants. 

Blake Sterling, Iraider Mills and Gloria Miramontes have the chance to earn a $12,000 per academic year scholarship with a total program value of over $100,000 if selected.

“Kofa is proud of the class of 2025 and their academic efforts,” Kofa High School Counselor Denise Avalos-Lopez said. “We are rooting for our semi-finalist and know that they will accomplish great things as they graduate and move into their next academic phase.”

The students will find out if they will move on to become finalists in late March. If selected, they will go through an interview process and the scholarship recipients will be announced in April. 

The Dorrance Scholarship is open to Arizona first generation college students who have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, a minimum test score of 1110 SAT, 22 ACT, or 72 CLT, demonstrate financial need by completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), plan to attend Arizona State University-Tempe, Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff, or the University of Arizona-Tucson, and agree to live in on-campus housing during freshman and sophomore year. 

The Kofa High School Drama department proudly presents “Newsies,” a high-energy musical based on the real-life 1899 newsboys’ strike, on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Kofa Auditorium. 

The audience can expect to see thrilling dance numbers, powerful anthems, and an inspiring story of courage and resilience. 

“I’m excited about Newsies because it’s more than just a musical: it’s a story about resilience, standing up for what’s right, and finding your place in the world,” KHS Drama Director Lily Jacobs said. “Watching my students bring this to life with passion and dedication has been incredible. They’re not just performing; they’re learning teamwork, leadership, and the power of their own voices.”

Admission is $10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Newsies follows Jack Kelly and his band of young newspaper sellers as they take a stand against powerful publishers to fight for fair wages and better working conditions. Featuring a talented student cast and crew, Newsies brings history to life with unforgettable songs like Seize the Day and King of New York, dynamic choreography, and a set that transports audiences to the bustling streets of turn-of-the-century New York City. Don’t miss this exciting production that celebrates the power of young voices to spark change.

Yuma Union High School District students attended the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF) on March 4, 2025 at the University of Arizona in Tucson. 

After spending the majority of the fall semester designing their projects, collecting necessary data, writing their narratives and creating their posters, students from Cibola, Kofa, San Luis, Vista and Yuma High all came home with an award or placed first or second in their respective project category at SARSEF. 

"I've been obsessed with cars since I was a little kid so I liked being able to do my project on them,” Vista High School student Dwayne Cumm said. “It made it not feel like what I thought science was. Eventually I would want to find a way to replicate my project into the real world. When I found out I won I was looking forward to telling my dad and he was also really proud of me."

Apart from students earning awards, San Luis High School science teacher Krysteena Bailey also received a SARSEF Educators Award for her work as a science teacher at San Luis. 

“I am honored to have received the award though I could not have done it without my colleagues and their support with the students as well,” Bailey said. “This was honestly a team effort even if it is my name on the award.”

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

These students now have the opportunity to move on to the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. 

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

Cibola High School
Nora German, Richard Moreno: Most Outstanding Project, Comparative Growth Analysis of Lettuce in Soil VS. Aquaponics Systems
Samantha Chulamorkodt: Second Place, Outstanding Exhibit in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Error Propagation in Quantum Computing, IBM Kiskit Based Simulation of Quantum Pauli Error's through Controlled - NOT(CNOT) Gates for Quantum Error Correction

Kofa High School
Allison Martinez, Lakai Williams: APA Certificate of Achievement in Research in Psychological Science, COVID Quarantine and Children’s Reading Levels
Nathan Salasibarra: Naval Science Award, Effects on Reaction Times with Games

San Luis High School
Alexa Rios, Valeria Herrera: SARSEF Board Award, Flutterfest: The Butterfly Diet Guide
Eduardo Medina, Enrique Aguero Leal, Alonso Mendoza Ruiz: Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award, Trankanaytor
Bryant Mendez’s AP Physics Class: First Place, The Role of Soil Treatments in Dust Control and Environmental Health
Valeria Gutierrez, Alondra Patron, Karely Alvarado: Second Place, Magnet Heat: Driving Maglev Efficiency

Vista High School
Dwayne Cumm: SARSEF Board Award, TireGrip Dynamics: Compound Performance Analysis

Yuma High School
Brianna Gonzalez: Law & Policy Award, Science Museums
 

Nearly 100 Kofa High Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps students saw a special presentation from the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team on March 13, 2025.

Five members of the F-16 team, including maintenance technicians, crew chiefs, and others, shared details of their jobs with students and answered questions as part of each presentation.

In addition, representatives from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego attended the event alongside their mascot, Lance Corporal Bruno, to meet with students and provide further insight into military service.

“It’s a chance that not every kid gets to experience,” KHS senior Renata De Anda said. “It’s a cool glimpse of what the F-16 team does and what this job offers. It’s an awesome opportunity.”

After the presentation, the F-16 team awarded a JROTC junior Cheyenne Sharrar with a USAF F-16 Challenge Coin, a medallion presented to recognize hard work and dedication.

"It feels really good to get recognized," Sharrar said. "I never thought I would get anything like this. It's amazing to be awarded this honor for standing out."

The F-16 is one of numerous aircraft that will take to the sky during this weekend’s Yuma Airshow hosted by the Marine Corps Air Station. 

“For me, this is the best job in the world,” F-16 Pilot Major Taylor Hiester said. “I know what it’s like to want to group up and do this job or serve in the military. Our hope is to encourage people to serve their community. 

Over the years, several Air Force demo teams, including the A-10C, F-35A, and F-22 Raptor have made presentations to Kofa MCJROTC cadets the week prior to the annual Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Airshow.

Yuma Union High School District will host summer learning at all seven school sites, June 3-13, 2025.

The program will run Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Vista High School will start at 8:30 a.m. to reflect their usual start time during the academic school year. 

All classes allow students an opportunity to retrieve learning and earn credits lost. To register, students should talk to their school counselor before April 11, 2025.

Breakfast and lunch will be available to students at no cost, while transportation will be provided to and from school. 

"We have developed a multifaceted approach to summer learning that will address the needs of students across the district,” YUHSD Director of Education Technology Bibi Frazine said. “Our summer learning programs will provide students with the environment to determine what their needs are along with their counselor, the space to work, and opportunity to receive assistance from instructors and tutoring through Paper.co."

A $20 registration fee is required for students to take part in the program. The fee can be paid at the bookstore or online (processing fees apply).

Yuma Union High School District will administer the Arizona Statewide Achievement Assessment for Science (AzSCI) Exam on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 for 11th Grade (Class of 2026 cohort) students.

AzSCI consists of three test units that assess the Arizona Science Standards (AzSS). The AzSS presents a vision of what it means to be scientifically literate as well as college and career ready. Results are available to schools in May 2025.

School will start at its regularly scheduled time. Lunch will be provided for all students. 

Students in Grades 9, 10 and 12 (non-testers) will be dismissed at the following times:

• Cibola, Gila Ridge, Kofa, and Yuma High Schools: 11:50 a.m.
• San Luis High School: 11:34 a.m.
• Vista High School: 12:24 p.m.
• Strategies for Success: Students will attend class virtually from home using the Canvas Learning Management System. They will need to submit their attendance by clicking on the E-Learning button located on the homepage of every teacher’s Canvas page.

Students in Grade 11 (testers) will remain at their respective schools to take the test. Please note: Somerton High School will follow its regular bell schedule on March 18 due to having no students who are members of the Class of 2026. 

Those testing are encouraged to bring earbuds/headphones. Dismissal is at the following times:

• Cibola, Gila Ridge, Kofa, and Yuma High Schools: 2:40 p.m. 
• San Luis High School: 2:30 p.m.
• Vista High School: 3:30 p.m.

A late bus run is available for students needing additional time to complete the AzSCI Exam.

All students will return to their respective campuses as regularly scheduled on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
 

The Kofa High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) Rifle Team competed in the MCJROTC National Rifle Championship in Anniston, Alabama, from February 12-16, placing seventh out of 20 teams earning them their first-ever team invitation to the All-Service Rifle Nationals.

“This is a very proud moment for our Kofa MCJROTC Program and the Rifle Team,” Kofa MCJROTC Instructor Maj. Todd Birney said. “We strive every year to make the Nationals, but this team showed the most potential. We are very proud of our young team and are looking forward to Nationals.”

The team consists of Cadets Mildreth Hernandez, Jasmine Escalera, Delila Mendez, and Thifanny Cardenas. 

Hernandez was Kofa’s top finisher, placing 12th out of 96 shooters, which is the best a marksman from the Kofa program has ever ranked. Hernandez attended the All-Service Rifle Nationals in 2024 as the first individual Kofa Rifle Marksman to advance to the All-Service National Rifle Championship in school history.

The team next will travel to Camp Perry, Ohio from March 19-23 to compete over two days in the JROTC All-Service Rifle National Championship. This competition brings together the best 36 shooters from each service JROTC to compete for the best JROTC Marksman award.

The Kofa MCJROTC program, which is overseen by Sgt Maj. Brian Olea and Maj. Todd Birney, has earned numerous awards and recognitions over the past several years. Additionally, the program has been named a distinguished Naval Honors School on multiple occasions.