This month we begin our series of profiles of the PUHS senior class of 2025. Look for more profiles in the May issue of the PRT.
Sayra Miranda
By Lilly Weber
From being an outstanding friend, to excelling in her academics, Sayra Miranda is dedicated to everything she puts her mind to. She has successfully managed to balance her social life while proudly wearing the title of our 2025 senior class valedictorian. Miranda reflects on her time at Patagonia Union High School fondly, stating that her favorite memories are those spent in class laughing with peers. She goes as far as saying that the highlight of her high school career was meeting some of her closest friends.
Miranda plays an important role in the PUHS community. She has spent two years participating in the school’s yearbook club, and even joined the National Honors Society at the beginning of her senior year. She states that her favorite teachers during her time at Patagonia were Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, and that English and History have continuously been her favorite subjects. Miranda’s valuable piece of advice to underclassmen is to “be yourself and do not slack off on your work.”
After graduation, she plans to further her education at Pima Community College, studying to become a medical assistant. In ten years, she sees herself working in a medical office and owning her own house. Sayra Miranda will undoubtedly continue to succeed in her future endeavors, moving past anything that stands in her way.
Lizbeth Balderrama
By Johnathan Fields
Lizbeth Balderamma has participated in volleyball and yearbook at Patagonia. She’s loved playing volleyball because it let her make memories with her friends and her little sister.
Lizbeth especially enjoyed her yearbook class because of her friends and she likes being artistic and designing new things.
During her time at Patagonia her favorite teachers have been Mrs. Hayes and Ms. Nellie because of how they made the learning experience.
Her favorite memories from high school are all the times she laughed with her friends, especially in physics class her junior year.
When Lizbeth graduates from Patagonia she plans to attend college with the goal to one day have a nice house and a good paying job. She is undecided about what she wants to pursue at college but she is sure that’s what she wants to do.
Christopher Alexis Lopez
By DJ Castro
Christopher Alexis Lopez is a real mellow kid from the country south of Patagonia, Mexico, where it’s not so easy to stay focused and drive yourself to get a good education.
Christopher heard about our school in Patagonia and knew it was going to be hard having to come from another country every morning and then going back home. But that didn’t stop him from wanting him to come and get the education he wanted to get.
Another reason why Christopher has attended our school was because he heard that there was baseball and that was his sport since he was just a little one.
Christopher’s purpose in coming to this school was to get an education and to learn things to help him in the work field so he could work hard towards his dreams.
He was a part of the baseball team and made a positive impact. He played two years of baseball and one year of basketball his last year to learn something new.
The teachers he would really talk to and ask for help were Mrs. Hayes and Mr. Cuevas. He enjoyed chatting with Mrs. Hayes for her unbelievable help she gives to all her students and he enjoyed talking to Mr. Cuevas because he was born and raised in Spanish culture like Christopher himself was. His favorite subjects were his electives, music and P.E.
Christopher had no other desire but to play baseball. That was his highlight and his most favorite memories he says he’s made at our school.
After Christopher finishes high school he plans on going straight into the work force and making it to where he’s always dreamed of, Tucson AZ, so he’s still next to home.
Christopher has a good and positive mindset and tells people they should never be afraid to learn from everything and not be scared to fail.
Gabriel Nuñez
By Arihanna Pelayo
Gabriel Ivan Nuñez has been a student at Patagonia School since kindergarten. Since he has been here so long, he has created so many great memories. During his time at PUHS, Gabe has played basketball for four years and is very proud of how much he has improved.
He says that the highlight of his time here was how much fun basketball was and how much his skills improved. A memory that he will never forget is the first time he went to the Williams Route 66 Holiday Basketball Tournament.
He also participated in Student Government for two years, soccer for three, and baseball for one year and helped make many memories for many others of his peers.
He states that his favorite classes are financial algebra and his weights class. His favorite teachers are Mrs. Hayes and Ms. Nelie.
After high school he plans to go to the Marines and become an automotive technician mechanic. Later on, he sees himself with a stable job, a nice house, and everything he could possibly want.
His advice to the underclassmen is “Don’t be lazy, do the work, it’s not that hard believe me.”
Arihanna Pelayo
By Lizbeth Balderrama
Arihanna Pelayo lives in Rio Rico AZ. She has been in Patagonia schools since she was in first grade.
Arihanna is a very funny girl. You would have a guaranteed laugh if she is with you.
Not only is she funny, she is also a really good friend and she is always ready to help you if she can. She is always looking out for others.
I have known Arihanna since freshman year. Since that moment we became close. She has been a really good friend and she is always making me laugh a lot, even when I am having a bad day.
Arihanna has been in the yearbook for three years and she has been manager for basketball and volleyball for two years. We were together in volleyball and she was a pretty good manager and we had a lot of laughs.
Since we entered high school we have had so many funny moments. Classes were funnier and less boring because we were always laughing with Sayra, our other friend. She was also part of us and it was very funny. I will always remember Ari by how she was with me, by the funny person she always is. I know she will be great after high school and I hope to see her after we graduate.
Apart from her being a good friend she is also a very smart girl. You can always ask her for some help if you don’t understand your work. She is a great artist. Anything she makes is really good. When she graduates she will be attending Pima Community College to finish her associates degree and then go to ASU to get her bachelors in Graphic Design.
Lilly Weber
By Nicholas Young
Lilly Weber, a Senior at PUHS, is near the end of her time as a high school student.
Lilly is an intelligent, considerate and dedicated student. Throughout high school, Lilly participated in FFA for one year and in Yearbook her senior year. Lilly prides herself on her work and always puts in her best effort. As she concludes her time in high school, her favorite teachers are Mr. and Mrs. Hayes. Lilly says her favorite subjects are English and Art.
Lilly’s favorite high school memory was all the time she spent in physics class her Junior year. She said, “This was my favorite memory because the teacher was funny and made the class enjoyable.”
Her high school highlight is transferring to PUHS from a big school in Chandler, AZ. She said, “I feel like the students and teachers at Patagonia have helped me come out of my shell and gain more self-confidence.”
Lilly’s plans for next year are to either join the United States Coast Guard or go to Cochise Community College for her associate’s degree in administrative justice.
In ten years she imagines herself working as law enforcement in the Coast Guard or as a criminal profiler for the FBI.
Her piece of advice for the underclassmen? “Stop yelling all the time and be nicer to Mrs. Hayes.”
Diego Carranza
By Sebastian Padilla
Diego Carranza is a Senior at Patagonia Union High School. Diego is an athletic and caring student. During his time in high school, he participated in basketball for four years, soccer for two years and baseball for one.
Diego’s favorite teachers are Mrs. Hayes and Mr. Porter. His favorite subjects are Art and Weights.
As Diego leaves high school, his favorite memories are basketball, field trips and his freshman year baseball.
He says that the highlight of his four years was his time out on the basketball court.
Diego’s plans for next year are to start ranching full time and breed horses. In ten years, Diego imagines himself with a family and having become a professional roper.
His advice for underclassmen? “Don’t be lazy and listen to your teachers.”
Alexis Fimbres
By Meghan Aguilar
Alexis Sofia Fimbres has made a lasting impression on those around her. Whether she is on the court, the field, or the classroom, Alexis has been a dedicated and respected member of the Patagonia High School community. Alexis is not just known as an athlete or student but as someone who has made the most out of her high school years.
If there’s a sport at Patagonia High School, chances are Alexis has played it. She’s been a valuable part of the school’s athletic programs, thriving in various sports in her high school career.
On the basketball court, she played as a strong, skillful post, scoring points under the basket and being a reliable force for her team. In volleyball, she was a proficient middle, blocking and attacking with precision. She played softball one year as a shortstop and first baseman.
No matter what sport she was playing, she was determined and passionate about the sports she played, and it was evident. She was a key player and an inspiration to her team.
Alexis also worked very hard in school. She enjoyed learning, and had a particular interest in financial algebra and art class, her two favorite subjects that challenged her in different ways. Financial algebra helped expand her skills for the future, while art gave her a way to be creative and express herself.
Being a student athlete is sometimes hard to find a balance, but Alexis managed to do it with a lot of determination and work ethic.
High school isn’t about just academics and sports, it’s about the memories that we make and the people that we meet along the way.
For Alexis, her favorite memories were traveling with the team while she and her best friends laughed and had fun going to games and tournaments.
One of the highlights of her basketball career was a trip to Williams along Route 66, where the team competed, having fun adventures on the road with her friends.
Besides the games and competitions, her favorite parts were the laughter and friendships she shared with her best friends, on and off the court.
As she’s nearing graduation, she looks back on the moments of happiness and goofy times and cherishes them forever.
Alexis plans to attend Pima Medical Institute to get her CNA certificate, with the hopes of leveling up her certificate and advancing in the medical field.
In ten years, Alexis sees herself with a beautiful family and a stable job she’s passionate about.
And if Alexis could give the underclassman any advice, it would be simple but significant. It would be “Just get the work done and over with.”
