Gilbert Classical Academy Class of 2026

Congratulations to Gilbert Classical Academy’s Class of 2026!

Your hard work and dedication have brought you this far and will continue to take you far in the future.

GCA is proud to celebrate our 84 graduating seniors. 100% of students are college/university-bound, 1 is enlisting in the military, and 4 are Student Council officers (Mary Maguire - President, Freya Bajas - Vice President, Liberty Wyatt - Secretary, Jotham Demellow -Treasurer).

GCA Class of 2026 has been offered $9,359,500 in scholarships.

Valedictorian - Sam Bloxham

Sam has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.6491. Sam has participated in Mu Alpha Theta club, Astronomy Club, plays saxophone, and was a Regionals saxophone player in 2025.

Sam has also received the following honors: math department award and Golden Scholar.

Sam will be heading to the Georgia Institute of Technology to major in Nuclear and Radiological Engineering in order to become a Nuclear Engineer.

 

 

Valedictorian - Gianno Brignone

Gianno has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7925. Gianno is involved in Varsity Soccer, National Honor Society, math/science tutoring, volunteering at food banks, and works at WinCo. 

Gianno has also received the following honors: AP Scholar with Distinction Award, Zero Hunger InnverView Service Recognition, First Team All Region Varsity Soccer, and first place at the GCA Science Fair.

Gianno will be heading to Arizona State University to major in Chemical Engineering in order to be able to optimize drug delivery systems that increase the effectiveness of treatments for diseases like cancer. 

 

 

Valedictorian - Ethan Cork

Ethan has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.6863. Ethan has participated in Volleyball and Astronomy Club.

Ethan has also received the following honors: AP Scholar, Golden Scholar x4, Sand Volleyball MVP, 1st Team All Region Defensive Player of the Year.

Ethan will be heading to Arizona State University Barrett Honors College to major in Aerospace Engineering in order to become an Entrepreneur.

 

 

Valedictorian - Jotham Demellow

Jotham has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7451. Jotham has participated in Student Senate (as Treasurer), Men's Volleyball (team Captain).

Jotham has also received the following honors: 2nd team All Region for Volleyball and AP Scholar with Distinction.

Jotham will be heading to Boston University to major in Behavior and Health in order to go to Med School and become a Psychiatrist.

 

 

Valedictorian - Joshua John

Joshua has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7963. Joshua has participated in Tennis and South Asian Club, worked on a Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine, and developed Assistive Technology to help Transition Programs all around the District.

Joshua has also received the following honors: International Science and Engineering Finalist.

Joshua is also a pianist who enjoys singing in the shower and has made life-long friends during his time in high school.

Joshua will be heading to Saint Louis University to major in Medical Sciences in order to become a Doctor and live life to the fullest.

 

 

Valedictorian - Kyle Jones

Kyle has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7593. Kyle has participated in Future Doctors Club, American Sign Language Club, Chess, Art Club, Tri-M, and Ambassador's Club.

Kyle has also received the following honors: Golden Scholar (2021-2025), AP Scholar with Distinction, AMEA All-State and Regionals, 1450/1600 SAT score, State finalist for the Personal Finance Challenge, 3rd Place Case Study participant for State Personal Finance Challenge (April 11, 2025), and National Merit Finalist.

Kyle will be heading to Arizona State University Barrett Honors College (Polytechnic) to major in Pre-Veterinarian Studies in order to become a veterinarian for domesticated animals like cats and dogs.

 

 

Valedictorian - Rafik Kerkoud

Rafik has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.6667. Rafik has volunteered with Banner Health Transport and will be heading to Arizona State University to major in Electrical Engineering in order to work for Apple as an embedded software engineer or electrical engineer.

 

 

Valedictorian - Paul Mueller

Paul has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.717. Paul has participated in Band, Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Student Government.

Paul has also received the following honors: 4 Varsity Soccer Letters, 3 Varsity Cross Country Letters, 1st Team All Region for Soccer as a Middle Back, Regional Band Member for Clarinet.

Paul will be heading to Northern Arizona University Honors College to major in Criminology in order to become an FBI Investigator.

 

 

Valedictorian - Shivang Parmar

Shivang has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.74. Shivang has participated in Technology Student Association, Science Olympiad, and Chess.

Shivang has also received the following honors: National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, and 2nd Place at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair.

During free time, Shivang researches in a Computational Biology Lab, volunteers, and works at Kumon.

Shivang will be heading to Johns Hopkins University to major in Biomedical Engineering in order to become a Physician.

 

 

Valedictorian - Iris Tang

Iris has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.73. Iris has published scientific and economic policy research, served as student Chair to the AZ Department of Education, is president of Business Club, holds 3 part-time jobs, and is a pianist and violinist.

Iris has also received the following honors: U.N. & U.S. Senate commendation for research, Morgan Stanley Scholar, SSRN Top Downloaded Papers, Forbes400@UATX Talent Network recognition, World Bank Youth Delegate, Coca-Cola Scholarship Finalist, International Economics Olympiad Finalist, Stanford IYRC Best Case Study Award, National Personal Finance Challenge Top 5, 1st Place at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair, First-Generation Recognition Program.

Iris will be heading to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to major in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science in order to work in quantitative economics at the World Bank and influence global development policy.

 

 

Valedictorian - Emma Tran

Emma has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.73. Emma has participated in Student Senate, the GCA Science Olympiad, and Pinal Youth Advocacy Committee all while being a Teaching Assistant and volunteering.

Emma will be heading to Stanford University to major in Biomedical Sciences/Engineering in order to become a physician who addresses socioeconomic determinants of health and improves patient care with the intersection of technology.

 

 

Valedictorian - Sarena Venti

Sarena has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7358. Sarena has participated in Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field for four years (4x state runner /2x Captain), is the head of a branch of Student Senate, helped found the Girl Up Club and is currently President, has played the flute in band for 6 years, is a math tutor, is part of the Music Council, volunteered at a cat shelter every other weekend for four years, and most notably, is a volunteer and international ambassador in the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program.

Off campus, Sarena helped lead an initiative to raise money and collect hygiene products to deliver to shelters for women and girls, helped raise $1,000 and 10,000 product donations in which 300 hygiene kits were made and distributed at educational events at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, was nominated for the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program during sophomore year, was an international ambassador at the World Leadership Congress, and volunteered on staff at their local seminar (and will return this summer). Sarena has also played the flute in regional bands.

After receiving offers from UCLA, USC, UW Honors, NAU, ASU Barrett, and UofA Honors, Sarena will be heading to the University of Arizona W.A. Franke Honors College to major in Engineering with an Undeclared Focus in order to work in the engineering field.

Sarena has also received the following scholarships to U of A: Presidential Saguaro's Scholarship from UofA (granting Sarena a renewable $15,000 scholarship for four years) and  an external grant that covers the rest of Sarena’s college costs.

 

 

 

Valedictorian - Illiana Wendell

Illiana has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7255. Illiana has participated in Business Club, Tri-M, and National Honors Society all while volunteering off-campus for a total of 400 hours and being a 3x member of the regional band.

Illiana has also received the following honors: 2x Varsity letter in volunteerism, Varsity status in Sand Volleyball.

Illiana will be heading to Arizona State University Barrett Honors College to major in Biomedical Sciences in order to become an Anesthesiologist.

 

 

Valedictorian - Sophia Wong

Sophia has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.6792. Sophia has participated in Track and Field and Art Class while playing the Guzheng and volunteering.

Sophia has also received the following honors: Alumni of YSPA,  2nd Place - American Protégé International Talent Competition, Ambassador Award, Merit award, Varsity Letter, Zero Hunger award for Volunteering, 3rd Place - Arizona Interscholastic Awards 4x100m Girl’s State Race.

Sophia will be heading to Georgia Tech to major in Electrical Engineering in order to achieve a PhD or gain a SME.

 

 

Valedictorian - Melanie Wu

Melanie has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7115. Melanie has participated in Softball, American Sign Language club, TSA, and Outdoors club all while receiving a Varsity Letting in Volunteerism during free time.

Melanie has also received the following honors: MVP for softball (11th grade), AIA's 2nd team all region award for position player (11th grade), most improved for basketball (9th grade), Varsity letter in volunteerism (11th grade), Golden Scholar (7th-12th).

Melanie will be heading to Arizona State University to major in Finance in order to become an Investment Banker/Accountant.

 

 

Valedictorian - Bella Yu

Bella has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7358. Bella has participated in Softball, National Honor Society, Ambassador Club, Asian Student Association, American Sign Language Club, Crochet and Knitting Club, Tri-M, Reach Out Spartans, and plays piano.

Bella has also received the following honors: AP Scholar with Distinction, Varsity Letter in Volunteerism, won a YMCA Volleyball Championship in 2024, performed in the AMEA regional orchestra in 2025.

Bella will be heading to Arizona State University Barrett Honors College to major in Pre-Veterinary Medicine in order to become a licensed veterinarian and get to practice in a clinic.

 

 

Valedictorian - Anthony Zhu

Anthony has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.7647. Anthony has participated in Future Doctors Club, Asian Student Association, and is a hospital volunteer.

Anthony has also received the following honors: International Science and Engineer Fair Finalist, 3x Arizona State Science and Engineering Fair Winner, AP Scholar with Distinction.

Anthony will be heading to the University of California Berkeley to major in Microbiology in order to become a Physician.

 

 

Salutatorian - Aria Wu

Aria has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.74. Aria has participated in National Honor Society, Soccer, and Tennis. During free time, Aria has been part of the Burton Summer Institute at ASU and the Saturday Scrubs program with the U of A College of Medicine, while volunteering at Banner Gateway and Noble Hospice.

Aria has also received the following honors: AP Scholar with Honor, Golden Scholar, National Recognition Program First Gen.

Aria will be heading to the University of Pennsylvania to major in Nursing in order to get a DNP after getting a BSN.

 

 

Principal Leadership Award - Mary Maguire

Mary has a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 4.57. Mary has participated in Student Senate (Senior Consul), Superintendent's Student Senate, Beach Volleyball (4 year Varsity Captain), Choir (President and Soprano Section Leader for Advanced Vocal Ensemble and Chorale), Ambassadors Club, and Indoor Varsity Volleyball.

Mary has also received the following honors: Principal Leadership Award, MVP for Beach Volleyball, Spartan Award for Indoor Volleyball.

During free time, Mary has been a Teen Ambassador for the KIDS Kindness nonprofit organization, recipient of the Ambassador Volunteer Award through Innerview, and an Anything is Possible $20,000 Scholarship recipient from the East Valley Women's League.

Mary will be heading to Northern Arizona University Honors College to major in Psychological Sciences and Criminology in order to work in federal law enforcement in the psychological realm.