Name: Nashton Ford
College attending: Southern Virginia University
Major: Business
Five-year goal: n five years, I hope to be married with a Master’s degree in business. It is possible I will go to the NFL draft, but I plan on being an accountant.
Extracurricular activities: Football, Trap and skeet
Hometown: Maricopa
Years a Maricopan: 15
Favorite high school memory: Senior homecoming. It was me and a few of my friends in the center of it all. No crazy venue or DJ or anything, but I made it the best I could. It was like everything else in life, you get out what you put into it.
College attending: Grand Canyon University
Major: Legal studies
Five-year goal: Receive my Bachelors in legal studies pas the bar and become an attorney to help people.
Extracurricular activities: Basketball and assistant Coach
Hometown: Maricopa
Years a Maricopan: 18
Favorite high school memory: Winning my first Jr. High Game as an assistant coach and having great conversations with my Coach Hill and Coach Demone who inspired me to coach.
Name: Taylor Girard
College attending: Arizona State University
Scholarships: ASU Presidential Scholarship
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Five-year goal: In five years, I hope to be in an accelerated medical school program. My goal is to become a dermatologist before 30 years of age.
Extracurricular activities: I am Student Council President, National Honor Society President, and International Thespian Society Vice President for my amazing highschool. I have been a part of the Heritage Dance program for 3 years now, and a Thespian to the theater program for 4 years. I’ve been performing since I was two years old, and love expressing myself with art and music.
Neighborhood: Tortosa
Years a Maricopan: 18
Favorite high school memory: My favorite highschool memory was meeting so many beautiful people. I found amazing friends and acquaintances that have supported me throughout these four years. Though its a privilege to befriend such great people, they make leaving highschool so hard.
College attending: Brigham Young University – Idaho
Scholarships: Academic & Returning Missionary Scholarships
Major: Biomedical Sciences (Pre-Occupational Therapy)
Five-year goal: My 5 year plan is to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a year and a half, earn my bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, and be accepted into a graduate program for OT.
Extracurricular activities:I participated in several drama productions, art events, and orchestra concerts over the years. I participated in NJHS, NHS, and was also on our State Cornhole team the last two years. If you ever need a bag thrown exactly 27 feet away, I got you.
Hometown: Maricopa
Neighborhood: Desert Cedars
Years a Maricopan: 17
Favorite high school memory: My favorite memory from highschool was our senior sunrise. I got to enjoy the beautiful sunrise with my best friends as we started our senior year together!
College attending: Arizona State University
Scholarships: Arizona State University’s New American University President’s Scholarship
Major: Biochemistry (medicinal chemistry)
Five-year goal: In 5 years, I plan to be in my 3rd year of Pharmacy School and almost a Doctor of Pharmacy, ready to develop cures for diseases.
Extracurricular activities: My extracurricular activities include gaming; graphic, abstract, and textile arts; STEM projects; baking; swimming; and riding my bike.
Hometown: Maricopa
Neighborhood: The Villages at Rancho el Dorado
Years a Maricopan: 17
Favorite high school memory: My favorite day was the day I received the news that I made Valedictorian, as it meant that all my hard work and dedication had paid off!
College attending: Northern Arizona University
Scholarships: I am receiving the Lumberjack merit scholarship for $11,000 for tuition from Northern Arizona University for my grades and gpa.
Major: Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Human Disabilities
Five-year goal:Five years from now, I hope to be studying in a graduate research program or a doctoral physical therapy program, working further toward my dream of helping people with disabilities regain their freedom and independence through medicine or mobility therapy technique advancements.
Extracurricular activities: Swing dance, Symphonic Band (flute and piccolo), Scholar Council (Senior Class President), National Honors Society, Volunteering
Hometown: Maricopa
Neighborhood: The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado
Years a Maricopan: 17
Favorite high school memory: My favorite high school memory is from after performing Pomp and Circumstance at last year’s graduation. Me and my friend sat outside the graduation, waiting for our other friends, laughing and having a good time, before
going to Culver’s to celebrate finishing our last graduation performance and our last year before we became seniors.
![Maricopa Police Chief Mark Goodman speaks to Maricopa City Council while presenting his department's annual report on April 7, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GOV-Crime-Stats-by-Monica-D-Spencer-300x200.jpg)
