Name: Holden Gehrke
College attending: University of Arizona
Scholarships: Dorrance Scholarship finalist (awaiting selection at publication)
Major: General engineering
Five-year goal: To discover which path of engineering I want to take and then work in that field after college.
Extracurricular activities: Swimming, Unity Club, National Honor Society
Hometown: Farmington, Minn.
Years a Maricopan: 5
Favorite high school memory: Competing at swim meets because I got to race in my favorite events and hang out with my team and friends from other schools.
College attending: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque campus
Scholarships: Arizona Reciprocal Scholarship, Lobo Scholarship
Major: Nuclear engineering
Five-year goal: To work at a nuclear power plant as a reactor operator.
Extracurricular activities: National Honor Society, tennis, speech and debate, racquet club, marching band
Hometown: Maricopa
Neighborhood: Rancho El Dorado
Years a Maricopan: 17
Favorite high school memory: Sophomore year in marching band, when we ranked first at competitions, went to state and set all-time records for our program.
College attending: Columbia University
Scholarships: QuestBridge four-year full ride; Gates Scholarship finalist (awaiting selection at publication)
Major: Neuroscience and public health
Five-year goal: To be starting medical school or law school, ideally on the East Coast or in California.
Extracurricular activities: Unity Club, sports medicine, Mayo Clinic CARES Program, Youth Collaboratory through Citizen University
Neighborhood: Desert Cedars
Years a Maricopan: 10
Favorite high school memory: Opening my college decisions with my college and career counselor, Mrs. Seymour, while my friends stood by my side. It was the moment I realized all my hard work had paid off.
College attending: Arizona State University
Scholarships: New American University President’s Scholarship
Major: Biomedical sciences
Five-year goal: To earn my bachelor’s and head to medical school to become an oncologist.
Extracurricular activities: Tennis, flag football, Unity Club
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Neighborhood: Sorento
Years a Maricopan: 5
Favorite high school memory: Joining tennis and making friends for life.
College attending: Arizona State University
Scholarships: Wells Fargo Scholarship, New American University Scholarship
Major: Electrical engineering
Five-year goal: To get my master’s degree and have financial freedom.
Extracurricular activities: Tennis, National Honor Society, teacher aide at Maricopa Elementary School, Unity Club
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Neighborhood: Maricopa Meadows
Years a Maricopan: 10
Favorite high school memory: Making new friends and trying new things that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
College attending: University of Wisconsin-Madison; on waitlist for College of Letters & Science Honors Program
Scholarships: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities National Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship and University Honors Program Scholarship; Arizona State University New American University Scholarship and Housing Scholarship; Hagan Scholarship and Hispanic Scholarship Fund finalist (awaiting selection at publication)
Major: History, with film minor
Five-year goal: To be in grad school and working in a museum or in TV.
Extracurricular activities: Flag football
Hometown: Gilbert
Neighborhood: Cobblestone Farms
Years a Maricopan: 8
Favorite high school memory: Playing flag football and going on the trip to the British Isles because I got to make a lot of friends and try new things.
![Members of Maricopa Little League girls 12U All-Star softball team celebrate their District 4 win on June 16, 2026. [Maricopa Little League]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260617-maricopa-little-league-1-300x225.jpg)
