Somerton honors alumni standouts to inspire next generation

Somerton turned the space in front of City Hall into a community pep rally June 3, honoring former students whose achievements in academics, athletics and clubs are meant to show younger residents what success can look like close to home.

The fourth annual Alumni Standouts event was free and open to the public, and the city supplied pizza, drinks and snacks as families, friends, students and neighbors gathered around the ceremony at 143 N. State Avenue. The setting mattered: this was not a closed awards presentation, but a public celebration built around local pride and a message that hard work and perseverance are worth marking in the open.

City leaders used the event to spotlight a broader idea of success, recognizing alumni across multiple categories instead of limiting attention to grades or sports alone. Louie Galaviz, Jazmin Zamudio and Morgan Feller were among the names highlighted, giving the ceremony faces that local students can recognize and imagine following. By honoring former students who stood out in different areas, Somerton sent a clear signal that leadership, participation and steady effort count alongside more traditional academic and athletic accomplishments.

That message carries extra weight in Somerton, where high school athletics have changed quickly in recent years. For decades, students who wanted to compete had to represent neighboring communities. That only shifted three years ago, making local recognition of student achievement more visible and, for many families, more personal.

The city’s emphasis on alumni also fits the way Somerton presents itself to residents. Its civic portal says the community prides itself on strong, long-running traditions and keeping people engaged with what is happening at City Hall. The city says it is served by Somerton Elementary, Yuma High and Crane Elementary School Districts, and its profile notes that 63% of residents age 25 and older have a high school diploma, while 13% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Nominees for the Alumni Stand Outs program can be submitted by email to marketing@somertonaz.gov or in person at City Hall. Mayor Gerardo “Jerry” Anaya and the City Council have also publicly recognized honorees in past years, reinforcing the event as part of a longer civic tradition rather than a one-time photo opportunity.

In a city that also draws crowds for Greater Days, Corn Fest and the Tamale Festival, Alumni Standouts has become another way Somerton celebrates itself, this time by elevating the students it hopes will shape the city’s next chapter.