While it’s common for high school seniors to be honored with superlatives such as lighthearted distinctions such as “Most Likely to Succeed” or “Best Smile,” Sedona Red Rock High School’s Senior Club decided to celebrate the end of the school year and the club’s inaugural year by bestowing lighthearted distinctions on SRRHS staff in an event at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on Friday, May 16.
The event was led by Club President Abel Villa and Vice President Lorena Flores, who also hosted a 30-minute senior year retrospective video the club screened before the ceremony.
“At first, my main idea, before I got to the [concept] of the senior awards, was, what are we going to do for a senior prank this year?” Villa said. “But after talking to myself, I decided … we’ll do a senior giveback. And I found the easiest way was to give out awards. It was a little difficult to come out with categories, but we made it happen. And then we made all the seniors vote for each one of the teachers and what fits best for them.”
Math teacher Jim Vogler received the 2025 Teacher of the Year award from the club, meaning that Vogler will serve as the faculty speaker at graduation; he prevously did so in 2024.
“I’m honored,” Vogler said. “Love these guys. There’s so many words like, they don’t quit, very teachable, very honest, hardworking, great to be around. They take criticism very well. As well as they give criticism, they make you better. It made me better. They filled my heart.”
Vogler said his students weren’t afraid to point out his mistakes, and he was always open to adjusting his teaching methods, tests or approach based on their feedback, and that a willingness to adapt helped him improve as an educator.
“I’m probably a little closer to this class because I watched them grow up for six years,” said Vogler, who started working in the district in 2019. “I pretty much feel like I raised them. Some of those guys I taught for five out of six [years].”
“I don’t say this lightly, because I have, in my years, worked with a number of different, extremely dedicated, passionate educators,” Superintendent Tom Swaninger, Ph.D., said. “But Vogler is right towards the top of any educator that I’ve worked with in the amount of passion, care and love that he has for his students. And it’s not just some of the time, that’s who he is every day and every hour. As I walk the hallways and go in and out of classrooms, he is 100% engaged with his students, 100% of the time … We all love what we do, but we all, you know, love our breaks and love to get away from things. He’s one of those rare individuals that he can’t wait for summer break and he wants to get back in the classroom and working with his kids, because it’s just so important to him.”
Among the other superlatives, history and government teacher Gerardo Gonzalez was named “funniest” in his first year at Sedona Red Rock High School.
“Mr. Gonzalez, he’s always laughing and he’s always has a smile on his face,” Villa said. “He tries to have bad jokes, but there often not the best, so that makes him more funny.”
“[One] of my favorite other awards was the Caffeine Addict, and that went to [math teacher] Richard Morris,” Villa said. “Everyone voted him for that award, and they always say that he always has a cup of coffee in his hand, so I definitely agree with that award.”
While the focus was on staff, the seniors did also name Villa “Senior of the Year.”
“It feels a little unreal,” Villa said. “It’s an honor to hold that title. There was a lot of work and hours put into the senior year on my part, and I feel appreciated from the senior class to be voted as Senior of the Year.”
This was the first year of operation for the Senior Club, and Villa said the club is still in the process of selecting his successor.
The club has done several fundraisers to raise money for trips for the seniors, including having its members work the concession stand during home sports games and set up a photo booth for Valentine’s Day.
“The main goal was to look back at our senior year and give thanks to all the teachers,” Villa said. “So I feel like the biggest thing is for the teachers to know that we appreciate them and that [we] will definitely remember them forever.”
Class of 2025 Staff Superlatives
- Teacher of the Year: Mr. Vogler
- Funniest: Mr. Gonzales
- Most Likely to Become TikTok Famous: Mrs. Swaninger
- Best Dressed: Mrs. Goldsmith
- Best Classroom Decor: Mrs. Mick
- Caffeine Addict: Mr. Morris
- Most Likely to Be Mistaken for a Student: Ms. Danae
- Most Sarcastic: Mrs. Mullins
- Most Approachable: Nurse Judy
- Most Likely to Be Grading at 2 a.m.: Mrs. Gill
- Best Hair: Mr. Tague
- Most Athletic: Coach Sean Eicher
- Most Artistic: Mr. Ellis
- Best Snacks: Ms. Sierra
- Chillest: Officer Lucas
- Nicest Car: Mrs. Reyes
- Best Style: Ms. Stacy
- Free Time Champion: Mr. Morris
- Shy Award: Ms. Tiffany
- Free Therapist: Ms. Cindy
- Best Holiday Decor: Mrs. Lamparter
- Always Happy: Mr. Alex
- Best Dancer: Ms. Maslane
- Smartest: Ms. Forsythe
- Most Likely to Become U.S. President: Principal Isom
- Best Smile: Dr. Swaninger
- Serious Award: Ms. Arronfield
- Fastest Driver: Mr. Brock
- Most Likely to Participate in America’s Got Talent: Mr. McKesson
- Sassiest: Mrs. Dvorak
- Team Leader: Dr. Chilton
- Richest: Coach Pedro
- Loudest: Mr. Richard
- Best Dad Jokes: Mr. Brock
- Coolest: Ms. Lara
- Most Honest: Coach Parks
- Most Likely to Bring a Cow to School: Ms. G
- Coolest Hats: Mr. Ames
- Fastest: Mrs. Ames
