Senior Spotlights
We have so many incredible Monsoons parting from our beloved school, and we'd love to share some of their amazing stories with you. Come along and learn about some of your fellow seniors and their stories below!
Barret Ortega
Barret Ortega selected many ways to be involved here at Mayfair High School and make the most of his high school experience. He was involved in wrestling freshman and junior year, as well as joining ASB in his senior year. Barrett's dedication, time, and effort towards our school will be remembered and cherished.
Doing a sport like wrestling has shaped him into a stronger, dedicated, and more motivated person. He says that wrestling is one of his many biggest accomplishments over the years along with beating cancer, and being able to graduate. He was inspired to join ASB to be more involved in our school as well as joining to be with friends. Barret is unsure of what he has planned for him in the future but we are sure he will go far in life. Lastly, some advice he would give to underclassmen is to “Enjoy your highschool years because it’s quick. Get involved as much as you can.” He advises underclassmen to keep pushing and don’t give up midway.
Ayleen has attended Mayfair for all four years of high school and has been a part of the girls’ basketball team for two years. She developed a huge interest in basketball, which prompted her to try it out. In addition, she expresses the important life skills she has learned while being part of the Mayfair Girls Basketball team.
Being a part of a team comes with a great deal of memories that will be made along the way. Ayleen says that her favorite basketball memory has been getting the chance to play with her friends. She notes that the highlight of her senior season was the game against Artesia High School and having to fight to the end to be able to achieve victory.
In the future, Ayleen plans on going to college, and says that if the opportunity comes, she would love to play basketball in college. Ayleen takes huge inspiration from her sister because her sister has always had her back when she needed her. She is most looking forward to traveling in the future.
Ayleen is excited to finally graduate high school and move on to bigger and better things in life, adding that she will miss hanging out with her friends at lunch. Her advice to all the underclassmen is to “keep the people who make you feel better about yourself close to you.”
Ayleen Godinez
Shaun Fonoimoana
With the 2025 school year coming to close soon, it’s that time of year where we start to celebrate our seniors. Shaun, who will soon be graduating this coming June, is one of the many seniors who have chosen to be involved at school by being part of the Mayfair boys’ basketball program. Even though this is Shaun’s first year here at Mayfair, he expresses how he felt the love from the people around campus; especially, from the forensics teacher, Mr. Suttle and fellow student Audrey Talavera who have made him feel welcome while at school.
Growing up, Shaun has watched his dad play basketball, so he wanted to imitate him by choosing to play basketball. While playing basketball, he mentions how his favorite memory was winning a CIF championship his sophomore year at his old school, and adds that the highlight of his senior season was being able to play against his friend, while also winning the championship for the Redondo Union Tournament. Even though Shaun doesn’t plan on playing in college, he hopes to get the opportunity to play overseas. When asked about his feelings about graduating, he replied by saying “his thoughts go both ways on wanting to stay, being ready to leave, and knowing that God
has so much in store for him.” He also expresses how excited he is to complete this major milestone, while also acknowledging how he will miss the memories and friends he’s made in high school. His future plans are to either become a social worker or an electrician, but he’s most looking forward to seeing what God has in store for him and seeing where his life goes, knowing that sometimes it’s a roller coaster full of emotions and other obstacles. While overcoming the obstacles of being a young adult, Shaun professes that he takes inspiration from his parents because they have loved and supported him in whatever he does, while also caring for him. Being a senior in high school marks the end of your childhood and the start of your journey into adulthood. With Shaun being faced with these changes to his life, he advises all the underclass men to “embrace your last year, enjoy it while it lasts because it will go by fast. Smile lots because there is no reason to be sad.”
Nohelia Tomich is one of the many talented athletes at Mayfair High school. Over the course of her time here at Mayfair, she has been a member of the varsity volleyball team. Previous to Mayfair, she had been playing softball on-and-off since she was six years old. She then transferred to Mayfair in her sophomore year, where she started and continued to play volleyball. According to an interview, her practices consist of drills meant to hone specific skills. During games, while the main goal was to win, she would enjoy playing and scrimmages against other players. She loves cheering on and motivating her teammates.​
Nohelia, while she loves playing both sports, prefers volleyball over softball. She loves volleyball more since she gets to play as much as she likes here at Mayfair. Her favorite moment was in her sophomore year, when she was put on the volleyball court for the first time. She was playing in the front row during a tournament, where she got a point off a spike. She loved how encouraging her teammates were for her after she hit that spike. It’s clear she’s grown a close bond with her teammates. Though she will no longer play for Mayfair’s volleyball, depending on which college she goes to, she may continue playing volleyball. As for her college plans, she intends on going out of state to a four year college such as University of Cincinnati. She plans to study to become a teacher. She feels that the game has connected her to the school more, allowing her to make friends and became the person that she is.
Nohelia Tomich
Kylee Thompkins
Kylee Thompkins has been going to Mayfair since 7th grade. During her six years at this school, Kylee has been a large part of the community, participating in multiple programs and events the school provides, such Showtime, Art Academy and Mayfair’s Theater program. In her time in theater, she has played multiple lead roles, such as Shenzi in "The Lion King”, Fiona in "Shrek", Audrey in "Little Shop of Horrors" and Regina George in “Mean Girls”. She’s even played (Mr/Mrs) Monsoon on some occasions, including the infamous time when Mr. Monsoon pushed down Mrs. Monsoon twice and ran out of the gym during an assembly. She has been a member of Girl Up for three years and a member of Key Club for two years. She even won Homecoming Princess in her sophomore year. She said that this is probably her favorite memory here at Mayfair.
Kylee has stated that she enjoyed the classes and programs she took as they allowed her to indulge in her passions as well as make connections. She specified how she feels highly connected to the school, being able to make friends through both her classes and extracurriculars. Not only has she achieved a great extent around school, she’s an overall good person. She is kind, considerate, altruistic and inspiring; these are some of many accurate ways to describe Kylee as a person. Many students here at Mayfair are going to miss her once she graduates.
Ary Lopez is one of the exceptional students that excels in Mayfair High School. Whether it’s being the tuba section leader to a journalist in the Windjammer, who unveils serious, controversial topics; Ary’s optimism and humble behavior has made him an extraordinary student from the rest. Like many seniors, Ary plans to attend a four-year college as he’ll be attending Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) to major in both English and Criminal Justice; as Ary is hoping to achieve a successful career in the law.
Ary is highly involved in numerous activities both within Mayfair and extremely dedicated to his community. One of these activities within Mayfair would be Band, as Ary both started in and now leads the Tuba Section of Mayfair’s Marching Corp. He’s also involved in Journalism and various AP classes, such as AP U.S. History and AP Government. Outside of school, he’s involved in the Good Shepherd Center with assisting the homeless, as well as various side jobs like construction, website design, mechanics, and gardening.
Ary Lopez
As many of the students and staff at Mayfair would know, Ary at a first glance is his usual laid-back and humorous attitude. Furthermore, He is well known for attending as many school events as possible to meet and make new friends; both Ary and his friends consider him to be quite extroverted. Additionally, a tip he even suggests for the younger students is to not procrastinate and be mindful of who you associate with. Additionally, to those responsible for creating a diverse and active student, the teachers that have helped foster Ary’s dedication would be that of Mr. Philips and Mr. Cross. Throughout these past 4-6 years, and similar to many other senior’s excitement, Ary shares the same wonder for what the future holds for him. Finally, how Ary would summarize his whole high school experience into one word, he said “chaotic”.
Jeremiah Calvin
Jeremiah Calvin is a fantastic senior here at Mayfair. Jeremiah is both a great student to be around both on and off the football field. As a dedicated football player, one of his proudest high school accomplishments was bringing home a championship with his teammates. “Football was everything I could’ve asked for. It was filled with ups and downs, but the relationships I have made will last forever.”
Looking back, Jeremiah would tell his younger self to savor every moment, as high school flies by very quickly. He’ll miss the teachers, staff, and the everyday experience of being a high school student at Mayfair High School. Jeremiah plans to attend Cerritos College, where he’ll continue playing football and begin coursework to become a firefighter. Before graduating, he’s especially excited for a trip to Catalina with friends.
Jeremiah has developed and matured over his time in high school, and he is ending his time here at Mayfair on a high note. Jeremiah is eager to graduate and go on to study at Cerritos College, continue playing football, and pursue his dream of becoming a firefighter.
Noah is the ASB President, cheerleader, actor and libero in boys volleyball. He has been a Monsoon since the 7th grade and has definitely made the most of his highschool years.
Balancing academics with a busy extracurricular schedule isn’t easy, but Noah suggests managing your time correctly and staying motivated. “I try my best to stay organized as well as planning ahead,” he says. “I keep my schoolwork written down and prioritize my schoolwork while also still staying involved with the things I like to do outside of class and extracurriculars.”
Involved in everything from ASB, boys volleyball, cheer, Noah believes that being engaged with school life has shaped his school life for the better. “Being involved helped me grow as a person and helped me determine what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve met amazing people, learned how to work as a team, and developed a multitude of confidence.”
For people considering getting more involved, Noah offers his advice to “not be afraid whatsoever to try something new. Even if it feels out of your comfort zone. You’ll never know unless you try.”
Noah says he is inspired by his teachers, family, and peers that show up and give it their all. Reflecting on his highschool years he says that his best memory would be winning prom king his senior year which made him really realize how special his high school years really were.
Juggling so many activities has definitely been challenging for Noah but it’s one thing he embraced. “Doing multiple extracurriculars taught me a lot about perseverance and time management. It can be overwhelming at times, but the experiences and memories I've made are 100% worth it.”
As Noah prepares for graduation, it is clear that his legacy of involvement, dedication and making the most of every opportunity will leave an impact on Mayfair.
Noah Clark
Landon Guetzkow
Landon Guetzkow has been a student at Mayfair High School for six years, working hard to make a name for himself. As a graduating senior, Landon plans to attend the University of California, San Diego, studying to either become a history teacher or perhaps dabble in politics. In highschool, Landon was part of many things with one of which being ASB.
When he decided to enroll in ASB, he says, “...When I started picking up my classes for middle school, I saw ASB and I was like: ‘hmm, ASB looks like something fun to try out’ It’s a student government so maybe I can know it better.”
Landon’s interest in ASB stems from his interest in helping the community here at Mayfair High School. He explains that after his first year, “[he] just kept going and then [he] became vice president for [his] freshman year… Commissioner of Technology… and then [he] ran for president and ended up being vice president for [his] senior year.”
From his freshman year to his senior year, Landon has shown his determination and will to not only help the people, but also socialize with them. Around his freshman year, Landon took interest in creating a club, collaborating with Robert Foster and Julian Gurrero to eventually create the D&D Club. “I got to meet new people and we got to explore something new together,” he states. Now, his club has grown to include many dedicated members, allowing for students who share the same interests to meet each other and become friends.
Out of school and during the summer, Landon works with Democracy Summer to help with elections in his district: district 45. He explains that working for Democracy Summer is one of his most prideful moments of all of the activities that he has done because he got to participate in an election that not only was a very close election, but was one that could impact many people.
As a senior, Landon demonstrates his tenacity to achieve and accomplish. Inspired by the need to challenge and improve himself, Landon tends to socialize with others, asking for help when he needs it, and helping others when they need it.
Reine Sanchez has been a Monsoon since 11th grade. Since elementary, he started playing volleyball and he continued to grow and develop his skills throughout his time at Mayfair High School. Reine decided to try out for the volleyball team because he wanted to fully experience life as a student athlete and because he loves competing with other schools. His drive and determination earned him a spot on the varsity team, where he has played ever since.
Beyond the court, Reine is a dedicated and hardworking student. He has maintained a 3.6 GPA while managing school, volleyball and a job. His ability to balance all of these responsibilities speaks about his discipline and time management.
“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Reine since we both joined the volleyball team and he’s been a loyal and encouraging friend to me”, Dann, a friend, comments.
He always checks in on his teammates and brings energy and positivity to every practice and game. Reine is someone you can always count on for a good laugh and he always finds a way to crack a joke, usually at the most unexpected times, which makes it even better.
Some of his favorite parts of being a volleyball player were bonding with the team, hyping each other up before games, and those random after practice hangs that turned into memories. Whether we were winning or losing, Reine made sure we kept our heads up and had fun along the way.
He’s more than just a teammate, he's the guy who’ll text you after a rough game to check in, or who will show up early just to help set up the net. In all honesty, the team wouldn’t have been the same without him.
Reine Sanchez
