Bio: My name is Luke Ritchie, I am 18 years old, born in Flagstaff Arizona, but have lived in Chandler Arizona for most of my life. I am graduating Summa Cum Laude from Hamilton High School in May 2023 having won a state title in soccer and spent my last 2 high school years committed to wrestling. In my senior season, I was a leader of the team and wrestled in the 175 lbs varsity weight class. My first job was acting as a communications manager for Space Data Corp. I worked in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska analyzing weather patterns for launching near-space radio weather balloons under an expansion project necessary for government contracting. For the past 3 years, I have spent my summers in North Carolina working various jobs such as landscaping, tree removal, building rock jetties, and volunteering as a surf instructor. During the school year, I am unemployed and spend most of my free time committed to athletics and school work. As a member of the National Honor Society, I also donate time to my community through volunteer work. I am a leader of my school's 'Students for a Sustainable School' club which has over 50 active members and am a member of the school's book club which organizes holiday celebration events and children's reading circles. I am a volunteer coach for the Willis Junior High wrestling team and work as a scorekeeper for their home meets. I am currently undergoing the process of fulfilling the requirements of the Chandler Unified School District to become an official coach. I fulfilled my basic Type 2 Firefighter training at the 2023 Arizona Wildfire and Incident Management Academy in Prescott, Arizona. I have never worked on an incident up until this point, but I am ready and excited to start my firefighting career this season.