The Flinn Scholars graduating from Arizona’s public universities this year are preparing to enter medical and graduate school, start businesses, join the workforce in areas such as medical technology, consulting, and renewable energy, and volunteer with the Peace Corps.
These 19 outgoing Scholars—who reflect on their time in the program in short videos below—are joining the nearly 600-strong Flinn Scholar alumni community.
Their wide range of majors include aerospace engineering, anthropology, business, chemical engineering, computer science, earth and space exploration, East Asian studies, mathematics, molecular and cellular biology, physics, political science, and sustainability.
The 19 outgoing Flinn Scholars are:
Zcheecid Aguirre
Will pursue a master’s degree in Japanese sociolinguistics through the University of Arizona’s Accelerated Master’s Program.
Amanda Bertsch
Will pursue a master’s degree in natural language processing at Carnegie Mellon University.
Daniel Bonner
Will work at Medtronic and pursue a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Arizona State University.
Phoebe Blake Chilton
Will continue to study tattooing and visual art at Art and Sol Tattoo Gallery.
Nizhonabah Rene Davis
Will apply to doctoral programs next fall.
Jake W Dean
Will pursue a master’s degree in Latin American Studies with concentrations in anthropology and environment at the University of Arizona.
Brittany Michelle Duran
Will work at a nonprofit organization focused on immigrant rights and advocacy.
Ashley Dussault
Will work in the field of sustainability and later pursue a master’s degree in sustainability education.
Maria Galloway-Sprietsma
Will pursue a doctorate in astrophysics.
Andrea Lara-García
Will join the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as a junior fellow prior to pursuing a doctorate in geography at University of California, Berkeley.
Camryn Rae Lizik
Will serve in the Peace Corps.
Keaton McDonald
Will start his own business.
Daniel Nguyen
Will pursue a medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix.
Anitha Ramadoss
Will intern at Banner University Medical Center-South Campus and Applied Health Policy Institute while pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.
Anthony Nayef Rusk
Will work as an associate consultant for Boston Consulting Group in Chicago.
Shivam Sadachar
Will work on his own technology startup.
Paxton Tomooka
Will work in software on the Ballistic Missile Defense System at Lockheed Martin.
Cameron Stafford Whyte
Will work in data science/machine learning.
Stanley Wong
Will work in the renewable energy industry.
The May 8 Flinn Scholars Recognition Celebration honored the outgoing Flinn Scholars and introduced the 2021 Flinn Scholars and their Distinguished Educators.
Samantha Winter McAlpin, incoming chair of the Flinn Alumni Council and a Class of 2004 Flinn Scholar, welcomed the outgoing Flinn Scholars to the alumni community during the recognition event.
“We are a robust and diverse community, and we are very excited that you will soon be a part of our membership,” she said. “For the rest of your life you will be a member of this community and we want to make sure you feel supported and included in any way we can.”
Now in its 36th year, the Flinn Scholars Program is supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation in partnership with Arizona’s three state universities. The merit-based scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meals, study abroad, and many other exclusive opportunities—a package valued at more than $120,000.
Flinn Foundation selects 19 excelling Arizona students as 2021 Flinn Scholars