The Class of 2021 Flinn Scholars shared experiences and moments that made the Flinn Scholarship special to them during the annual Recognition Luncheon on Saturday, May 3, in Scottsdale.
The event also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Flinn Scholars Program.
Some stories from the graduating class centered on the group’s travel to France for a summer seminar after freshman year, while others fondly remembered the annual summer retreat or time on campus. The event also featured a keynote from Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee and introduced the new Class of 2025 Flinn Scholars.
The Scholars graduating this year from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona have a wide range of majors, including neuroscience and cognitive sciences, hotel and restaurant management, biological sciences, chemical engineering, political science, economics, astrobiology, computer science, global health, finance and nursing.
They will attend medical school in Arizona, pursue master’s degrees in Tucson and Hertfordshire, England, and work for Amazon, Apple, and Four Seasons, among other pursuits.
The Class of 2021 Flinn Scholars are:
Maleka Ali Abdi: Pursuing an M.D. at University of Arizona.
Parris Adams: Moving to Boston to work as a manager-in-training with Four Seasons.
Benjamin Aguilar: Applying to medical school in the next application cycle.
Ivan Carrillo: Continuing medical school in an accelerated pathway program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson.
Evan Chaparro: Working in a chemical engineering position at Palo Verde Generating Station, owned and operated by Arizona Public Service.
Kiera Charley: Pursuing a master’s degree in astrophysics at the University of Hertfordshire before enrolling in a doctoral program.
Sophia Hammer: Pursuing a master’s degree in education at the University of Arizona as a participant in Arizona Teachers Academy.
Jordyn Hitzeman: Moving to Chicago to work as an analyst in Cornerstone Research, an economics consulting firm.
Ananya Lakhotia: Pursuing an M.D. at University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix.
Makenna Ley: Continuing medical school in an accelerated pathway program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson.
Sylvia Lopez: Continuing work with the ASU Luminosity Lab to expand the Illuminate Challenge.
Surabhi Sajith: Pursuing an M.D. at University of Arizona College of Medicine.
Maya Steinberg: Participating as an Acquisitions Fellow with Yale University Press while applying for graduate programs in creative writing, English, or ethnic studies.
Joshua Tint: Working for Amazon as a software engineer. He’ll also study computational linguistics with the Laboratory for Learning Evaluation of Autonomous Systems (LENS Lab) at ASU.
Eugenia Trakal: Moving to San Francisco to work as a private equity analyst with Vista Equity Partners, one of the largest technology investment firms.
Netia Unger: Beginning her nursing career in a progressive care unit at a Banner Health hospital, caring for patients with cardiac, respiratory, and hepatic diseases.
Mitchell Zakocs: Working for Apple as a software engineer.
The graduating Scholars join the Flinn Scholar alumni community of more than 650 people impacting the world from Arizona and beyond. Alumni return to the Flinn Foundation for events, gather in cities across the United States and world, mentor current Flinn Scholars, and provide a supportive community and network.
The merit-based Flinn Scholarship, valued at more than $135,000, covers the cost of tuition, fees, housing, meals, and study abroad at one of Arizona’s three state universities. The Flinn Scholars Program, in its 40th year, is supported by the Flinn Foundation in partnership with the universities.
Read more:
40 years of Flinn Scholars: Meet the Class of 2025
2025 Flinn Scholars express gratitude to Arizona educators
About the Flinn Foundation
The Flinn Foundation is a Phoenix-based privately endowed, philanthropic grantmaking organization established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn that awards grants and operates programs in four areas: the biosciences, the Flinn Scholars, arts and culture, and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership. The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.