The 79 Flinn Scholarship Semifinalists from the Class of 2026 represent not only extraordinary academic achievement, but the breadth of Arizona itself. From border communities to the Colorado Plateau. From the state’s largest cities to its smallest towns.
The Arizona high-school seniors emerged from a competitive pool of 1,150 applications submitted in October. They are scientists and artists, athletes and peer mentors, community advocates, and first-generation college-bound students.
The Semifinalists will participate in virtual interviews Jan. 21 and 22. Approximately half will be selected as Finalists and be interviewed at the Flinn Foundation in March by the program’s five-person Selection Committee. The Flinn Foundation will announce the Flinn Scholars Class of 2026 in April.
Now in its 41st year, the Flinn Scholarship remains one of Arizona’s most generous and prestigious undergraduate awards. The merit-based award is valued at more than $135,000 and includes funding for international study, mentorship, and membership in a community of high-achieving peers statewide.
The 20 Flinn Scholars ultimately selected for the award will attend Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona starting in fall 2026.
The 79 Semifinalists reside in 12 of Arizona’s 15 counties and attend 63 high schools, a mix of traditional public, charter, and private schools.
Each year, the Flinn Scholarship selection process offers a glimpse into the hopes, talents, and ambitions of these high-achieving students, united by a commitment to learning, leadership, and making a difference in their schools and communities.
“This group is curious, collaborative, and driven in ways that make us optimistic about what comes next, both for them and for our state,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Foundation vice president of scholarship and education initiatives. “We look forward to the interviews next month, which will give us the opportunity to engage with these students directly and learn more about the talents, perspectives, and ambitions that drive them.”
As Semifinalists, the students become eligible for a special tuition scholarship from Arizona’s three public universities. ASU, NAU, and U of A extend this opportunity as a recognition of exceptional achievement and as an investment in the future contributions these students are poised to make, Lassen said.
Class of 2026 Semifinalists
Students are listed by county, with high school and city of residence:
Apache County
Josiah Gleeson, Round Valley High School, Springerville
Cochise County
Katya Hernandez, Douglas High School, Douglas
Coconino County
Alexander Bland, Flagstaff High School, Flagstaff
Gila County
Jonas Schwenk, Globe High School, Globe
Graham County
Kate Rapier, Thatcher High School, Thatcher
Greenlee County
Emily Lewis, Morenci High School, Morenci
Maricopa County
Ishan Bagai, Brophy College Preparatory, Paradise Valley
Atish Bala, Scottsdale Preparatory Academy
Jadyn Beach, Ironwood High School, Glendale
Chelsea Brand, Greenway High School, Glendale
Max Brennan, Perry High School, Queen Creek
Anjani Chakka, BASIS Peoria, Glendale
Elias Chang, BASIS Mesa, Gilbert
Allison Chelus, Desert Vista High School, Tempe
Kevin Chen, Hamilton High School, Gilbert
Phoebe Chen, Hamilton High School, Chandler
Nethra Chintaboina, Arizona College Prep High School, Chandler
Vedang Chintalapati, BASIS Scottsdale, Scottsdale
Summer Fairbanks, Skyline High School, Mesa
Charlotte Gould, Corona del Sol High School, Tempe
Hailey Green, Perry High School, Gilbert
Miranda Gu, Arizona College Prep High School, Phoenix
Archana Gurudu, Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix
Kelson Haggerty, American Leadership Academy Ironwood, Queen Creek
Noah Hernandez, Sunnyslope High School, Phoenix
Harold Hu, BASIS Scottsdale, Scottsdale
Abigail Hurst, Dobson High School, Chandler
Ayana Jain, Desert Mountain High School, Scottsdale
Alexandru Josanu, Casteel High School, Gilbert
Austin Kautzman, Cactus Shadows High School, Cave Creek
Sophia Khan, Notre Dame Preparatory High School, Phoenix
Michelle Luna, Maryvale High School, Phoenix
Anton Magda, Red Mountain High School, Mesa
Rafael Mather Alvear, Desert Vista High School, Phoenix
Kylie McEwen, Liberty High School, Peoria
Liam McLaughlin, Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, Surprise
Riya Mehta, Xavier College Preparatory, Paradise Valley
Arnav Modem, Basha High School, Gilbert
Isabella Monastero, Benjamin Franklin High School, Gilbert
Romir Patel, Basha High School, Gilbert
Adrian Perez-Martinez, Hamilton High School, Chandler
Isabella Pettet, Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center-Estrella Mountain, Litchfield Park
Eva Pombo, Arizona School for the Arts, Phoenix
Fiona Riley, Saguaro High School-Scottsdale, Scottsdale
Paisley Rogers, Crismon High School, Queen Creek
Timothy Stanly, BASIS Ahwatukee, Phoenix
Iris Tang, Gilbert Classical Academy, Gilbert
Katie Tong, Centennial High School, Peoria
Victoria Trakal, Williams Field High School, Gilbert
Geo Tucker, Corona del Sol High School, Tempe
Aditya Tyagi, Chaparral High School, Scottsdale
Karan Vallamshetla, Arizona College Prep High School, Gilbert
James VanGoethem, Ironwood High School, Peoria
Lucas Vargas, Brophy College Preparatory, Phoenix
Brian Vega Mares, University High School-Tolleson, Tolleson
Liam Whelan, Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix
Charlotte Williams Gross, North High School, Phoenix
Elizabeth Young, Sandra Day O’Connor High School, Phoenix
Mohave County
Ethan Dauner, Lake Havasu High School, Lake Havasu City
Navajo County
Rain Elika Dimaliwat, Blue Ridge High School, Pinetop-Lakeside
Aaliyah Nichols, Winslow High School, Winslow
Ciera Tsosie, Flagstaff High School, Tonalea
Pima County
Katherine Beverage, Tanque Verde High School, Tucson
Ethan Bialis, The Gregory School, Tucson
Anastasia Bradley, Sahuaro High School-Tucson, Tucson
Wesley Butte, BASIS Tucson North, Tucson
Isidoro Castillo, Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson
Payson Horsinka, BASIS Tucson North, Tucson
Gracie Im-Pyun, University High School-Tucson, Tucson
Celine Liu, BASIS Tucson North, Tucson
Finnegan McGill, Tanque Verde High School, Tucson
Sorella Natale, Ironwood Ridge High School, Tucson
Aleena Rafiyath, BASIS Oro Valley, Tucson
Gloria Valencia, Tucson High Magnet School, Tucson
Thomas Vamos, Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson
Pinal County
Hugo Peralta, Coolidge High School, Casa Grande
Brayden Robinson, Poston Butte High School, San Tan Valley
Yuma County
Samantha Chulamorkodt, Cibola High School, Yuma
Mae Gomez, San Luis High School, San Luis