The Flinn Scholars Program and its Class of 2013 honored the Arizona educators who played a special role in the education and development of the high-school seniors.
The 20 Flinn Scholars selected to receive the prestigious, merit-based award, introduced and thanked their educator during the Flinn Scholars Recognition Dinner May 4 at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix. The educators joined the students on stage and were given a plaque in gratitude for their dedication and service.
The educators teach a variety of subjects, ranging from English to history to chemistry to calculus. Scholars also honored Academic Decathlon coaches and a high school basketball coach.
Many were not only mentors in the classroom, but in life.
“Ms. (Laura) Zinke has been the most spirited, steadfast, and genuinely caring teacher and advisor I could have hoped for over the past four years. Her passion and dedication have inspired me to keep going, even when challenges came my way,” said Meera Doshi about her AP Spanish teacher at McClintock High School.
Seven of the distinguished educators had previously been honored by a Flinn Scholar. Those being recognized again include Shelley Bunch (Prescott High School), Sarah Burgess (Hamilton High School, Chandler), Debbie Nipar (Hamilton High School), Mindy Sherrill (Prescott High School), Dawn Schmidt (Desert Vista High School, Phoenix), K.R. Scott (Mountain Pointe High School, Phoenix), and Laura Zinke (McClintock High School, Tempe).
2013 Distinguished Educators
QUINTIN BOYCE
Biology and Chemistry, Bioscience High School, Phoenix
Scholar: Samantha-Su Taylor
SHELLEY BUNCH
AP World History, Prescott High School
Scholar: Cooper Temple
SARAH BURGESS
AP U.S. History, Hamilton High School, Chandler
Scholar: Savannah Pearson
SHAUNA DEMERS
Marketing/Accounting, Mountain Pointe High School, Phoenix
Scholar: Spencer W. Elliott
LAUREN FRIEDRICH
First Grade, Desert Garden Elementary School, Glendale; High School Basketball Coach,
Sunnyslope High School, Phoenix
Scholar: Elizabeth M. Hannah
ANNA FULFORD
English, BASIS Tucson North, Tucson
Scholar: Alden “Allie” M. Hill
DAVID HERRING
AP English Literature, University High School, Tucson
Scholar: MeiLin Ossanna
ROBERT HOBBINS
Advanced Research Methods, Sonoran Science Academy, Tucson
Scholar: Augustus Woodrow-Tomizuka
CARLA INGRAHAM
Academic Decathlon, Hamilton High School, Chandler
Scholar: Jakub Stechly
BIRGIT MUSHENO
Biotechnology, Desert Vista High School, Phoenix
Scholar: Rohan Murty
DEBBIE NIPAR
AP Chemistry and Honors Science Research, Hamilton High School, Chandler
Scholar: Sanjay Srinivasan
DAWN SCHMIDT
AP World History, Desert Vista High School, Phoenix
Scholar: Suhitha Veeravelli
K.R. SCOTT
AP U.S. Government, Mountain Pointe High School, Phoenix
Scholar: Swaroon Sridhar
DAVID SERAFIN
AP Biology, Cactus High School, Glendale
Scholar: Steven Reed
MINDY SHERRILL
AP English Literature, Prescott High School
Scholar: Julianna Renzi
SHELLY STEARNS
AP World History, Flagstaff High School
Scholar: Sarah Bosch
MEGHAN WILDERMUTH
Math and Academic Decathlon, Vista Grande High School, Casa Grande
Scholar: Luis A. Hernandez
ROBERT YELL
Biology, University High School, Tucson
Scholar: Ethan Wilson
CHRIS YETMAN
Calculus AB and BC and Academic Decathlon, Canyon del Oro High School, Oro Valley
Scholar: Jacob Rockland
LAURA ZINKE
AP Spanish, McClintock High School, Tempe
Scholar: Meera Doshi
Read more: 20 new Flinn Scholars chosen among Arizona’s top students