The 25 Flinn Scholars graduating from Arizona’s public universities this year were honored during the program’s annual Recognition Dinner on May 1 at the Arizona Biltmore.
The event also honored the 20 Arizona high-school seniors who were selected as the 31st class of Flinn Scholars, as well as their chosen Distinguished Educator.
The graduating Scholars feature a wide range of undergraduate degrees, including biomedical engineering, finance, mathematics, global health, English, political science, computer-systems engineering, dance, and chemical engineering.
Their future plans include a variety of pursuits as well. A number of Scholars will pursue advanced degrees, both in Arizona and at top universities in the United States and abroad. Others will enter the workforce immediately, including for companies they created. Some Scholars will travel or engage in full-time volunteer service before applying for graduate school.
Below are the future plans of the 25 Flinn Scholars graduating from an Arizona university in 2016:
Lekha Anantuni: Will create and implement public-health programs in low-income neighborhoods through AmeriCorps.
Thomas Bello: Will pursue a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Washington.
Stephen Bergauer: Will work as a portfolio-management analyst for Dimensional Fund Advisors in Austin, Texas.
Lee Burke: Will pursue a master’s degree in applied mathematics at the University of Washington.
Annie Carson: Will pursue an MPH focusing on global health at Emory University.
Marissa Davis: Will pursue veterinary school at Oregon State University.
Conrad Hom: Will pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Houston.
Paulina Jenney: Will pursue a paraglider pilot’s license in Washington.
Steve Jozef: Will pursue professional work in the music-journalism field.
Ajay Karpur: Will work with Somatic labs, a company he co-founded.
Lily Luo: Will intern at Deloitte before pursuing other professional opportunities later this year.
Amanda Martinez: Will pursue an MPH focusing on health management and policy at the University of Michigan.
Sami Mian: Will pursue a Ph.D. in computer engineering, with a focus on robotic systems.
Charles Miller: Will work as a manager for McMaster-Carr in Los Angeles while pursuing graduate school.
Shivani Misra: Will pursue a joint M.D./MPH at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix.
Jacquelyn Oesterblad: Will teach at BASIS Tucson North and continue freelance journalism while applying to law school.
Alexander Roesler: Will perform clinical research as a post-baccalaureate scholar at the National Institutes of Health while applying to medical school.
Viputheshwar Sitaraman: Will participate in the SeedSumo accelerator program in Austin, Texas, for mentorship and investment in Draw Science, which he founded.
Amy Umaretiya: Will pursue a master’s degree in technology and policy at the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Anna Weiss: Will pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.
Ben Whitely: Will travel abroad following graduation before pursuing a career in cybersecurity research.
Jeannie Wilkening: Will pursue an MPhil in earth sciences at the University of Cambridge as a Churchill Scholar.
Jonathan Woodbury: Will pursue a master’s degree in public policy at Arizona State University.
Allyson Yoder: Will continue work with [nueBOX] and pursue a career as a freelance dance and teaching artist.
Jonathan Zia: Will pursue a joint M.D./Ph.D. (electrical engineering) at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology.
The Flinn Scholarship is a highly competitive merit-based scholarship that includes the cost of tuition at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona; funding for room and board; support for at least two study-abroad experiences and an off-campus internship; university faculty mentorship; and other benefits.
The scholarship, supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation and the universities, is valued at more than $115,000.
Today, there are more than 570 current and alumni Flinn Scholars. The first class was selected in 1986.
For more information:
31st class of Flinn Scholars to attend Arizona public universities
2016 Flinn Scholars honor distinguished Arizona educators