Three KEYS alumni among 2026 Flinn Scholars

Three KEYS alumni have been selected as 2026 Flinn Foundation Scholars, one of Arizona’s most prestigious academic honors for high school students. Adrian Perez-Martinez (KEYS ‘25), Finnegan McGill (KEYS ‘25) and Aleena Rafiyath (KEYS ‘24) are among 20 students joining the Flinn Scholarship’s 41st class.

Perez-Martinez, McGill and Rafiyath were selected from a pool of over 1,000 applications for the highly competitive scholarship. The scholarship provides over $135,000 in funding, including tuition, housing, and opportunities for study-abroad and research, while attending one of Arizona’s three state universities.

KEYS is proud to have four alumni as Flinn Scholar finalists this year, including Eva Pombo, as well as Perez-Martinez, McGill and Rafiyath.

Adrian Perez-Martinez (KEYS ‘25): Building confidence, community and a future in physics

Adrian Perez-Martinez emphasizes how the KEYS Research Internship was formative to his academic path and helped with his sense of belonging.

“KEYS made me feel like I was already part of a family at the University of Arizona.”

KEYS became a community that helped Perez-Martinez build confidence, friendships, and mentorship connections. He credits KEYS with preparing him for his future endeavors in research, which played a crucial role in him becoming a Flinn Scholar. 

Before KEYS, Perez-Martinez was interested in physics, but struggled to know how to specialize in just one area.

“KEYS gave me the exposure I needed to develop a passion specialized in condensed matter physics.”

This led to a new interest for quantum computing, which he wouldn’t have otherwise explored if it weren’t for working in the lab of Brian LeRoy, professor of physics. Perez-Martinez worked with Leroy on the fabrication methods of atomically thin devices from monolayer graphene and bulk hexagonal-boron-nitride.

Through KEYS, he found a collaborator and friend whose passion for physics inspired a deeper dive into high-energy physics. Together, the pair developed a proposal for CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which explores how to preserve superconductivity under radiation. He says this strengthened his scientific curiosity, along with his commitment to pursuing research.

Perez-Martinez will attend the University of Arizona in fall 2026, with plans to major in physics. He will continue undergraduate research with professor of physics, Weigang Wang, studying spintronics and quantum matter. He will also have a mentor position at Project FOCUS, which provides a post-high school transition opportunity for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Additionally, Perez-Martinez will volunteer at the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center, an academic support program that provides services to University of Arizona students with learning and attention differences.

Perez-Martinez says that being a Flinn Scholar further demonstrates his devotion to his community, and he hopes to continue building his network in the STEM field using his connections through KEYS and the Flinn Foundation. 

Aleena Rafiyath (KEYS ‘24): Hands-on research shapes a path in medicine

Aleena Rafiyath discusses how KEYS provided the opportunity to indulge in scientific research, connecting her passions in medicine and community impact.  

“It allowed me to perform hands-on techniques that I had only learned about on paper at school.”

During her time with KEYS, Rafiyath studied in a pharmacogenomics lab with Kasturi Banarjee in the lab of Jason Karnes, professor and department head of pharmacy practice and science. Her research project focused on genomic factors affecting Warfarin dose in the Hispanic population. This experience sparked her interest in pursuing a career in medical research.

“My introduction into the realm of medical research and pharmacology toxicology through KEYS motivated me to continue to pursue scientific questions and explore labs at the University of Arizona.”

After participating in KEYS, she continued her research journey through the STAR Lab program, joining orthopedic professor John Elfar’s lab. In this program, Rafiyath studied translational and regenerative medicine, which focused on repurposing 4-AP, an FDA-approved drug for multiple sclerosis that has also been shown to help with nerve repair, such as accelerating the healing process for third-degree skin burns. This project led her to becoming a grand winner SARSEF, and 2026 finalist for the Regeneron ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair).

“This has only motivated me to remain dedicated to medical research avenues during my undergraduate studies.”

Rafiyath plans to major in physiology and medical sciences at the University of Arizona in the fall of 2026, committing to the Accelerated Pathway to Medical Education (APME). Using her Flinn Foundation Scholarship, she plans to study abroad and use her experiences to give back to Arizona.

Finnegan McGill (KEYS ‘25): Learning to ask questions, collaborate and grow

Finnegan McGill explained how KEYS played a major role in wanting to be in a research environment. He previously explored science independently, but KEYS showed him that it was possible to work alongside people who were equally curious and excited about discovery. 

“It pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to ask better questions, collaborate with others, share ideas openly and become a stronger communicator.”

McGill used his time at KEYS to learn how he can apply science in his post-secondary career. He says that being around so many like-minded individuals passionate about science was crucial to building the excitement around research as a career. 

He studied in the lab of Pascale Charest, professor of molecular and cellular biology. McGill’s research project focused on the cell migration pathways in normal and cancer cells to examine how cells move during chemotaxis and cancer metastasis.

Attending the University of Arizona in fall 2026, McGill plans to major in molecular and cellular biology, with hopes to attend medical school in the future. He also plans to continue researching in Charest’s lab, building on his KEYS experience. 

McGill says he is most excited about fostering the relationships in the Flinn Foundation community and utilizing the opportunities that the award provides, like traveling abroad. He says these experiences will help him grow academically, giving him broader perspectives. 

“Being a Flinn Scholar feels like an opportunity to keep learning, growing and be part of a group of people who inspire each other.”

Research, community, and what comes next

These scholars emphasize how the impact of KEYS expanded beyond the summer internship,  launching their futures in research, leadership and service. Using what they learned from mentorship, hands-on discovery and community connections, they have found the confidence and inspiration to pursue their passions in academics and beyond.