Current Scholars

I’m from Flagstaff, Arizona. (Shockingly) I’m going to the University of Arizona, but as for my major, I’m still undecided, though I am pretty interested in things like economics and statistics. I’m super into basketball, played that and soccer throughout high school, and I’m always up to discuss sports. I also am a big music fan, and will pretty much listen to anything but I’m a big fan of artists like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, and The Beatles. I also play games like Minecraft and Fifa, and have recently been playing Hogwarts a ton! Always up for a gaming session! I also have 2 cute dogs named Pip and Rawley who I have tons of pictures of. At UofA I’m looking forward to meeting tons of new people, playing intramural basketball, and eating as much Cinnamon Toast Crunch as humanly possible! Looking forward to meeting everyone!!!

Hi, I'm Gayatri Kaimal. I am from Tucson, Arizona. I plan on studying medicine in college. The way the human body works as an integrated whole really fascinates me. After I graduate, I would like to go to medical school and maybe one day be an orthopedic surgeon. One of my biggest joys in life is fitness. I love lifting, running, and playing basketball! I am a certified yoga instructor and I would love to teach at the Rec Center. I'm really passionate about learning languages too! I can write in three different scripts, and I am competent in speaking around four of them. That's why I will minor in Spanish as well and join cross-cultural clubs at the University of Arizona. My favorite artist is Drake and my favorite book is The Picture of Dorian Gray. I am really excited to meet everyone at the University of Arizona and join the Baird Community!

I'm from Chandler, Arizona and I plan to study both Medicine and Data Science in college. I hope to go into the healthcare field in the future. I'm excited for the numerous opportunities in college like becoming an EMS, joining the club tennis team, and meeting new people in general. In my free time, I love to go thrifting, concerts, coffee shops and I plan to continue to do these in college!

Mia Partch is from Marana, Arizona. Being a math enthusiast, Mia's Engineering major makes perfect sense. Mia was very involved in leadership throughout high school and plans to continue with that path in college. With said leadership path, Mia is excited to branch out and meet many new people from different clubs and group on campus. When Mia is not studying, she is a self proclaimed foodie who loves to workout, travel, teach kids, dance, listen to music and spend time with her family and friends. Though this is just the beginning of her college career, she is extremely grateful and looking forward to being apart of the Baird community!

Candice is an incoming freshman from Chandler, Arizona planning to study engineering, but she is still undecided on which type to focus on. She is considering computer science or music performance as minors. In her free time, she enjoys playing the flute, listening to chill/r&b music, reading webtoons, and playing Overcooked! with her sisters. At UA, she plans to explore STEM-related research activities and become involved in music ensembles and volunteering programs. Candice is excited to join the Baird community and meet other people!

Hey guys! I'm Sophie Li, and I'm from Scottsdale, Arizona. I'm planning to study on a pre-med track, majoring in Medical Sciences and Physiology. I want to study a minor in business or healthcare administration as well. I absolutely love food, cooking, karaoke, and dancing my heart out to pop songs. I'm excited to meet new people in my next 4 years at the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona as a Baird Scholar.

Isabella is from Tucson, Arizona. She is studying both Women and Gender Studies and Nutritional Sciences for a double degree. She also will study Chinese as a minor. While her time at the UA, Isabella plans on studying abroad. Isabella is not quite sure what she wants as a career yet, but she is very passionate about both nutrition and feminism. Apart from academics, she loves to travel, cook, hike, dance to Bad Bunny, be adventurous, and spend time with her family, friends, and three dogs. She is very excited and grateful to be apart of the Baird community!

Hi, I’m Nayeli Jimenez. I’m from Tucson, AZ, and I’m entering UA as a piano performance major. I plan to also minor in Spanish and follow a premed track as I aim to be an OB/GYN. In addition to piano, I play violin and have been in a variety of ensembles ranging from chamber orchestras to mariachis. Outside of school and music I’m an avid freshwater aquarium enthusiast and I like to crochet. I’m excited to get to explore what UA has to offer and hopefully branch out of my comfort zone throughout college.

Kaitlyn Lai is a freshman from Chandler, AZ majoring in Biochemistry on the pre-med track. She enjoys playing piano, crocheting, and teaching kids flying sidekicks at her karate dojo. For the past three years, Kaitlyn has been conducting research at an ASU honeybee lab, ranging from running behavioral experiments to dissecting honeybee brains (and keeping her streak of not getting stung). She is excited for the numerous neuroscience research opportunities at the University of Arizona and to be part of the Baird community!

Jack Miller is a freshman from Phoenix, Arizona studying Public Management and Policy on the pre-law track. Apart from academics, Jack serves as the president of the University of Arizona's CKI, an organization focused on leadership and fellowship through service. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering, hanging out with friends, biking, karaoke, and caring for his houseplants. Jack is excited to continue his academic career and extracurricular involvement at the University of Arizona, and is thrilled to be a member of the Baird and W. A. Franke communities!

Tanvi Narendran is a freshman from University High School in Tucson, Arizona. She is majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with a minor in Philosophy. She is interested in the psychological aspects of criminal justice. After graduation, she plans to attend law school to become an attorney. Aside from academics, Tanvi loves to play tennis and is on the women's tennis team at U of A. In her free time, she enjoys working out, volunteering, hanging out with friends, and listening to music on blast in the car. Tanvi is thrilled to be a part of the Baird community!

Sophie Singh is a freshman from Glendale, Arizona studying Medicine. She plans to go into pediatrics with a possible OBGYN specialty. Sophie was very involved in leadership throughout high school and plans to continue that in college. She’s excited to meet new people and step out of her comfort zone at the University of Arizona. She loves to volunteer around the community, travel and explore new restaurants and coffee shops with friends! Sophie is grateful to be a part of the Baird community!

Aashika Desai is from Phoenix, Arizona and plans on majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with a potential minor in Spanish. She's highly interested in food allergy awareness/activism as well as the connection between music and memory. Aashika plans on exploring medicine and perhaps applying to medical school to become a primary care physician or a Clinical Allergist/Immunologist Physician. Outside of academics, she is an Indian Classical Hindustani Singer, tennis and badminton player, and the 2021-2022 AZ HOSA State President. For fun, she loves to boogie board in Huntington Beach and have spontaneous dance parties. Aashika is incredibly excited to take advantage of all that UA and Tucson has to offer. She is honored and thrilled to be part of the Baird community!

Annie is a freshman from Prescott, AZ studying Neurological and Cognitive Science. After graduation, she plans on applying to medical school and being a practicing physician. She enjoys competing in the Hunters and the Jumpers in horseback riding, hanging out with friends and wakesurfing.

Bryce Wilson is a Freshman from Mesa, Arizona majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Photography. After undergraduate, he plans on attending medical school and becoming a physician specializing in genetics or neurology and conducting research on the genetic basis of disease. Apart from academics, Bryce loves still life and product photography, traveling, playing the bass, and skincare!

Hi! I’m Kyra Singh, and I’m from Tucson, Arizona and I’m majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in philosophy. I plan on going to medical school to hopefully become an interventional cardiologist and work on spreading awareness on preventative measures for heart disease. Outside of school, my favorite things to do are try new restaurants in Tucson, make charcuterie boards for picnic, sing, teach kids, dance, and attempt to bake! I’m so excited to be apart of the Baird community!

Lynette Valenzuela is a freshman from Nogales, Arizona planning to major in Biomedical Engineering. She is very passionate about her studies and ambitious to pursue her academic goals. Apart from academics, she enjoys volunteering to serve the community, playing volleyball, traveling, doing exercise, and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to be a part of the Baird community!

Freya Abraham is a junior from Maricopa, Arizona majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NSCS) and minoring in Spanish, Biochemistry, and Psychology. She is passionate about mental health and access to resources, and will be completing a certificate in Developmental Disabilities through UCEDD. On-campus, she is a Wildcats RISE Peer Mentor, preceptor, and research assistant in the NET Lab exploring human thought patterns. She is a member of the international Chief Science Officers alumni board and Global Shapers Tucson, and a cofounder of the STEM literacy initiative Give a Book, Grow a Mind. In the future, Freya looks forward to working in pediatric neurology and rare disorder research. Outside of school, Freya loves to sing, serve with her church, and make memories with friends and family.

Carlie Herrmann is a sophomore from Phoenix, Arizona and is majoring in Physiology and Medical sciences and hopes to double major in business. She plans to apply to medical school and hopes to one day be a dermatologist and run her own practice. In her free time, Carlie loves to hike, do yoga, take spin classes, spend time with friends and volunteer at various organizations. She is very excited for her time at The University of Arizona and is thrilled to be a new member of the Baird community!

Eliza Johnson is a sophomore from Tucson, Arizona, double majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology. She plans on attending medical school so she can become a surgeon one day. At the University of Arizona, Eliza is a preceptor in her religion class and is part of the PATH Mentoring program. She also hopes to find healthcare clubs and research opportunities on campus to become involved in. Outside of school, Eliza loves photography, picnics, spending time with friends, and traveling with her family.

Adriana Medina is a senior from Yuma, Arizona attending the College of Nursing. On campus, Adriana is involved in SHAC, where she participates in advocating preventive health issues on campus. She is also involved in a program held at Yuma Regional Medical Center named "Mentor Me MD", she has worked on several projects with physicians to bring resources to the community and attended the STFM conference to present a project on how to increase URM students in rural Arizona. During the weekends, Adriana works at the hospital as a Patient Care Assistant. Outside of academics, Adriana loves to paint, sew, bake, watch Netflix, and hang out with friends.

Jaiden a senior from Glendale majoring in Public Health Systems and Law, minoring in Spanish. On campus, Jaiden also serves as the president of Active Minds, an organization that strives to advocate for student mental health, and is the Secretary-General for AZ Model UN. He previously worked on the casework team for the Office of US Senator Mark Kelly, and is currently completing a policy analysis internship with the Pima County Health Department. In his free time he enjoys cooking and baking, hanging out with friends, and training for triathlons.

Tara Ruhland is excited to be a junior majoring in both Biochemistry and Spanish, Linguistics Emphasis, with a certificate in Central American Studies. From Mesa, Arizona, she has developed a love for the mountains, trails, restaurants, and markets that make Tucson home. With plans to pursue medicine, she is happy to serve the local community and people in Agua Prieta through Flying Samaritans. She is proud to be a student at UofA and shares her love for the university as a campus tour guide through Arizona Ambassadors. She looks forward to another year full of academics, research, and growth post return from study abroad in Costa Rica.