Florence Copper is proud to recognize the 2026 recipients of the Creating Opportunities Scholarship, honoring outstanding high school seniors across Pinal County for their academic achievements, leadership, and commitment to community service.
Since the scholarship program was established in 2011, Florence Copper has awarded more than $130,000 in scholarships to talented students in Florence and surrounding communities to help them pursue higher education. Florence Copper is glad to continue supporting local students this year, with $20,000 in total scholarships awarded for 2026. Scholarship winners each received between $500 and $1,500 to help further their educational goals.
Florence High School recipients include Allyson Kiss (Grand Canyon University – Nursing), Jasmine Cortes (University of Arizona – Nursing), Maile Derasin (Arizona State University/Central Arizona College – Nursing or Public Health), and Zora Fedor (University of Arizona – Animal Science).
Coolidge High School honorees include Molly Tucker (University of Arizona or Central Arizona College – Education, aspiring agriculture teacher), Peter Blind (Northern Arizona University – Finance), and Ulises Talaman-Galvan (University of Arizona – Molecular and Cellular Biology).
San Tan Foothills High School students recognized include Daniel Hernandez (NAU – Physical Therapy/Sports Medicine), Lakisha Kamara (Biology), and Serenity Alexander (accepted to multiple universities including ASU Polytechnic and Northern Arizona University – Biological Sciences).
Poston Butte High School recipients include Abigaile Dixon (Grand Canyon University – Clinical Counseling), Brayden Robinson (Arizona State University – Neuroscience), Graeson Herman (Arizona State University – Biomedical Engineering), Jason Walter (Waldorf University – Business and Communications), and Quinn Biter (Arizona State University – Elementary Education).
Imagine Prep at Coolidge honorees include Charlene Grace Telen (Grand Canyon University – Psychology), Shayla Davis (San Diego State University – Human/Child Development), and Xavier Valencia (Central Arizona College – Heavy Machine Operator).
Casa Grande Union High School recipients include Carter Berger (Arizona State University – Earth and Space Exploration), Sawyer C. Barth (Duke University – Political Science and Economics), and Ava Kramer (ASU – Mechanical Engineering).
Florence Copper congratulates all scholarship recipients and is honored to support their next steps as they pursue higher education and future careers.
