Rain Elika Dimaliwat didn't always want to study medicine, but after a virulent strain of COVID-19 hospitalized her father five years ago she found a sense of purpose. Now a first-year student at the University of Arizona, Dimaliwat is excited to begin a journey she hopes will prepare her to save lives and reunite families. 

"I want to give other people the same sense of hope I felt when I saw my dad again," she said. "I want to be there for children and parents. To help their loved ones come back home safely. Without those doctors and nurses doing what they did every single day, I may not have ever seen my dad again." 

Dimaliwat took the first step toward her goal by enrolling at the U of A, where she studies neuroscience and cognitive science in the College of Science and is enrolled in the W.A. Franke Honors College. After completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to apply to medical school. 

Exploring the frontiers of cognitive science may seem challenging for a 17-year-old, but Dimaliwat feels up for task and her determination has earned significant recognition: She was one of 20 Arizona high school students named a 2026 Flinn Scholar. The scholarship is awarded to the state's brightest high school graduates and includes the full cost of tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meals and more. 

Dimaliwat received the good news while at track practice and cherished the moment alongside her friends and teammates before calling her family to celebrate.

From Pinetop to Tucson 

Despite growing up in the humble community of Pinetop-Lakeside, located just north of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in eastern Arizona, Dimaliwat didn't realize she lived in a small town until visiting family in Phoenix, California and New York. After seeing the bright lights of big cities, Dimaliwat was determined to take advantage of every opportunity at home – limited as they were.

First on the list was a spot on the Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee, a role recommended by Dimaliwat's eight-grade counselor that taught her the value of community and introduced her to other motivated teens. She also joined the National Honor Society Student Council and participated in the Arizona iteration of Girls State, a program hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary intended to teach high school juniors and seniors about the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. The program also introduced Dimaliwat to the U of A campus when she spent a week living in a dorm and absorbing Wildcat culture.

Dimaliwat and a classmate also established a nonprofit, Strong Steps Backpacks, to provide free backpacks, school and personal hygiene supplies to high school students facing financial hardship.  

"At the risk of sounding cliché, I just like helping people. As someone with immigrant parents whose father experienced poverty and had to work his way out of it in the Philippines, I really want to support other people going through those challenges."  — Rain Elika Dimaliwat

Imaginary places, marathon paces 

When she's not delving into the mysteries of cognitive science, Dimaliwat often ventures into the imaginary places found in her mind through storytelling. Her passion for creative writing began in kindergarten when tales like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "A Series of Unfortunate Events" kickstarted her imagination, and she often collaborates with her brother, Ram.  

Among Dimaliwat's ongoing stories is "The Adventures of Timmy and Fluff," a long-running children's book project based on the siblings' childhood stuffed toys: a sheep named Fluff and a Lego brick named Timmy who solve problems throughout their home. Dimaliwat is developing "Fashion Ninja," a solo project that follows a high school student moonlighting as a "ninja diva fashionista who saves the city from all kinds of bad guys." 

"I think that writing helps me tap into a part of my brain that I don't get to use as much in academics," Dimaliwat said. "Because a lot of my time is dedicated to homework and studying, there is not as much time to be creative. I will keep working on those two stories in college, and some others I haven't had a chance to tap into just yet." 

Dimaliwat is also an athlete and a seasoned runner. She competed in track throughout high school in both short- and long-distance events, preferring the 4x800-meter relay, and recently completed the High Mountain Half Marathon in just over three hours and 11 minutes. 

"I learned a lot about myself, including the fact that my mindset is a lot stronger than I thought," she said. "The experience helped me be more confident in myself and gave me reassurance that I can overcome the obstacles I will face in college through hard work, determination and faith. I now know that running is something I'd love to do more in college and beyond."