Interact District 5495 Council
Executive Board
Kassandra Macias
District Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Kassandra Macias is an IB senior at Westwood High and is excited to be serving as the Interact District Governor for this upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Kassandra has been in Interact throughout her 4 years in high school and has taken on nearly all the opportunities that Interact has to offer! She was an ambassador to Kenya for 2023 and is excited to expand her knowledge about projects and connections with Interact clubs globally. This year Kassandra is also the Westwood Interact President and is excited to expand her club and have engaging projects for all! Her hobbies include hanging out with friends, reading, and being a music fanatic. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine and to travel globally. Kassandra knows that this year will be extraordinary with lots of exciting changes to come!
Natalie Pacheco
Executive Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Natalie Pacheco is a Senior at Westwood High School and is ecstatic to be serving on this year's executive team as the Executive Assistant Governor. Natalie has been involved with interact since her sophomore year, from attending RYLA, to conferences, to being an ambassador to Africa, she is extremely grateful for all of the opportunities rotary has provided her. This will be Natalie’s second year as Vice President of her Interact club, and her first year as President of her Bring Change to Mind club. She hopes on creating collaboration opportunities between the two clubs. After high school Natalie hopes to pursue a career in immigration law, and plans to do her schooling outside of Arizona. Overall, Natalie is excited for all things to come this year and accomplishments to be made!
Hannah Lewis
District Secretary
Canyon View High School
Waddell
Hannah Lewis is a senior at Canyon View High School and is so excited to be a part of the District Board as District Secretary. This is her third year on the council and fourth year in interact. Hannah fills her day at school by being heavily involved with her school's interact club, her school's theater club, and this year joining Canyon Views varsity pom and competition team. Hannah plans on moving to New York and following her dreams of being on Broadway.
Georgia Bukata
Past District Governor
BASIS Scottsdale
Scottsdale
Georgia Bukata is a senior at BASIS Scottsdale and is extremely excited for her final year on the Interact District Council, serving as the Past District Governor. She founded BASIS Scottsdale’s Interact Club 3 years ago and has enjoyed watching it expand and participating in various local and global projects. Georgia is passionate about playing competitive golf and varsity soccer, conducting scientific research, and being involved with her city and state youth government commissions. Georgia enjoys taking rigorous AP classes and looks to pursue a career in medicine. She is looking forward to this year and hopes we can continue to grow our district by reactivating many clubs!
Assistant Governors
Sahana Attaluri
Assistant Governor
Basha High School
Chandler
Sahana Attaluri is a junior at Basha High School in Chandler, and has been actively involved with Interact since her freshman year, as she is the East Valley Team Leader and this will be her second year of being an Assistant Governor. Sahana enjoys taking rigorous AP classes, and is also involved in clubs which include HOSA, Science is Fun, Bring Change to Mind, and GIRLSxSTEM. Outside of school, Sahana continues to be involved with her community while also pursuing other passions such as art and listening to music. She looks forward to helping Interact clubs and making a positive impact!
Kyndra Blumer
Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Kyndra Blumer is a IB junior at Westwood High School. Kyndra became a part of Interact at the beginning of last year. This is her first year on the Interact District Council, and she is excited to be apart of all of the different opportunities that Interact has. She also attended RYLA last year as a delegate, and is hoping to be a Junior Counselor this year, to make an impact on other people, like how RYLA did to her. Aside from interact, kyndra is involved in other organizations. She is apart of student council, and is Junior Class President, she is vice president of science is fun club, and a part of earth club, Model UN, ACDEC, and a part of her schools cross country and track team. This year she is most excited to be apart of impacting others life through interact/rotary, like it impacted hers.
Adrian Bojorquez
Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Adrian Bojorquez is a senior at Westwood High School. He joined Interact his junior year and has been devoted to service ever since. As he was an ambassador for Mexico over the summer, it has opened his eyes to new and challenging experiences and hopes to continue doing his part. Apart from Interact, he is involved in other clubs such as French club and IB Mentors. Other activities he loves include hiking, swimming, and spending time with friends and family. Adrian is very excited to be a part of the council.
Trinson Cameron
Assistant Governor
Canyon View High School
Waddell
Trinson Cameron is a senior at Canyon View High School. He joined Interact his sophomore year and since then has been heavily involved with his Interact Club. Apart from Interact, Trinson is one of his High School Marching Band’s Drum Major, the band being something he is very passionate about. He is also a member of the National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society and Governor’s Youth Commission. He is eager to contribute to the benefit of his community as an Assistant Governor. After High School, he plans to major in Computer Science at Florida A&M University.
Anise Carroll Covarrubias
Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Anise Carroll Covarrubias is an IB sophomore at Westwood High School. Anise became a part of Interact at the beginning of her freshman year and is looking forward to her first year on the Council. As a part of Interact, Anise has attended RYLA as a delegate and is excited to be more involved in the various programs Interact has to offer. Aside from Interact, Anise is also a part of the Model UN club at her school. Some of Anise’s hobbies include playing the viola and the piano, running, and reading. This year she can’t wait to delve deeper into the community and collaborate with new people in the organization!
Jenna Fox
Assistant Governor
Prescott High School
Prescott
Jenna Fox is a senior at Prescott high school. This is her second year in Interact and her first year in the Interact district council. She is also in dance, drama, and culture club both in and outside of school. Jenna was an ambassador to Kenya on the 2023 team for the crutches for Africa project. She loves service and helping people and can’t wait for this coming year.
Emily Frey
Assistant Governor
Sedona Red Rock High School
Sedona
Emily Frey is a junior at Sedona Red Rock High School and is excited to be an Assistant Governor. She has been a part of Interact for the past 2 years and she is eager to continue serving her school and community. One of her favorite things about Interact is RYLA. She has been a delegate, Junior Counselor, and will be serving as a Junior Counselor Coordinator for RYLA Pinerock. She is a part of her school's varsity volleyball team and club volleyball team. Emily also enjoys pickleball, spending time with her friends, and listening to music. She is looking forward to serving as an Assistant Governor and helping Interact clubs in her area!
Elyse Garcia
Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Elyse Garcia is an IB senior at Westwood High School and is excited to be serving her first year on the council as part of the service committee. Elyse has been actively involved with interact since her Junior year, including attending RYLA as a delegate. She enjoys participating in various clubs which include IB mentors, Orchestra Council, and French club. Outside of school she is passionate about playing basketball with the Mesa Bulldogs in the Special Olympics. This year she is looking forward to all the things she can accomplish with both the clubs and the council.
Riya Gaur
Assistant Governor
Basha High School
Chandler
Riya Gaur is a junior at Basha High School. After attending RYLA during her freshman year, she has been heavily involved in her school’s Interact club. Along with Interact, she is part of clubs such as Bring Change to Mind, Science is Fun, Spanish Honors Society, and Academic Decathlon, while also competing on the swim team. Riya enjoys taking pictures and AP classes, and is very excited to be an Assistant Governor this year!
Gunika Goyal
Assistant Governor
BASIS Phoenix
Phoenix
Gunika Goyal is a sophomore at BASIS Phoenix and it is her second year of Interact. In school, she is also involved in activities such as NHS and Speech and Debate. Out of school, she enjoys activities such as swimming, tennis, and reading. After high school, Gunika hopes to pursue a career in medicine, and to prepare for that, she volunteers at HonorHealth. She is also an AP/honors student, and loves taking a variety of AP’s such as AP Biology, AP Computer Science A, and AP Psychology. Gunika is also part of another service organization called Sewa International, which is a Hindu nonprofit through which she volunteers a lot. She is very excited to be a part of the District Council this year, and is excited to see what new accomplishments we will have this year!
Siddhanth Gupta
Assistant Governor
Desert Mountain High School
Scottsdale
Sid Gupta is a freshman at Desert Mountain High School. He joined Interact in 8th grade and this is first year on the council. He is super excited to help the community as an Assistant Governor. Sid loves biking and swimming as well as playing on his electric guitar. Sid is part of his library's Teen Advisory Board, where he helps in service projects and volunteering. As part of the publicity committee of Interact, Sid is excited to work on our Interact District's website.
Areli Martinez-Aviles
Assistant Governor
Prescott High School
Prescott
Areli Martinez-Aviles is a senior at Prescott High School. Areli has been in Interact for 3 years now and is the President of her Interact Club this year. Areli has attended RYLA as a delegate and has also been a Junior Counselor. She loves to be involved in her community and do service. Besides Interact, Areli is involved in other clubs, where she has held different officer positions, such as National Honors Society, Soroptimist Club, Key Club, and Book Club. Areli was also fortunate enough to be an ambassador for the 2022 Crutches for Africa trip, an experience that changed her perspective on the world as she experienced how a small act of service could completely change a life. This trip also resulted in life long friendships and a second family that will always hold a special place in her heart. Areli is looking forward to this year on the council and is excited to see what new experiences and opportunities this year will bring!
Sherlyn Montano
Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Sherlyn Montano is an IB Senior at Westwood High School. Sherlyn has been involved in Interact since her Sophomore year and was on the council last year. Through Interact Sherlyn has held the opportunity to be a RYLA counselor and held the leadership position of secretary for the Westwood Interact Club. She is glad to be back and is excited to work with the council this year!
Emily Osuna
Assistant Governor
Mohave High School
Bullhead City
Emily Osuna is a junior at Mohave Highschool. This is her fifth year in interact and third year on the council! This year she is the vice president of her interact club. She participates in many service based clubs like Key Club. Along with those two she also is in FCCLA which she went to Denver Colorado to compete in her Focus on Children star event! Interact has been a big part of her life since she joined in seventh grade and has implemented the four way test into her lifestyle!
Jorge Garcia Pacheco
Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Jorge Garcia Pacheco is a sophomore in Westwood high school. Jorge has been in his school's interact club since the beginning of his freshman year and his first year being a part of the interact district council. Jorge has attended Jr RYLA and Senior RYLA as a delegate and counselor and has made life long friendships and learned new leadership skills during his time at RYLA. Being a part of the council opens more opportunities to interact and is thrilled to be more involved. Outside of interact Jorge is an AVID scholar and is a part of many different clubs including BC2M (bring change 2 mind), earth club, little Warriors,, and many others! Jorge is delighted to be a part of the council this year and to travel the world to better his community!
Japen Patel
Assistant Governor
Lake Havasu High School
Lake Havasu City
Japen Patel is a senior at Lake Havasu High School. Japen has been in interact for the past 2 years and is now excited for the future of the council. He also ran and won elections to be president of his Interact Club. Interact changed his life for the better when he attended RYLA as a delegate junior year. He created a family out of his team and they will forever be in his mind. Interact District Conference and the experience on the Crutches 4 Africa team inspired him to join the District Council. Even though he wasn’t able to attend the Africa trip, he still admires and appreciates his team for supporting him. Along with Interact, he is Vice president of his National Honor Society club, Lieutenant Governor for Key Club, and Membership and Service Committee Chair for Key Club. He loves to learn and explore everything around him, like trying out new activities or hobbies, and is more than ready to make a difference in his community, and in the world!
Piper Rietz
Assistant Governor
Basha High School
Chandler
Piper Rietz is a Junior at Basha High School. She has been actively involved in Interact since Freshman year and this will be her second year as a part of the council. Piper enjoys school, taking AP classes in the hope to pursue a career in medicine. In addition to Interact and school, she is also a competitive swimmer and spends most weekends competing in swim meets. In her free time Piper enjoys Theatre, being a member of International Thespian Society and reading. Piper is very excited to work with clubs around the state and serve internationally!
Brendan Salisbury
Assistant Governor
Barry Goldwater High School
Phoenix
Brendan Salisbury is a senior at Barry Goldwater High School. He iss a cowboy who rides horses, a competitive hip hop dancer, a vocalist, fluent Spanish speaker, and Eagle Scout. He takes great joy in the ability to be a part of so many amazing communities and hopes to never lose the multicultural upbringing he’s been so blessed to have. For the last two years, Brendan has been part of the All-State Show Choir of Arizona which combines his passions for singing and dancing. Brendan is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness aiming to destigmatize mental illness and re-empower the next generation to learn how to take care of themselves and others. Long-term he envisions creating a joint foundation between state hospitals and their respective neurological institutes to create research and holistic treatment centers for those with neurodevelopmental disabilities across the nation. He cannot wait to be a part of the 2023-2024 5495 Interact District Council!
Josephine Sili
Assistant Governor
Westwood High School
Mesa
Josephine Sili is a senior at Westwood High School. She is treasurer in her Interact club & Bring Change to Mind, a club devoted to raising awareness about the importance of mental health. She is an Honors/AP student with a passion for service and sharing her knowledge of the pacific islands and cultural appropriation surrounding them. Josephine is very excited to attend a university after graduation.
Jyotsna Subramanian
Assistant Governor
Paradise Valley High School
Paradise Valley
Jyotsna Subramanian is a freshman at Paradise Valley High School and is involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Interact, swimming, and piano. This is her first year on the council and third year in Interact. In addition to these activities, Jyotsna also has a love for reading, painting, and hiking, and she is eager to make positive changes and is very excited to be on the District Council this year, and looks forward to working with her fellow Council members and starting this new chapter in her life!
Bhavitha Sunkara
Assistant Governor
BASIS Scottsdale
Scottsdale
Bhavitha Sunkara is a junior at BASIS Scottsdale, and this is her fourth year of Interact. She is currently the President of the BASIS Scottsdale Interact club, and is very excited to participate in many service projects this year, both local and international. She is taking lots of AP courses this year in preparation for college, and is very passionate about psychology and neuroscience. Her hobbies include reading, crocheting, singing, and playing tennis. She is very excited to be on the District Council this year, and looks forward to working with her fellow Council members and being more involved in her community!