Flinn Foundation selects 32nd class of Flinn Scholars from Arizona’s top students

April 26, 2017

By Matt Ellsworth

2017-incoming-scholars

Twenty of Arizona’s highest-achieving high-school seniors have been awarded the 2017 Flinn Scholarship, a highly competitive merit-based award for undergraduate study at an Arizona public university.

The Flinn Scholarship, supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation and the universities, covers the cost of tuition and room and board at one of the state’s three public universities, provides funding for at least two study-abroad experiences and an off-campus internship, and offers other benefits. The scholarship is valued at more than $115,000.

The 32nd class of Flinn Scholars represents 17 different high schools across the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas and in small towns in northern, southern, central, and western Arizona.

“The Foundation is once again inspired by the dynamic student leaders who make up the new class of Flinn Scholars,” said Jack B. Jewett, Flinn Foundation president and CEO. “These talented and successful students, a diverse group from rural and urban areas of Arizona, are ready for an extraordinary education and college experience at our state’s universities.”

The 2017 Flinn Scholars include two each from Arcadia High School in Phoenix and Hamilton High School in Chandler. Scholars also attend Ganado High School on the Navajo Nation, Mohave High School in Bullhead City along the Colorado River, Benson High School in southeastern Arizona, and Eloy in central Arizona. Prescott and Cottonwood students are also part of the new Scholars class, along with a home-schooled student from Cave Creek.

Five high schools are celebrating their first Flinn Scholar: Desert View High School in Tucson, Tri-City College Prep in Prescott, Santa Cruz Valley Union High School in Eloy, Liberty High School in Peoria, and Mohave High School in Bullhead City.

This year marks the second time a home-schooled student has been awarded the Flinn Scholarship, and includes the first Scholar for Benson High School and Ganado High School since 1991 and 1992, respectively.

The Scholars have a wide range of majors and interests they plan to pursue in the fall, including biomedical engineering, astrophysics, journalism, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, business, urban planning, anthropology, physics, aerospace engineering, and computer science.

“This class of incoming Scholars is a remarkable group of students with diverse talents and ambitions,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Scholars Program director. “Not only do they excel academically, but they also invest their time in leadership roles and service projects within their community. We look forward to the contributions they will make to the state and its universities in the years ahead.”

There will be about 80 current Flinn Scholars studying at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and University of Arizona in the fall. More than 500 Scholar alumni have graduated from the universities since the program’s inception more than three decades ago.

The Flinn Scholars Program received more than 750 applications from high-school seniors for this year’s scholarship, translating to an award rate of 2.6 percent.

The scholarship benefits, beyond covering eight semesters of tuition and room and board, include:

  • A three-week summer seminar in China for the full class following the freshman year, and at least one additional study-abroad experience;
  • Funded participation in the Professional-Leadership Internship Program, exclusively for Flinn Scholars, at an Arizona company or organization;
  • Mentorship from top faculty and exposure to local and world leaders, including Arizona’s leading business, civic, and academic minds;
  • Fellowship in a community of about 80 current and more than 500 alumni Scholars;
  • Membership in a university honors college or program, with small classes, guest lectures, and research experiences;
  • Intellectual, cultural and social activities developed for Scholars by both the Flinn Foundation and the universities.

The typical Flinn Scholar achieves at least a 3.5 grade-point average, a top-5 percent class rank, a score of 1360 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT, and participation and demonstrated leadership in extracurricular activities.

The Flinn Scholars Program is operated by the Flinn Foundation Scholarship Program LLC and supported by the Flinn Foundation, a Phoenix-based private, nonprofit, grantmaking organization. The Foundation, founded in 1965 by the late Dr. Robert and Irene Flinn, also supports the advancement of Arizona’s bioscience sector, arts and culture, and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.

For more information:

2017 Flinn Scholars

2017 Flinn Scholars recognize Distinguished Educators from Arizona schools

Outgoing Flinn Scholars pursuing advanced degrees, work, and service