Flinn Scholars

Houston, we made it to Hungary! After a seven hour layover in London, 18 sleep-deprived Flinns wandered off into Budapest to experience Central Europe.

Flinn Scholars

Each year, the Selection Committee that interviews finalists for the Flinn Scholarship includes one past Flinn Scholar. That Scholar is then invited to present an address at the Recognition Dinner in May when the new class of Scholars is introduced and graduates of the program are congratulated for their achievements. This year, the Scholar on the Selection Committee was Siobhan O'Neill ('88). Here are Siobhan's remarks at the Recognition Dinner.

Flinn Scholars

The newest Flinn Scholars and the Flinn Scholars Program have honored 17 Arizona educators for their outstanding dedication and service. Each educator was nominated by a member of the 2009 class of Flinn Scholars for having a significant impact on their education and development.

Flinn Scholars

Seventeen of Arizona's highest-achieving high-school seniors have decided to attend one of the state's public universities on a Flinn Scholarship. The award includes funding for four years of study, academic-focused travel abroad, mentorship by top faculty, and other benefits. Altogether, the package is worth more than $50,000--on top of the cash value of tuition, provided by the student's chosen university.

Flinn Scholars

In a few days, Eric Jackson ('93) and his family will be returning to southeast China, where Eric and his wife Emily will be investigating some of the endangered dialects spoken by minority communities in the regions of China near the Vietnamese border.

Flinn Scholars

The Flinn Scholars Program will honor 23 graduating Scholars at the program's annual Recognition Dinner on May 17, celebrating the students' exceptional array of accomplishments during their undergraduate years and highlighting their diverse goals for the future.

Flinn Scholars

On May 2, a select group of Flinn Scholars spent a day working in the Cornville art studio of internationally acclaimed sculptor John Waddell and his wife, painter Ruth Waddell. A visit to the Waddells' studio has been an annual highlight of the Flinn Scholars program for nearly all of the past 24 years.

Flinn Scholars

Shelly Lowe ('92) is trading in her responsibilities as dean of Yale's Native American Cultural Center for a new role: executive director of the Harvard University Native American Program.

Flinn Scholars

We've reached the time of year when Arizona's universities begin naming some of their most outstanding graduates. And no surprise: Our own Joe Fu ('03) is among the award winners.

Joe is the recipient of the Robie Gold Medal. According to this news item from UA, the Robie is awarded to one male and one female student who "show personal integrity, initiative, cooperativeness, enthusiasm, humility, well-rounded interests, active participation in student affairs, service to the University and willingness to give more than required and show a love of God and country."

That sounds like more than any one person could achieve, but that's Joe, all right:

At various times, he's worked with the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the Arizona Cancer Center, and the Arizona House of Representatives. He's won the Truman Scholarship and a fellowship from the National Science Foundation. And he has conducted health-care outreach in India, Thailand, and Burma.

Has he slept during college? About that, I'm not sure...

Flinn Scholars

When Wayne Shen ('04) completed his undergraduate studies at UA last spring, he wasn't completely sure what was next--he knew that he would apply to graduate school, but anticipated a Fall, 2009 start.

But remember, this is the Wayne we're talking about:

No real surprise, then, to get a note from Wayne today with the news that he moved up that timeline, applied early, and is now most of the way through his first semester at the great New England Conservatory. Here's a little of his note:

"At the moment I'm studying with Nick Kitchen, the 1st violinist of the Borromeo String Quartet.  Lessons are going well, and getting to know lots of very talented people! [...]

I should mention that a few months ago I got to see Stephen Hough play the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Boston Symphony.  That was exciting (my first time to hear Hough live).  I also saw a masterclass he gave some NEC students, and marvelled at how beautiful his tone was. (It was nice to hear him up close!)"