The 2018 Flinn Scholarship has been awarded to 22 of Arizona’s highest-achieving high-school seniors who will begin undergraduate study this fall at an Arizona public university.
The highly competitive merit-based award, with a value of more than $120,000, covers the cost of tuition and room and board, and provides funding for at least two study-abroad experiences, an off-campus internship, and other benefits.
The Flinn Scholars Program, supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation and the universities for more than three decades, selected students from Flagstaff, Tucson, and the Phoenix area, as well as rural Winslow, San Luis, and Parker. The Scholars represent 19 high schools—a mix of traditional district schools, charter schools, and a private school.
The 2018 Flinn Scholars were chosen from a record-high 881 applications, an award rate of 2.5 percent. As is the case each year, many of the newest Flinn Scholars declined offers of admission from the nation’s most prestigious private and public universities to remain in Arizona.
“These Scholars represent the best about Arizona—a diverse group of talented, bright leaders, from high schools in our major metro areas as well as smaller cities at the edge of the Colorado River and along Route 66,” said Tammy McLeod, Flinn Foundation president and CEO. “The Flinn Foundation is inspired by this group of 22 who have chosen the honors-college experience at Arizona’s universities, and we’re honored to welcome them to the Flinn Scholars community.”
Arizona high schools with two representatives in the 33rd class of Flinn Scholars include Arizona College Prep Erie Campus of the Chandler Unified School District, BASIS Chandler, a BASIS charter school, and Bioscience High School of the Phoenix Union High School District.
Five schools are celebrating their first Flinn Scholar, including Coronado High School in Scottsdale; BASIS Phoenix; Pinnacle High School in Phoenix; Parker High School; and Veritas Preparatory Academy, a Great Hearts Academy, in Phoenix.
The 2018 Scholars plan to study a wide range of fields, including economics, biomedical engineering, astrophysics, French, public health, molecular and cellular biology, theatre, biochemistry, neuroscience, and computer science.
About 80 new and continuing Flinn Scholars will study at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and University of Arizona in the fall, bringing the total number of current and alumni Flinn Scholars to roughly 625.
“These young adults, who have passionately pursued their interests and developed their talents over their high-school careers, share an extraordinary ambition to contribute to their university and civic communities,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Scholars Program director. “This incredible group left the 2018 Selection Committee profoundly encouraged about the future of Arizona.”
The scholarship benefits, beyond covering eight semesters of tuition, fees, 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 leaders from Arizona’s business, civic, and academic communities;
- Fellowship in a community of about 80 current and nearly 550 alumni Scholars;
- Membership in a university honors college, 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, and a score of 1360 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT, and demonstrates exceptional 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.
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