Flinn Scholars Group Seminar: “Flinnland Adventure” 

Building on the success of last year’s summer seminar, the first-year Flinn Scholars will be leaving for Finland today. The program, titled “The Finnish Experiment: Exploring Finnish and American Societies Through a Comparative Lens,” uses a sociological lens to examine Finland’s educational system in a comparative context to the American K-12 system.  

This is the second time the group seminar will be held in Finland after previous seminars in Hungary/Romania, China, France, and Greece.

The two-week Finland seminar will offer a programmatically rich experience for Scholars that will expose them to significantly more than the surface-level experiences most tourists enjoy. The seminar will kick off in Helsinki, where Scholars will engage with local educators and policymakers to explore the renowned Finnish educational system. The journey will extend to the historical town of Verla, allowing Scholars to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Verla Groundwood and Board Mill, reflecting on the interplay between culture, history, and education. Additional highlights include curated tours of the Finnish Parliament House, various museums, and galleries that showcase Finland’s rich artistic heritage.  

The seminar will again be led by Associate Dean Paul LePore, Ph.D., of the ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with support from Jessica Early, Ph.D., professor and associate chair of the Department of English. 

This immersive experience is designed not just to educate but to inspire our Scholars to think critically about educational practices and societal structures. We look forward to another enriching summer seminar in Finland! 

We introduce the 39^th class of Flinn Scholars

The Flinn Scholars Class of 2024, like all that have come before, represents the best of Arizona, with a passion for a better state, country, and world.

The 20 high-school seniors, announced by the Flinn Foundation late last month, join us from 17 high schools, with 10 Scholars from the Phoenix metropolitan area and 10 from elsewhere in the state, including Flagstaff, Holbrook, Prescott Valley, and Tucson.

As always there are some interesting factoids about the new class:

Shadow Ridge High School in Surprise and Williams Field High School in Gilbert celebrated their first Flinn Scholar.

Bioscience High School in Phoenix had its fourth Flinn Scholar in as many years and Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley had its third in four years. 

And for the second time, we have a Flinn Scholar from Holbrook High School.

Thank you to our alumni reviewers of the Flinn Scholarship applications. We know that one day, some of you will have an opportunity to meet these Scholars in person—and maybe even serve as a mentor.

Until then, please welcome the Flinn Scholars Class of 2024.

Thank you, Brad Halvorsen. And congratulations, Matt Ellsworth

Brad Halvorsen joined the Flinn Foundation in 1989 as its first and only communications staff member and quickly became engaged with the Flinn Scholars Program, which was only a couple of years old. Brad attended retreats, senior trips, and other enrichment experiences and was dedicated to the success of the program. 

As the years went by and Brad was named vice president, communications, and then executive vice president, he spent less time on Scholar retreats but remained dedicated to the program and its students. He has played an instrumental role in the decisions that have continued to enhance the program.

Brad is retiring on June 14 after 35 years at the Flinn Foundation. We thank Brad for all he has done for the Flinn Scholars Program and the foundation—and Arizona.

Matt Ellsworth, a Class of 1993 Flinn Scholar, former Flinn Scholars Program director, and current vice president, communications, has been named chief administrative officer. We are excited that Matt will continue to be so closely involved with the Flinn Scholars. Be sure and say hello and congratulations the next time you see Matt at the Flinn Foundation or in the community.