Nearly 1,000 Arizona high-school seniors applied last fall for the Class of 2021 Flinn Scholarship.
And now, only 35 students remain in the running to earn one of the nation’s most prestigious merit-based scholarships.
The Class of 2021 Flinn Scholarship Finalists will interview in March with a four-person Selection Committee comprised of distinguished Arizona leaders for an opportunity to be chosen as one of 20 Flinn Scholars.
While most of the Finalists are from the Phoenix and Tucson areas, two of the students live in Casa Grande, and one each in Chinle, Dewey-Humboldt, Page, Rio Rico, and Yuma. Six high schools have two Finalists each— BASIS Ahwatukee in Phoenix, BASIS Phoenix, Gilbert Classical Academy, Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Tempe High School, and University High School in Tucson.
The Finalists, who attend district, charter, private, and online schools, advanced from the group of 78 Semifinalists that interviewed with three-person panels earlier this month.
“Our Selection Committee will have a very difficult task in choosing the Class of 2021 Flinn Scholars,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Foundation vice president of scholarship and education initiatives. “The 35 Finalists are all incredibly gifted student leaders, representing a diverse mix of schools and cities, who we would be proud to have as Flinn Scholars.”
The Class of 2021 application cycle, which began in August, ultimately yielded 951 applications from 209 high schools, 73 cities and towns, and 13 of the state’s 15 counties. Selected candidates will earn a full-ride scholarship to one of Arizona’s three state universities.
The Flinn Scholarship, which includes funding for tuition, housing, meals, and study abroad, is valued at more than $120,000. At any time, about 80 Flinn Scholars are attending the Honors colleges at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona.
The 36th class of Flinn Scholars will be announced by the Flinn Foundation in April.
The Class of 2021 Flinn Scholarship Finalists (including high school and city of residence):
Maleka Abdi, Desert View High School, Tucson
Hanaan Abdulle, Highland High School, Gilbert
Parris Adams, Page High School, Page
Benny Aguilar, Brophy College Preparatory, Phoenix
Nikita Bharati, Chandler Online Academy, Chandler
Ivan Carrillo, Nogales High School, Rio Rico
Evan Chaparro, Vista Grande High School, Casa Grande
Kiera Charley, Navajo Preparatory School, Chinle
Abhi Desai, Pinnacle High School, Phoenix
Merlin D’souza, Casa Grande Union High School, Casa Grande
Sophia Hammer, Gilbert Classical Academy, Gilbert
Simona Hausleitner, BASIS Phoenix, Scottsdale
Jordyn Hitzeman, BASIS Ahwatukee, Phoenix
Brinlee Kidd, Bradshaw Mountain High School, Dewey-Humboldt
Brynn Kramer, Pinnacle High School, Scottsdale
Olivier Lafontant-Joseph, BASIS Mesa, Mesa
Ananya Lakhotia, Arizona College Prep Erie Campus, Chandler
Makenna Ley, University High School, Tucson
Sylvia Lopez, Liberty High School, Peoria
Sakina Lord, Bioscience High School, Phoenix
Carol Lu, University High School, Tucson
Aryan Mathur, Chandler High School, Gilbert
Clara Moffitt, Tempe Preparatory Academy, Tempe
Jasmine Norris, Dobson High School, Chandler
Surabhi Sajith, BASIS Ahwatukee, Tempe
Naomi Solomon, BASIS Phoenix, Phoenix
Maya Steinberg, Tempe High School, Tempe
Josh Tint, Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson
Eugenia Trakal, Gilbert Classical Academy, Gilbert
Jennifer Tran, Mesquite High School, Gilbert
Netia Unger, Westview High School, Goodyear
Shirley Wang, Desert Vista High School, Phoenix
Tyler Wright, Tempe High School, Tempe
Mitch Zakocs, Mountain Pointe High School, Phoenix
David Zaragoza, Gila Ridge High School, Yuma