16 Flinn Scholars to attend ASU in fall

Sixteen of Arizona’s outstanding high school seniors will bring their talents to Arizona State University next fall, each on a Flinn Foundation scholarship valued at more than $100,000. 

These esteemed students are part of a group of 22 of Arizona’s finest high school seniors who have been awarded the 2012 Flinn Scholarship. The scholarship, provided through a partnership among the Flinn Foundation and Arizona’s universities, is a comprehensive, eight semester package that includes tuition, room and board, international study-related travel, and additional benefits. The scholarship aims to encourage the best students to stay in Arizona to attend the state’s universities for their undergraduate degrees.

The outstanding Flinn Scholars who have indicated they will attend ASU in the fall are:

Lekha Anantuni, Hamilton High School. Chandler

Stephen Bergauer, Hamilton High School, Chandler

Anna Carson, Hamilton Preparatory Academy, Chandler

Marissa Davis, Campo Verde High School, Gilbert

Conrad Hom, University High School, Tucson

Steven Jozef, North High School, Phoenix

Ajay Karpur, Mountain Point High School, Phoenix

Amanda Martinez, Cibola High School, Yuma

Sami Mian, Chaparral High School, Scottsdale

Charles Miller, Prescott High School, Prescott

Nirali Patel, Notre Dame Preparatory, Scottsdale

Alexander Roesler, Mountain View High School, Mesa

Anna Weiss, McClintock High School, Tempe

Jonathan Woodbury, Homeschooled, Tempe

Allyson Yoder, University High School, Tucson

Jonathan Zia, Millennium High School, Goodyear

Amanda Martinez intends to use her Flinn Scholarship to double major in global studies and economics at ASU. “I am considering pursuing my economics major through the W.P. Carey School of Business because it is ranked as one of the top business schools in the country. Also, I chose ASU because I love the close-knit feel of the Barrett Honors College,” she said.

“It is an honor to receive such a prestigious scholarship. I look forward to all of the incredible opportunities offered through the Flinn program,” she added.

Mark Jacobs, dean of Barrett, The Honors College at ASU said Flinn Scholarship recipients are the highest caliber students in Arizona. “The Flinn Scholars are the most qualified and sought after students. We are very fortunate to have them stay in their home state to contribute their intelligence and energy to the community and become leaders,” he said.

More than 550 high school seniors from throughout Arizona applied to be a member of the 27th annual class of Flinn Scholars. The Class of 2012 is only the second to have more than 20 students. Scholarship recipients were chosen from throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area as well as Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Oro Valley, and Yuma.

As a group, the scholars averaged 1470 out of 1600 on the verbal and math sections of the SAT and 32 out of 36 on the ACT. Fourteen students were semifinalists in the National Merit competition, a benchmark of the top high school students nationally.

Flinn Scholars were required to have a minimum 3.5 grade point average, rank in the top five percent of their graduating class, have a minimum score of 1300 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT, and have demonstrated leadership abilities. To maintain the scholarship, scholars must maintain a cumulative 3.2 grade point average and participate in campus or community activities.

“The depth of academic credentials and service to school and community among this year’s finalists were truly outstanding,” said Jack B. Jewett, president and CEO of the Flinn Foundation. “The selection committee recommended going beyond our traditional class of 20 to provide these exemplary students the opportunity to spend their undergraduate years at Arizona’s universities.”

The Flinn Scholars Program is among a handful of statewide or regional merit-based undergraduate scholarship programs run by private philanthropies. In addition to expenses covering study at an Arizona university, the scholarship package includes a three-week summer seminar abroad; at least one additional study and travel experience abroad or in the United States; mentorship by a university faculty member; invitations to cultural events and activities; and membership in an active and supportive community of more than 500 scholars and alumni.

The Flinn Scholars Program, begun in 1986, is operated by the Flinn Foundation Scholarship Program LLC and supported by the Flinn Foundation, a private, nonprofit, grant-making organization based in Phoenix.