This spring, 20 Arizona high school seniors were awarded the Flinn Scholarship, valued at more than $135,000, which covers tuition, housing, and meals for four years at any Arizona public university, plus two study abroad experiences. I still can’t believe it, but I am one of these students. I am a 2025 Flinn Scholar!
I plan to use the scholarship to double major in computer science and physics at the University of Arizona and study abroad in Finland and Japan. Ultimately, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in computational physics and spend my career developing quantum technology.
In its 40th year, the Flinn Scholarship is Arizona’s most competitive merit-based college scholarship. More than 1,100 students applied last fall for the 20 Flinn Scholarships awarded in 2025—an acceptance rate of 1.8%.
Many Flinn Scholars decline admission to Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and other top-ranked universities and opt to accept the scholarship and remain in state. The scholarship is administered by the Flinn Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.
“Flinn Scholars come from cities and towns, urban and rural environments, high schools large and small, and yet they all share this passion to not only succeed academically, but to pursue fields of study that will best enable them to contribute to the future success of Arizona,” said Dr. Tammy McLeod, President and CEO of the Flinn Foundation.
Looking back, five habits I developed in elementary and middle school helped me prepare a compelling Flinn Scholarship application: Get Involved and Stay Involved; Learn All Summer Long; Follow Local, State, National, and World News; Network, Network, Network, and Embrace Curiosity.
Get Involved and Stay Involved
During elementary, middle, and high school, I chose extracurricular activities that were meaningful to me and I stuck with them. One of the very first programs that I got involved with was Bear Essential News. I have been a student reporter for 10 years; I joined in 2nd grade. Bear Essential News helped me hone my writing skills and taught me that I can raise awareness about issues that are important to me. Now, I am an international-award-winning essayist and playwright. The early training in journalism provided by Bear Essential News is the foundation of my writing success. I have also participated in programs that support community mental health, mountain lion protection, voter registration, literacy, and STEM outreach.
Learn All Summer Long
For as long as I can remember, I participated in summer enrichment programs. In elementary and middle school, I attended free camps offered by the Pima County Library and other local organizations. During high school, I sought out summer programs sponsored by universities, and I had many incredible learning adventures. I piloted a $75,000 Boston Dynamics robotic dog at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I met Nobel Prize laureate Paul Milgrom through a summer program at Stanford University. I received intensive training in quantum computing and experimental physics at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. I found these programs through Google searches, and all of them were 100% free.
Follow Local, State, National, and World News
Television news is a near-constant part of the background ambiance in my home. I also spend a lot of time reading news on my phone. Staying informed broadens my perspective, alerts me to emerging technology, and helps me understand developments impacting my community, Arizona, and the world.
Network, Network, Network
I keep in touch with mentors and other high-achieving students. My contacts are an amazing resource. In 11th grade, I interned at the University of Arizona Center for Quantum Networks. A physicist I met at the University of Waterloo told me about this position and introduced me to the Tucson Testbed Manager. Also, the accomplishments of other students inspire me. A mega genius high school student I met through a physics program gave an address about quantum technology at the United Nations. That really impressed me and prompted me to publish an article about quantum computing to do my part to raise public awareness.
Embrace Curiosity
Growing up, I learned everything that I could about topics that sparked my curiosity. I taught myself Java in 3rd grade so that I could code my own Minecraft apps. In high school, I studied Japanese because the English translation of an anime series I love included obvious errors and I wanted to find out what was actually being said. I have been told that curiosity is my superpower.
This was my path to a Flinn Scholarship, but there are probably as many paths as there are Flinn Scholars. Traits that all Flinn Scholars share are a commitment to academic excellence and making a positive impact in their communities. Learn more at www.flinn.org/flinn-scholars/.
