20 impressive Arizona kids earn full rides to college as Flinn Scholars

A college degree without student debt is in the bag for 20 Arizona students named Flinn Scholars.

The merit-based award provides a full ride to any of Arizona's three public universities, including tuition, housing and meals and study-abroad experiences.

That's about a $120,000 value.

The seniors represent 19 Arizona high schools. Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center-Estrella Mountain, an Avondale charter school, was the only high school with two Flinn Scholars this year. Those two students are the first Flinn Scholars from their school.

What it takes to be a Flinn Scholar

A Flinn Scholar typically has at least a 3.5 grade-point average, ranks in the top 5% of their class and earns a 1340 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT, as well as showcasing leadership in extracurricular activities.

The program is supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation and Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona.

Nearly 900 students applied for this year’s round of scholarships.

Here's a look at the Class of 2019 Flinn Scholars:

Phoenix winners

Caroline Hyland

Hyland is a senior from Xavier College Preparatory. She has helped bring clean water to students in Haiti, built a sustainable school garden in Nicaragua and taught algebra in Spanish to teenagers in Ecuador. She developed her voice and leadership skills through Mock Trial, while also fostering a passion for STEM, specifically biology and computer science.

Emma Mason

Mason, a senior from Mountain Pointe High School, has volunteered with Dignity Health and an Alzheimer’s research program. She is class valedictorian, participated in her school’s honor societies and served as varsity badminton captain.

East Valley winners

Liam Wilson

Wilson is a senior from Westwood High School in Mesa. He appreciates computer science and seeks to develop scalable systems to better utilize electronic health record data outside of research settings. He is an Academic Decathlete and specialty coffee enthusiast.

Katie Pascavis

Pascavis is a senior from Basha High School in Chandler. She has taught younger students as a 4-H junior leader and led community service efforts. She has shared her passion for STEM with younger students, working with the Science is Fun and Girl STEMpowerment organizations.

Jason Bautista Pejay

Bautista Pejay is a senior from Tempe High School. Inspired by his parents’ sacrifices and resolve, Jason made an early commitment to strive for excellence. Along with his academic achievements, he served as a youth ambassador in China and participated in his school’s Mariachi band. He aspires to be a leader who creates a better future for his community.

Jordan Harb

Harb, a senior from Mountain View High School in Mesa, has worked with young people to address problems. The social justice advocate has organized civil disobedience, statewide voter registration efforts and has drafted and helped to pass policy on the local and state level. He hopes to continue to empower youth as he begins his college career.

Anna Lee Iverson

Iverson is a senior from Chandler High School. Her dedication to soccer and student council has taught her life lessons about overcoming defeat. From volunteer nursing to voter registration, she hopes to make small but lasting positive impacts on those around her.

Amanda Abdelsamad

Abdelsamad, a senior from Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, is described as well-spoken, positive and kind, with an unmatched work ethic and drive. She credits that to her parents, who taught her at a young age that nothing in life is free. In addition to academic achievements, volunteer work, and speech and debate commitments, Amanda has also successfully managed a full-time job.

Nathaniel Ross

Ross, a senior from Mesa High School, is planning to pursue a career as a hematologist. He has always been interested in medicine and hopes to find a cure for Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. He is a tap dancer; taught himself the guitar, ukulele and banjo; and gained more than 400 community service hours during high school.

Amanda Schuerman

Schuerman is a senior from Gilbert Classical Academy High School. She has led community-related initiatives to promote youth empowerment and civic engagement, including a statewide leadership summit and Lobby Day. She serves as the Southwest Regional Director for March For Our Lives.

Scottsdale winner

Kyle Polen

Polen is a senior from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale. With a mission to build cultural bridges, he is president of his school’s International Club and has been on cultural exchanges in Morocco, Switzerland and Kenya. He plans to pursue a career in medicine, devoting a portion of his practice to underserved communities internationally.

West Valley winners

Andrea Ramirez

Ramirez is a senior from Glendale High School. Her eclectic interests range from theater production to forensics. She intends to pursue a career as a physician and study the causes of hereditary disease and research preventative measures for future generations.

Sarah Wilson

Wilson is a senior from Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center-Estrella Mountain in Avondale. She is a Special Olympics volunteer, secretary for the National Honor Society, and an Arizona Elk Society volunteer.

Joe Thomas

Thomas is a senior from Ironwood High School in Glendale. His love of history began with his uncles’ war stories and blossomed into a passion for all things economics and politics. He holds leadership positions in IB Club and DECA.

Cameron Decker

Decker, a senior from Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center-Estrella Mountain in Avondale, sees his journey in the National Future Farmers of America organization as a call to action. He plans to pursue a career serving the agricultural industry as an advocate, leader and educator.

Other state winners

Chandler Chang

Chang, a Maricopa High School senior, leads his school marching band and volunteers in school and city events. He was praised for being a role model and encouraging his peers to reach their potential.

Zoe Benson

Benson is a senior from Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson. She is a two-time winner of Tucson’s Festival of Books Young Author competition and founder/CEO of NOMOsting, an organic alternative to insecticide. She aspires to spread scientific literacy by continuing to publish her creative writing and essays on evolutionary biology.

Finlay Parsons

Parsons is a senior from Sonoran Science Academy in Tucson. He is a National AP Scholar, secretary for the National Honor Society and National Merit finalist. He enjoys math and physics and has participated on VEX and FIRST Robotics teams.

Griffin Sherwood

Sherwood is a senior from Basis Prescott. He is a National AP Scholar and the founder of Northern Arizona Yetis Roller Hockey, a competitive high-school hockey program for local players.

Kailee Savage

Savage is a senior from Canyon del Oro High School in Oro Valley. She has served as the treasure for HOSA-Future Health Professionals and was SkillsUSA 2017 masonry state champion. She plans to continue developing her masonry and metalwork skills while giving back to her community through projects such as Habitat for Humanity.

Reach the reporter at Ebony.Day@azcentral.com. Follow her on Twitter @EbonyDayAZ. 

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