The Flinn Scholars Program

One of the important advantages that Arizona's universities offer is the opportunity for students to conduct research as undergraduates--or even earlier. In this narrative, Laura Moedano, a first-year Flinn Scholar from Yuma, describes her participation this summer in the University of Arizona's KEYS Research Internships, a program she learned about while visiting UA in February as a finalist for the Flinn Scholarship.

Undeterred by an airline union strike, a still-smoldering Icelandic volcano, or an unusually rainy first week, the 17 members of the Flinn Scholars class of 2009 enjoyed a successful three-week seminar together in the Central European nations of Hungary and Romania.

Twenty of Arizona's most accomplished high-school seniors have been announced as recipients of the Flinn Scholarship, one of the most competitive and prestigious undergraduate awards in the nation. The students, who constitute the 25th class of Flinn Scholars, will attend one of Arizona's three public universities with a truly comprehensive package of support that includes tuition, room and board, personal mentorship by top faculty, and funding for international study and research. The Scholarship is worth more than $54,000--on top of the value of tuition.

The community of Flinn Scholar alumni will exceed 380 as of Sunday evening, when 16 graduates will be honored at the Flinn Scholars Program's annual Recognition Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix. The Recognition Dinner, where graduates will be joined by the newest class of Scholars, family members, university officials, and community leaders, will also begin a year-long celebration of the Scholars Program's 25th Anniversary. The first Flinn Scholars were selected in 1986.

What should he do--stay in Arizona as a Flinn Scholar or go to Stanford University? Ben Strauber had a dilemma as a senior in high school, but he doesn't today. Last month, the 2005 Flinn Scholar received an offer from Stanford for full funding of a doctoral program. He has just one thing to do first: journey to England as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.

Travel reports and a talent show, hiking and stargazing, workshops and catching up with good friends: the 2009 Flinn Scholars retreat, held at Lost Canyon in northern Arizona, offered all of these and more in an energizing inauguration of the new school year.