Two Scottsdale students and a Paradise Valley student were among the 20 seniors who have been awarded the 2023 Flinn Scholarship, a merit-based award that provides a full ride to one of Arizona’s public universities.

The scholarship package includes the cost of tuition, fees, housing, meals and at least two study-abroad experiences. The scholarship is valued at more than $130,000, according to a press release.

This year’s local scholars are:

• Sam Benavidez, a Scottsdale resident who attends North Phoenix Preparatory Academy;

• Zack Okun, of Scottsdale, who attends Desert Mountain High School; and

• Paradise Valley’s Gia Saggar, who attends Paradise Valley High School.

Benavidez plans to study finance at Arizona State University next year.
He is a National Hispanic Merit Scholar; an Eagle Scout; a third-degree black belt and six-time world Taekwondo champion, from the American Taekwondo Association and National Martial Arts Alliance. He is a recipient of virtue, leadership, and school spirit awards; a recipient of the Hispanic Entrepreneur and Business Leader Award and a soccer team captain.

Okun plans to study manufacturing engineering at ASU next year.
He is the founder and executive director of STEMducate; president of the Scottsdale Unified School District Student Advisory Board; president of Desert Mountain Robotics; president of the Science National Honor Society; president of the Advanced Placement Student Association; student government treasurer and treasurer of the Desert Mountain Ambassadors. He is also a tech caregiver for CyberPatriot; CEO of Okun Enterprises; a third-degree black belt; a Coca-Cola Scholar; valedictorian; Distributive Education Clubs of America State Champion; an 18-Under-18 honoree from the Junior Achievement of Arizona and recipient of the Jenkins Youth Leadership Award.

Saggar plans to study psychology at the University of Arizona next year.
She is a co-founder of Mindful Buddiez; president of Rainbow Pack AZ; a gold-level dancer at the Latin ballroom; an intern at the Mayo Clinic and a research intern at Liquidia Technologies/UCLA. She is also a recipient of the Amazon Choice Award; a grant recipient of $10,000 from the National Society of High School Scholars Be More Fund and recipient of the Presidential Service Award.

More than 1,000 applications were received for the scholarships with an award rate of 1.9%.

To qualify, Flinn Scholars must excel in the classroom and typically rank in the top 5% of their graduating class. They must also demonstrate leadership in a variety of extracurricular activities both at school and in their communities.

“Our new class of Flinn Scholars represents the best of Arizona and is filled with our state’s future thinkers and leaders,” Tammy McLeod, Flinn Foundation president and CEO, said in a press release.

Beyond the full tuition, other benefits of the scholarship include:

• Funding for an international summer seminar after the scholar’s freshman year and at least one additional study-abroad experience; participation in a community of more than 700 current and alumni Flinn Scholars, including about 80 scholars studying at the three universities at any given time;

• Membership in a university honors college with amenities including small classes, access to researchers and guest lectures; personal mentorship from faculty and fellow scholars, as well as exposure to Arizona and global leaders in business, government, science and the arts; and

• Intellectual, cultural and social activities developed for Flinn Scholars by the Flinn Foundation and the universities.

Now in its 38th year, the scholarship is supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation in partnership with the three state universities. The Flinn Scholars represent public district and charter high schools.