Independent Newsmedia
A Deer Valley Unified School District student and a Glendale charter school student are among 20 Flinn Scholars representing 20 Arizona high schools.
Sandra Day O'Connor senior Maya Ysabella Bustos becomes Deer Valley Unified’s fourth consecutive Flinn Scholar from one of the district’s five high schools.
“Maya aims to use the award and her position as a Flinn scholar to inspire young girls of color and all youth to pursue their dreams, emphasizing that anything is possible with motivation and support,” a district spokesperson noted.
Eliut Gonzalez, a senior at Glenview College Preparatory High School, 4386 W. Bethany Home Road, in Glendale, was also named to the Class of 2025 Flinn Scholars.
The Flinn Scholarship — valued at more than $135,000 — covers tuition, fees, housing, and meals at one of Arizona’s public universities, and at least two study-abroad experiences including a two-week group summer seminar following freshman year. Each year, about 20 top Arizona high-school seniors are chosen to learn from faculty, business leaders, and civic innovators.
The 20 Flinn Scholars will be attending Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona this fall.
The Flinn Scholarship is supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation in partnership with Arizona’s three public universities.
The Foundation announced its first class of Flinn Scholars in 1986.
The Flinn Scholars Class of 2025 will be introduced formally on Saturday, May 3 at the program’s annual Recognition Luncheon.
There were more than 1,100 applications for the 2025 Flinn Scholarship, an award rate of about 2%.
Computer science, engineering, biological and physical science, social sciences and law, business, education, visual and performing arts, and data science and public policy are some of the fields of study the 2025 Scholars plan to pursue.
The Flinn Scholarship application requires academic transcripts, minimum standardized test scores, essays and short-answer questions, and recommendations. Flinn Scholars are typically in the top 5% of their graduating class and demonstrate leadership and service in extracurricular activities.