Two of the top high school students in the state are headed to NAU with the support of the prestigious Flinn Scholarship.<\/p>\n
Emily Delabarra<\/strong>, a senior at Gilbert High School, and Kaya Dickson<\/strong>, a senior at Page High School, are among the 20 Arizona high school seniors selected for the merit-based Flinn Scholarship, which has an acceptance rate of 1.8 percent; the scholarship is valued at more than $130,000. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition, fees, housing, meals and at least two study-abroad experiences. Delabarra and Dickson also will be members of the Honors College and will join the four Flinn Scholars already studying at NAU.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing selected as a Flinn Scholar is a testament to these students\u2019 achievements both in and out of the classroom and their goals for the future, which NAU is proud to be a part of,\u201d said President Jos\u00e9 Luis Cruz Rivera<\/strong>. \u201cI am excited to welcome Emily and Kaya to the Lumberjack family, and we are eager to have them contribute to and benefit from the academic excellence of NAU and our Honors community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis new class of Flinn Scholars persevered through a pandemic and excelled in the classroom and as athletes, volunteers, musicians and school leaders during an incredibly challenging time,\u201d said Anne Lassen, Flinn Foundation vice president for scholarship and education initiatives. \u201cThe foundation is excited for what lies ahead for this new class of Flinn Scholars as they begin their undergraduate journeys intent on improving our state and world.\u201d<\/p>\n Delabarra chose NAU because it offered her a chance for independence while still being close enough to family to go home for weekends. She also appreciated the close-knit community at NAU, particularly in the Honors College. She hasn\u2019t picked a major yet, but she said she\u2019s leaning toward social work\u2014though she has some other tasty interests as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI own a small baking business<\/a> already, so I think I might double major in business or entrepreneurship alongside social work to one day open up my own storefront,\u201d she said. \u201cBut at the end of the day I am pretty much interested in anything\u2019s being everything for my college career!\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s excited for the opportunities available through the Flinn Scholarship\u2014in addition to paying tuition, room and board, Flinn offers mentoring and partnership opportunities and study abroad experiences, which is at the top of Delabarra\u2019s list. Gaining a global perspective is key in making a positive change in the world, and no matter her career direction, that\u2019s exactly what she wants to do.<\/p>\n Dickson is planning to major in music education and music performance; it was the music program, in fact, that attracted her to NAU, alongside the forest scenery. Throughout her senior year, she met many faculty members, who were fun and supportive and gave her confidence in the quality of education, mentoring and opportunities she would receive.<\/p>\n One of those opportunities is the travel the Flinn Scholarship offers; she wants to broaden her knowledge in other musical techniques, styles of learning and composition to prepare her to open a studio after college.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to work with talented and experienced professors while being able to do what I love,\u201d Dickson said. \u201cI\u2019m inspired to gather all the knowledge I can and return to my hometown and ultimately transform the current music department\u2014advancing the needs of students to make the program thrive. The Flinn Scholarship is just the beginning of my journey in achieving my goals and plans.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Flinn Scholars at NAU are:<\/p>\n \u201cNAU is proud to have a record cohort this year,\u201d said Honors College Dean Kevin Gustafson<\/strong>. \u201cThe increased number of Flinn Scholars on the Flagstaff Mountain campus is a testament to the growing reputation of NAU and the Honors College for offering a truly exceptional and personalized educational experience.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0Flinn Scholarship<\/a>\u00a0enables recipients to complete their undergraduate degrees without debt. Other benefits include:<\/p>\nGetting to know the new Flinn Scholars<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Flinn Scholarship benefits<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n