2 MHS students named Flinn Scholarship finalists

Two Maricopa High School students are finalists for Flinn Scholarships, which would give them full rides to an Arizona public university.

Filimon Kednmarey and Timothy Russoniello were nominated from more than 1,000 Arizona high school seniors who applied for the prestigious scholarship. As finalists, they’re in the top 3.6% of those nominated.

Tracey Lopeman, Maricopa Unified School District superintendent, praised her district’s two scholarship nominees.

“Filimon Kednmarey and Timothy Russoniello’s advancement to the final round of the Flinn Scholarship is a testament to academic excellence,” Lopeman said. “I commend their hard work, as well as the support of the exceptional teachers who have contributed to their success. They are all shining examples of the talent and potential that walk the halls of Maricopa High School.”

The 80 semifinalists announced in early January were interviewed virtually last week. Today, just three dozen Flinn Scholarship finalists remain, including the two hometown nominees.

The scholarship program’s selection committee will interview all finalists next month, with the Flinn Scholars Class of 2024 announced in April.

The finalists represent 30 traditional public, charter and private high schools from seven Arizona counties — Coconino, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yavapai.

The MHS finalists join nominees at five other high schools having two finalists each.

Others with finalists are Arizona College Prep High School in Chandler, Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson, Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and University High School in Tucson.

The 39th class of Flinn Scholars will receive funding for tuition, housing, meals and study abroad — a value of more than $130,000 — and attend Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University or the University of Arizona this fall.

“While we say there is not a blueprint for a Flinn Scholar, the selected finalists all impressed their interviewers, not only with their academic excellence in the classroom, but with their school leadership and dedication to improving their communities,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Foundation vice president of scholarship and education initiatives.

“We are excited to meet in person and get to know our finalists over the coming weeks as they visit Arizona’s universities and learn about all the opportunities available to them as students in the honors colleges.”