Valley Vista Student Named Flinn Scholar Semifinalist

Fatem Kadhem from Valley Vista High School was named a Flinn Scholar Semifinalist.  The Flinn Scholarship is a prestigious program that awards applicants based on academic achievement, leadership and involvement, service to the community, ability to communicate, and personal qualities. 

Fatem is one of more than 80 high-achieving Arizona high-school seniors named as a semifinalist out of 1,045 applicants seeking the Flinn Scholarship.  

By being named Flinn Scholarship Semifinalist, Fatem will qualify for a specially designated scholarship from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona.

Fatem is quite accomplished and involved at Valley Vista.  She is in the top 1% of her class and has a 4.650 GPA.  She serves in many leadership roles including Key Club President, Book Club Co-founder and Treasurer, Science Olympiad Mentor and Member, Environmental Club President and Co-founder, and she is a member of the National Honor Society.  Fatem also was named a Commended student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program for her PSAT score.

“To come this far in our very competitive process is an honor earned by just 8% of applicants from around the state. These students impressed reviewers with their academic achievement, service, and leadership,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Foundation vice president, scholarship and education initiatives. 

Fatem will advance to the interview portion later this month with an opportunity to be named one of 40 Flinn Scholarship Finalists. Finalists will be interviewed again with a five-person selection committee at the Flinn Foundation. The Flinn Scholars Class of 2023 will be announced in April.

After graduation, Fatem plans to attend Arizona State University to major in Mechanical Engineering.

“Fatem Kadhem is an outstanding individual! She is kind, charismatic, has a wonderful sense of humor, and has the drive to succeed in anything she sets out to accomplish,” shared Valley Vista High School counselor, Larissa Scott. “If anyone deserves this opportunity, she is by far the best semifinalist out there.”

Now in its 38th year, the Flinn Scholarship is valued at more than $130,000 and includes funding for tuition, housing, meals, and study abroad. About 20 Arizona high-school seniors are selected each year and attend the honors colleges of the state’s three public universities.

The Flinn Foundation is a privately endowed, philanthropic grantmaking organization established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.

Update January 13, 2023

Fatem was named one of 39 Flinn Scholarship Finalists and will move on to the last stage of the competition with a chance to be named a Class of 2023 Flinn Scholar.  Interviews will take place in March with recipients announce in April.