Flinn Scholars lay foundation for engineering careers
Two Flinn Scholars – one a first-generation college student; the other the son of engineering parents – are tapping into the college’s like-minded community.
The night sky in San Luis keeps aerospace within reach for Flinn Scholar Mae Gomez (right), while fellow scholarship recipient Arnav Modem (left) heads toward neurosurgery by way of biomedical engineering.
Two of the 12 2026 Flinn Scholars – some of the state's highest-achieving high school seniors – chose the U of A College of Engineering. The first-year students began in the fall on prestigious full-ride scholarships, valued at more than $135,000, covering tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meals and study abroad.
“The Flinn Scholarship took such a heavy weight off my shoulders. I feel like I can focus on my academics and pursuing what I love,” said Mae Gomez, also a W.A. Franke Honors College student. “I remember putting in a lot of effort in high school, and coming from a first-generation background, college always seemed really intimidating.”
Stargazing to aerospace, and beyond
Gomez, who is studying aerospace and mechanical engineering and astronomy, is the first person from her hometown, San Luis, to receive the scholarship.
“I was just seeing the stars every night, seeing all the constellations,” said Gomez of the small border town void of light pollution where she has lived her entire life. “I also used to see a lot of aircraft pass by.”
No wonder propulsion and sustainable fuels and technologies are among her research interests.
“The welcoming community has really opened my eyes,” she said. “It’s not just the financial aid, but also having so many people I can reach out to and so many people I can share my dreams with.”
Flinn Scholars will travel together to Finland next year. They are funded for individual international experiences as well. Gomez is considering Italy and Greece.
Neuroscience to biomedicine, and back again
Arnav Modem, a biomedical engineering student from Gilbert – whose parents are engineers and who has found joy in building things for as long as he can remember – discovered biomedicine during an academic decathlon in high school.
“I saw all these devices that help people with neurological conditions,” he said, “and I thought, ‘This is something I want to do.’”
Modem plans to carry on with medical device research in the BIO5 Institute, ultimately combining engineering and medicine for a career in neurosurgery. Prospects for studying in Tokyo and Munich are also on the horizon.
“Before I got this scholarship, study abroad wasn’t even something I considered,” he said.
Flinn Scholars come into engineering with some strong ideas about where they are headed. In the college, they make the connections and gain the knowledge to help them achieve their dreams, said Kelly Simmons-Potter, associate dean of academic affairs.
