First Semester as a Flinn Scholar: Emma Langlais

Emma Langlais, 2024 Flinn Scholar studying Mathematics and Data Science

This fall, the College of Science welcomed 5 new Flinn Scholars. The Flinn Scholarship is awarded to a handful of Arizona’s top high-school seniors each year. Valued at $135,000, it covers tuition, fees, housing, meals and study abroad opportunities at one of Arizona’s three public universities. A highly competitive scholarship, students that are chosen are among the most sought after in Arizona. One such student just completed her first semester as a student here in the Department of Mathematics. 

Meet Emma Langlais from Ironwood Ridge High School. A Math and Data Science student minoring in Sociology, Emma says Math has always been her longest-held passion. It wasn’t until AP Statistics that she found a love for statistics as well. To Emma, being a Flinn Scholar is a huge honor that means being part of a family and a support system where everyone supports and cheers for each other. “It means that people believe in me, my aspirations, and my ability to do great things and make a difference in my community,” Emma says, “Not only has it relieved the financial burden of going to college, but it has also given me the reassurance I need in order to pursue my ambitious academic endeavors.” 

“Emma is an intellectual risk taker—it's fantastic working with a student who is willing to put forward creative ideas on the spot in class and present her ideas at the whiteboard or in a presentation,” shares Patrick Shipman, a professor in the Department of Mathematics, “She is excited about a broad range of mathematics and applications - as well as ethics in data science and the history of mathematics.  We are proud to have Emma as part of the UA Math team for the next few years!”

What made the University of Arizona’s Department of Mathematics stand out to you?

 “A major factor I had to consider when choosing between my top universities was each school’s math department. Only UofA would let me double major in Math and SDS, so that was a huge selling point for me. Also, I really liked how UA’s Math Department, and the university as a whole, puts a big focus on research and scientific inquiry.”

According to one university President, Flinn Scholars are “polymaths”, meaning people capable of contributions in multiple areas. (flinn.org/flinn-scholars/) Emma’s interests span across multiple fields. While majoring in Math and Data Science, she also added Sociology as a minor as she loves learning about social interactions and behavior, especially when researched quantitatively. 

How do you plan on using your degree? 

“Although my goals may change in the next few years, I currently plan on completing a PhD after graduating. Although I am not yet set on which field, my current interests are in applied math, statistics and data science, and computational sociology. I hope to find a future in academia where, on top of conducting research, I can empower others through education.”

Students like Emma are the goal of the Flinn Scholarship. According to the Flinn Foundation, “it’s about who you become and the impact you make.” The current generation of Flinn Scholars carve the path for future generations every day. 

What would you say to a student considering applying for a Flinn Scholarship?

“Be honest, passionate, and genuine. Don’t write the story you think the readers want to hear; write the truth, because that is what will resonate with them the most. It’s okay if you’re not completely set on your major. I applied as an engineering major and wrote an entire essay about engineering, despite considering other major options. However, what they could see was the passion and the love behind my essays — that I was an actual person and not just a collection of carefully crafted responses. Instead of starting the writing process with the question, ‘Who/what are they looking for?’ start by asking yourself, ‘Who am I, what do I stand for, why do I do the things I do, why do I want to pursue this goal/academic field, and what experiences have influenced me to be this way?’”

Learn more about this year’s College of Science Flinn Scholars HERE.