Qian "Jason" Xu Ironwood Ridge High School.

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An Ironwood Ridge High School senior is his school's first Flinn Scholar.

Qian "Jason" Xu — and three other Tucson-area students — have received the prestigious award, which covers four years at one of Arizona's three state universities and provides opportunities to study abroad and receive academic mentoring.

Xu and his colleagues were honored at a recognition dinner in Phoenix on Saturday.

Every year since 1986, 20 Arizona high school graduates are named Flinn Scholars. Applicants are required to have a minimum 3.5 grade-point average, rank in the top 5 percent of their class, score a minimum of 1280 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT and demonstrate leadership abilities. To retain the scholarship as college students, they must maintain a 3.2 grade-point average and participate in campus or community life.

The Flinn Foundation identified this year's other Tucson-area Flinn Scholars as:

Alice Cai, Catalina Foothills High School

Matthew Hom, University High School

David Ware, Salpointe Catholic High School

As a group, the 20 scholars averaged scores of 1458 out of 1600 on the SAT and 32 out of 36 on the ACT test, said Brad Halvorsen, a spokesman for the Flinn Foundation. Six of the 20 students also are National Merit Scholars.

More than 500 Arizona students applied to become Flinn Scholars, Halvorsen said.