SCOTTSDALE, AZ (June 14, 2023) – A total of 25 Arizona residents earned the Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by the Fiesta Bowl and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for the 2023-24 school year to accelerate achieving their educational dreams.
The Fiesta Bowl Organization and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona have partnered to present the Empowering Diversity Scholarship for four years as part of their commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion and to propel members from underrepresented communities in Arizona as they pursue their educational goals.
This year, a total of $92,500 in financial awards was granted to 25 individuals – 15 through the postsecondary track and 10 to those who complete their GED (general education development) credential. The $92,500 brings the Empowering Diversity Scholarship total to $351,500 serving 91 Arizona minority students over the last four years.
"We are grateful to partner with Fiesta Bowl on this scholarship for the fourth consecutive year, said Pam Kehaly, President & CEO at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. "We are working to enhance diversity across the state and giving students the opportunity to reach their educational goals. Lifting up students from underrepresented communities is consistent with our core values and we are so proud to be a part of this."
The Empowering Diversity Scholarship awarded 15 postsecondary students with $5,500 each to help fund their educational pursuits with additional support services provided by Be A Leader Foundation and Education Forward Arizona. In addition, 10 GED recipients each received $1,000 to cover fees associated with the GED assessment and additional program support services provided by College Depot.
All 15 postsecondary recipients will be or are currently attending one of the state's public four-year institutions: 10 at Arizona State University, four attending the University of Arizona and one at Northern Arizona University. The 25 Empowering Diversity Scholarship awardees are from Maricopa, Yuma and Gila counties.
"We are thrilled to present the Empowering Diversity Scholarship to 25 deserving Arizona residents, many of whom would not be able to complete their educational journeys without it," said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "Along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, we're making an impact by assisting students from underrepresented populations pursue their aspirations through the power of higher education. This is a critical program that makes the Empowering Diversity Scholarship a worthy investment in the futures of these Arizonans."
According to the
Arizona Board of Regents, enrollment of historically underrepresented populations saw a 3.2 percent increase in the fall of 2022 from the previous fall. The continuous enrollment growth at Arizona's three public universities is up 24.5 percent from fall 2018. The goal of the Empowering Diversity Scholarship is to continue to help this upward trend in higher education.
The GED track was created to support diverse Arizona students interested in earning their GED. The scholarship covers fees associated with the GED assessment and additional program support services provided by College Depot. The post-secondary track was open to Arizona minority students in their senior year of high school or currently attending an Arizona post-secondary institution.
The 2023 Empowering Diversity Scholarship winners are listed below with biographies and quotes.
POSTSECONDARY
Autria Ashtiani | Arizona State University | Biomedical Sciences
Ashtiani enjoys working out, reading mystery novels, traveling and playing the drums. Ashtiani aims to be involved in the community to make connections and learn. She has been involved with the nonprofit organization Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research for four years and has grown from it. She is excited to see where the next four years takes her.
"This scholarship will give me the opportunity to not have to worry about how I am going to pay my school expenses and can fully focus on my studies. This scholarship will allow me to explore more extracurricular activities in college, since I have been granted the opportunity of more time. I can now fully emerge myself into my passion and take further steps to ensure I will get into my dream medical school. With the challenging courses ahead of me I am so grateful that I have been given this opportunity."
Rhea Burjanroppa | Arizona State University | Biological Sciences
Burjanroppa was born in Minnesota and moved to Pune (India) when she was nine-years old, until moving to Arizona before her senior year of high school. She was part of the IB program that allowed her to further develop her interests by writing a research paper inspired by her struggles growing up in a multilingual household and how bilingualism impacts children's cognitive development. She also wrote and self-published her own novel that explored Greek mythology. She has volunteered around the world at Project Cure, Feed My Starving Children, Sassoon Hospital, Mahila Mandali (a school for underprivileged girls) in Bangalore and Anderson Elementary School.
"The Empowering Diversity Scholarship will have a positive impact on my education. The scholarship will allow me to focus more on my educational journey and help me save money for attending Medical School. I am thankful for the assistance that this scholarship will provide and hope that one day I can also aid others towards funding their educational opportunities. This scholarship has helped me to believe that I am capable of achieving more than I believe."
Ariana Delgadillo | University of Arizona | Nursing
Delgadillo was born and raised in South Phoenix where every day was its own adventure. She has dedicated her life to her education since it is what her parents instilled in her. While she is devoted to her education, she is also devoted to her family. She constantly sees herself helping around her household and playing with her sisters. Her long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner or a doctor. She wants to create a career for herself in medicine and hopefully open her own clinic in Arizona.
"Education was always on the forefront of my mind and of my parents. If there is one thing they gave me, it was the gift of education. Although they could never give me the money to pursue an education, they always pushed me. This scholarship will help push me further. Just as my parents believed in me, others think I am capable of creating something huge. The Empowering Diversity Scholarship is a huge reminder that it can be done, and it will be done."
Kodi Emerson | University of Arizona | Medicine
Emerson is originally from a rural town, Gallup, in the northwest corner of New Mexico with little resources to offer its residents, who are mainly Native Americans. The youngest of five children with a single mother, he moved to Mesa when he was six-years old. Emerson comes from a family of nurses so he was drawn to become a physician on the Navajo Nation in emergency medicine and trauma surgery. He recently graduated from Red Mountain High School and the East Valley Institute of Technology EMT program. He was one of five students selected from a national pool of applicants for the Accelerated Pathway to Medical Education program at the UA College of Medicine.
"The Empowering Diversity Scholarship will provide the funding and support I need as a first-generation student. I am the first person in my family who will live on campus after high school. The additional support services provided by this scholarship are like no other. I will have access to additional resources from Arizona organizations like Be a Leader Foundation and Education Forward Arizona to guide me through the new environment of a university. That is what makes Empowering Diversity different from other scholarships."
Gabriel Garcia | Arizona State University | Marketing (Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications)
Born and raised in Arizona, Garcia's strong family values and desire to help others has fueled his passion for community involvement and his goal of becoming an insurance agent. His educational journey at ASU has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of digital and integrated marketing communications. He envisions utilizing his marketing expertise and innate passion for helping families to make a positive impact as an insurance agent, ensuring that families have the necessary coverage to protect what matters most to them.
"Receiving the Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona and Fiesta Bowl will have a profound impact on my educational journey. I am finishing my last year of college, alongside my twin brother. Receiving this award has led to a reduced financial burden for my family. It will allow for more focus of studies, aid in accomplishing my goals and support in finishing my school off strong to obtain my business marketing degree. I am beyond thankful for this blessing and for the positive reinforcement it has brought in my life."
Gunner Garcia | Arizona State University | Marketing (Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications)
Garcia is entering his senior year at Arizona State University as an active member of the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. He has frequent involvement in developing future business leaders and hosting community service events. He aspires to own a reputable business alongside his twin brother and has a passion to create opportunities for others within the community. Garcia's goal is to positively impact people by allocating portions of profits towards programs that assist others financially, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their own goals.
"I am grateful for the opportunity that is set before me, and I am eager to make the most of this scholarship. Receiving the Empowering Diversity Scholarship will have a profound impact on my educational journey, allowing me to continue my studies. More notably it will help foster new relationships, diverse experiences and provide more opportunities for me to pay it forward."
Marisol Larios | Northern Arizona University | Parks and Recreation Management with an Emphasis in Park Protection
Larios played competitive soccer on both her high school and club teams, while also participating in her high school Theatre Tech club, where she worked on play sets and scenery. She was also the head costume designer where she created the designs that were being used in the school plays. Her desire to be a forest ranger was forged early in life when her parents introduced national forests to her as a child. Her long-term goals after graduation are to help keep our Earth's forests and wildlife environment safe through public education.
"I have always dreamt of going to college and becoming a Forest Ranger. I will be the first in my family to go to college and graduate. Receiving the Empowering Diversity Scholarship will have a great impact on my educational journey by allowing me to pay for some of the costs that are associated with going to college. That will allow me to focus more on my studies and have less stress about the financial aspect of college."
Jasmin Menjivar | Arizona State University | Biology (MS)
Menjivar was the first in her family to attain a bachelor's degree when she graduated with a B.S. in biomedical sciences and a minor in chemistry. As a proud first-generation Latina, she is set to earn her master's in biology. Menjivar's long-term goal is to become a biomedical researcher focusing on women's health. Her resilience and perseverance to continue her education originate from a long line of hardships. She is grateful to her parents and family who have given her the motivation to continue to strive for new opportunities that will help pave a different path for her three sisters and herself.
"My goal in achieving a master's in biology is to gain the skills necessary to positively impact the community. My educational journey has been filled with many hardships and obstacles. With this scholarship, I plan on gaining as much knowledge and hands-on experience in the laboratory as I can. It has given me the motivation to continue the path of higher education, and I want to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to continue on this path to higher education. My end goal is to become an OB/GYN with a great focus on research and community."
Abhijay Murugesan | University of Arizona | Medicine
Murugesan is a first-generation American born and raised in Yuma. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona's Zuckerman College of Public Health and Eller College of Management. He has worked at a variety of organizations including the University of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the National Institutes of Health. Murugesan served as Chief of Emergency Medical Services for two years, managing a team of 50+ licensed Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. For his clinical work and public service, he was given a Heroism Award from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, Special Congressional Recognition from then-U.S. Senator Martha McSally and was selected as the 2020 EMS Provider of the Year by the National Collegiate EMS Foundation. He has also co-authored original research that was published in the peer-reviewed journal Prehospital Emergency Care and presented at the National Association of EMS Physicians.
"The cost of gaining admission to and completing a medical education is staggering. The average medical school graduate owes over $250,000 in total student loan debt. The Empowering Diversity Scholarship will help reduce my debt burden as I study for an M.D. and pursue a career in public service. In addition to the direct financial support, this scholarship is meaningful since it validates my hard work and career goals. The Empowering Diversity Scholarship serves as reassurance that I am on the right path, and that my knowledge, skills, and experiences are desired and valued by Arizonans."
Cassandra Perez | University of Arizona | Indigenous Peoples Public Law and Policy
Perez comes from the San Carlos Apache Reservation from the Gilson Wash District and graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's in law and an undergraduate certificate in tribal courts and justice administration. She will attend the University of Arizona James E Rogers College of Law, to pursue a master's degree in Indigenous Peoples Public Law and Policy. She wants tribal communities to know that Indigenous people can reach their education, vocational and personal goals. In maintaining partnerships and collaborations within Indigenous nations, she wants to support Indigenous students in their academic and professional achievements, with the goal of creating scholarship opportunities for Indigenous youth to afford and attend law school.
"I am very grateful to be given this opportunity as a recipient of the Empowering Diversity Scholarship. This scholarship will help me to pursue my educational journey to become the first Indigenous lawyer in my family and to become a resource for Indigenous youth and adults to promote the pursuit of higher education. As a recipient of this scholarship, I want to give back to the Indigenous communities, to further support Indigenous students in their academic and personal achievements like my family has always supported me. Ahíyi'é! Thank you!"
Katie Ritchie | Arizona State University | Public Service and Public Policy
Ritchie served as the Education Workgroup Chair on the Arizona Governor's Youth Commission where she worked to mitigate the barriers many high schoolers face and give equal access to all students. By promoting alternative options to postsecondary education and FAFSA resources, she ensured high school students can make well informed decisions following graduation. She served as a Student Advisor to former Arizona State Superintendent, Kathy Hoffman, where she advocated for increased teacher resources at Arizona's State Board Education. Ritchie plans to serve as a Student Regent on the Arizona Board of Regents and continue shaping equitable policies, transforming communities and uplifting voices. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Education Policy with the hope of running an education foundation.
"This scholarship will allow me to graduate from college debt-free and achieve my academic goals through the support of Arizona Education Forward. This fall I will be studying public service and public policy with a concentration in nonprofit management and leadership. I will also be part of ASU's Leadership Scholarship Program and the Next Generation Service Corps. The skills and community that I will gain through this scholarship will allow me to reinstate integrity in Arizona's education system."
Jonathan Rodriguez | Arizona State University | Computer Information Systems
Rodriguez, a proud Hispanic college student, is deeply committed to leveraging technology to foster inclusivity and bridge the digital divide. With five years of professional experience in customer service, technical support and financial aid administration, Rodriguez is pursuing a computer information systems degree. His commitment to community service has seen roles as a STEM and leadership events volunteer, assistive technology designer and scholarship information presenter. He has serves leadership experience by serving as a shift supervisor at KFC and managing tech projects as an IT intern at Bioscience High School.
"Receiving this scholarship will significantly enhance my academic journey in three ways: it will lessen my financial burden, free up time for enriching experiences and provide valuable guidance from the Be A Leader Foundation and Education Forward Arizona. Primarily, this scholarship will help me concentrate on my studies rather than worry about the costs. The financial support will also allow me to curtail work hours and dedicate that time to immerse myself in ASU's vibrant academic and cultural environment, broadening my perspective and enhancing my education."
Jason Rubio Ruiz | Arizona State University | Data Science
Rubio Ruiz hopes to one day make a difference in the tech industry. His parents are both from Durango, Mexico, and taught him and his two brothers that the one thing that cannot be taken away is knowledge. Growing up with this saying made him more passionate about his studies. After college, Rubio Ruiz wants to build a career in the tech industry working with computers and software.
"This scholarship will help me complete all my courses with less stress than if I had to pay for college. It will provide me with financial support and resources that will help me get through the hard times. With this scholarship I'll have a wider range of opportunities that will help me progress in my career and give me more motivation to participate in extracurricular activities, internships, conferences and research projects."
Eden Sapien | Arizona State University | Business Marketing
Sapien has lived in Arizona her entire life. Community service has always been a big part of her life from here time as a young Girl Scout. She plans to continue giving back to her community as she grows. Marketing has recently become a passion of hers and she hopes to work for a major fashion company. With many fashion brands and retailers marketing to certain demographics, it is her goal to ensure all people feel included, especially young girls navigating today's social media-driven climate. She also plans to study real estate to help support her dreams.
"This scholarship will help me close the financial gap and take on less in student loans to help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have worked two jobs during my last two years of high school to save up for college, but with the costs of rising tuition and housing my part-time job earnings won't be enough. College has started to bring a lot of large finances that I have never encountered before, and I plan to leave college completely debt free with the help of this scholarship."
Madeline Yang | Arizona State University | Political Science
Growing up at a performing arts school cultivated Yang's love for music as well as her thirst for learning and relationship building. During the pandemic, Yang learned that she is deeply connected to the roots of her heritage in America. She seeks platforms to make a change, share her culture and speak up when she sees injustice. She intends to become a Foreign Service Officer for the US Department of State. Yang has grown to love making a meaningful impact and is anticipating having unique opportunities to develop new skills, learn new cultures and gain exposure to the world.
"This scholarship will remove some of the financial stress and concern I had attending school. I will be able to go into my first year with full focus on my classes, engage in research and explore my interests rather than trying to find a job to start chipping away at tuition. In addition, adding the scholarship award to my resume may open opportunities for internships or positions down the road. Finally, being awarded this scholarship has given me the confidence and motivation to excel even further and to seize every opportunity possible!"
GED
Ana Baca
A loving and caring person, Baca enjoys learning new things. She loves to experience new adventures with her family. Her goals are to enter the teaching or medical field. She would love to help people who don't speak English and need to communicate with their doctors. Her parents struggled to speak English without an interpreter to help them, so she would be the one translating for them. She would like to be an administrator or parent aid because many parents are in need of resources such as English classes or learning to read or write.
"This scholarship will have an impact on my educational journey by getting me a step closer to continuing my education. Once I have obtained my GED I will continue my education by enrolling into college to obtain my degree as a teacher aid or administrator. This scholarship has motivated me to continue my education and has shown me that it is never too late to continue with your education. It has also taught me to never give up. This scholarship will have a great impact on me but most importantly it will have a huge impact on my family."
Lisa Bailey
Bailey is a single mother who has overcome homelessness and abusive relationships to pursue her education. Along with becoming more comfortable in life, she is determined to complete her education in order to start a career. Her long-term goals are to finish getting her GED and attend college, with the goal of becoming a social worker because she wants to help families. Bailey wants to further learn about being a social worker and how a social worker can help people in need.
"Having this scholarship will be able to help me achieve my educational goals that I need to succeed in my chosen career. It will change my life and how I live day to day. I will be able to look at myself and know that I have a career I have always wanted. I'll be able to afford the things that I could not afford before. I'll be able to have stability and let my children and grandson see that I did it for myself and for them."
Joanna Benitez
Benitez is originally from California and moved to Arizona at the age of 10. She faced obstacles as a child, but never gave up and is currently attending school to achieve her GED. She loves the outdoors and hiking the beautiful nature in Arizona. She also loves cycling, coffee and reading. Benitez's long-term goal is to graduate from college with a bachelor's degree in science, complete the registered nurse program at Arizona State University, then get her master's and start working in a related field.
"As a little girl I had a hard life. I am from California was brought here by my parents to start a new chapter in our life. I am the third of seven children and I was the one helping my mom take care of my siblings as we went through domestic violence. That made it hard for me to attend school, but I never gave up on my dreams. I came across this wonderful scholarship that gives people like me a chance in life and a new opportunity to be able to graduate from a GED program. Thank you for the opportunity."
Ryan Bosler
Bosler is a survivor of multiple types of childhood abuse, addiction, mental illness and self-doubt. He has a seizure condition that, living in a desert, makes day-to-day travel difficult and potentially dangerous. Bosler hopes to ultimately find a lifestyle that allows him to be happy while also helping to make the world a better and safer place. He strives for a job in medicine and/or engineering that will allow him to help people and also provide him with financial security to develop and contribute to a charity of his own design.
"For the first time in years I'm going to have my own, fully functional computer. That alone is going to have a huge impact on my ability to pursue my current and future educational goals. The funds that this scholarship provides will also make it possible for me to get school supplies that I badly need. For the first time in years, I'll be able to pick a backpack that I want instead of going from place to place hoping to find a donation, only to still need one years later."
Taelynn Depriest
Depriest has had self-doubt since undergoing heart surgery and the perceived restrictions as a result. Earning the Empowering Diversity Scholarship has changed that and given her confidence to achieve in life. One day she believes that she'll make a huge impact through dancing and expressing herself on stage. Depriest's long-term goals after getting her GED are to train to become a dance teacher. Her recovery from heart surgery has taken a lot of energy, making it difficult for her to do traditional schooling. Pursuing her GED has made her recovery much easier.
"This scholarship will provide the proper materials and support I need to successfully take the GED tests. It also removes the financial barriers and will allow me to study as much as I need because I no longer need to wonder if I can afford the practice tests. This scholarship has given me a confidence boost that I am able to do the hard things, and that I am capable of so much more as long as I stop doubting myself."
Yashar Khani
Khani's passion for learning and exploring includes cooking, 3D printing, mountain biking, fishing and boating. Obstacles blocked his education at a younger age, but his goal is to accomplish and finish his GED before moving forward into higher education. He's interested in pursuing business and communications degrees to complement his career pursuits. As a father to three young boys, he would like to be a good example to them.
"I very much enjoyed school when I was younger, but life circumstances derailed my journey quite a bit. Now that my life is in order, I'd like to attend ASU and pursue either a business major or a communications major. When I was in high school, there was a program called DECA that changed my life forever. My teacher, Dr. Wilhelm, was one of the most inspiring humans I have met still to this day! The way he broke down business with wise advice, such as work yourself smart enough to be happy, I'd love nothing more than to fulfill a small token of appreciation to him and also the DECA Foundation for empowering young businessmen and women."
Kayla Madrid
Madrid has four children, her inspiration to grow and set examples for them. Currently employed by Bank of America, she aspires to continue to elevate her career and to move into human resources. She wants to obtain a master's in business or human resources, with the first step earning her GED, then taking her prerequisites and transferring to an accredited university.
"This scholarship will help me step back into school and help me get my GED and continue my education. It will be life-changing because I realized that without education, you can't really get far in life. I've been stuck for too long. Education does make a difference whether it's for a career change or seeking a new career. I have so many plans and this is just the beginning. I met a person who started her career in architecture at 45 years old. She told me that it is never too late to go back to school."
Edwardo Sanchez
Sanchez is an outgoing and focused individual with ambitious goals. Even with the biggest adversities presented, he keeps on going and pushing through. With a mother of six who has had to raise her kids all alone, he's struggled since he was a child. At times conditions weren't the best, and after her passing in 2020, he's had to start being an adult at the age of 16. The quote, "The further you go, the further you see" by Ryan Blaire shows him as long as he keeps pushing, he will get there. Getting his GED will help him pursue a future career in Law Enforcement and this scholarship will help propel him towards continuing his education and acquiring a degree in either Psychology, Business, or Law Enforcement.
"I am really grateful for this opportunity. First, I want to thank my really talented and successful cousin, Elizabeth Vazquez. She currently runs ASU local here in Yuma and she sent me the link to apply. I am very thankful to the Arizona Community Foundation for providing this extra help towards acquiring my GED. Getting my GED is not only a certificate, it's a goal that I've had and something that I know makes my mom proud even though she's not physically present. I still know she would have been immensely proud."
Also receiving the Empowering Diversity Scholarship GED Track: Gabriela Hernandez, Randy Michael Moore
