SCOTTSDALE, AZ (June 24, 2024) – Through a partnership between the Fiesta Bowl Organization and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, 28 Arizonans received financial support to further pursue their educational aspirations by earning an Empowering Diversity Scholarship.
This year's recipients bring the Empowering Diversity Scholarship's cumulative total reach to 119 Arizona minority residents receiving $447,000 in the first five years of the program. For the 2024-25 school year, $95,500 in financial awards and wraparound support was granted to 28 individuals – 15 in the post-secondary track and 13 in the GED track.
"We are proud to support these 28 outstanding scholarship recipients and help them reach their educational goals," said Pam Kehaly, President and Chief Executive Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. "Our partnership with the Fiesta Bowl enables us to reach more Arizona youth through programs and scholarships, empowering them and helping them grow. We're honored to stand by these students and continue our work in supporting the communities we serve across Arizona."
The Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by Fiesta Bowl and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona was created in 2020 as a way for both organizations to support the dreams of Arizona minorities in their educational journeys. Enhancing the commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion, this year's $95,500 was the largest single-year awarding since the creation of the scholarship.
"Learning about the career and life aspirations of this year's Empowering Diversity Scholarship recipients is inspiring," said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "It only further emphasizes the importance of this scholarship because for many of these recipients, those aspirations would not be attainable without it."
The Empowering Diversity Scholarship awarded 15 high school seniors and current college students with $5,500 each in scholarship funding and additional support services, provided by Be A Leader Foundation and Education Forward Arizona, through the post-secondary track. Additionally, 13 Arizonans will be on track to obtain their GED by receiving $1,000 towards fees associated with the GED assessment, purchasing books, laptops and/or education-related resources and additional program support services provided by College Depot.
Of the 15 post-secondary scholarship recipients, eight will be or are currently attending Arizona State University, with six at University of Arizona. One student is enrolled at Mohave Community College this fall. Through the Empowering Diversity Scholarship, these recipients have the support necessary to become the next business leaders, health professionals, lawyers and engineers.
The 28 total recipients account for four counties across Arizona: Maricopa, Yuma, Yavapai and Mohave.
Arizona is the
10th most diverse state in the U.S., with the Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by Fiesta Bowl and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona being a critical lever in helping historically underrepresented populations pursue higher education. Enrollment at Arizona's three public state institutions from these communities continues to rise, according to the
Arizona Board of Regents.
The 2024 Empowering Diversity Scholarship winners are listed below, alphabetically, with biographies and quotes. For more information on the Empowering Diversity Scholarship, please visit
FiestaBowl.org/DiversityScholarship.
POST-SECONDARY
Breanna Barnes | University of Arizona | Business Management
Born and raised in Phoenix, Barnes enjoys fashion, volunteering and traveling. In high school, she participated in National Honor Society, Student Council, Black Student Union and track & field. An 11-year member of the Girl Scouts, Barnes participated in the 2023 Miss Juneteenth Arizona Pageant 2023, becoming a strong voice for young, African American girls while attending workshops on entrepreneurship, African American history and teen mental health.
"The Empowering Diversity Scholarship will have a significant impact on my educational journey by allowing me to focus on my studies and be involved in student organizations while reducing the financial burden for my family. Achieving my degree will allow me to strengthen my problem-solving, budgeting, critical thinking and analytical skills. It will also help me develop the leadership and communication skills needed to manage a successful brand. This scholarship aids me in accomplishing my dream of becoming an entrepreneur within the fashion industry."
Pragalbha Ghatigar | Arizona State University | Neuroscience
Ghatigar was born in Bengaluru, India, and spent a brief period in Ireland before moving to Arizona at the age of seven. Since middle school, she has actively participated in speech and debate, receiving outstanding distinction from the National Speech and Debate Association and garnering numerous awards at state and national levels. She has held leadership positions in several school clubs, most notably Rho Kappa, the social studies honors society.
"This scholarship allows me to live on campus, which will greatly enrich my college experience, make meaningful connections, build a supportive community and network with peers and faculty members. These relationships and opportunities for collaboration are invaluable and will enhance my personal and academic growth. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my academics and extracurricular activities for my medical school application. I no longer need to seek employment to cover my expenses, which means I can dedicate more time to studying, participating in research projects and engaging in volunteer work."
Jackson Hamblin | Arizona State University | Nonprofit Leadership and Management
Hamblin is entering his third year at Arizona State University, majoring in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and working towards a certificate in Event Management and Nonprofit Professionalism. A first-generation college student, Hamblin is the campus lead for Downtown ASU Changemaker Central – a student-run organization that focuses on planning events around three pillars: service, sustainability and social entrepreneurship – where he has engaged with local nonprofits and grown tremendously as a leader.
"The Empowering Diversity Scholarship is helping me alleviate the stress of college payment and letting me focus more diligently on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities. With the financial support of this scholarship, I can dip my toe in different ASU organizations and extracurriculars to see what sparks joy and passion. The Empowering Diversity Scholarship helps support me in engaging with the ASU Downtown Changemaker organization that I am truly passionate about but doesn't pay the bills."
Ana Hilerio | Arizona State University | Chemical Engineering
Hilerio, currently a sophomore at Arizona State University, is a first-generation Mexican-American college student raised in Mesa. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, friends, watching movies, building puzzles and reading books. As a first-generation student, she takes great pride in being a pillar and hope for her community, especially at her age, and is determined to achieve her goals and take others with her no matter where they are in pursuing higher education.
"Engineering school is a real academic challenge and the scholarship will help me in ways I never imagined. It will let me focus on those tough engineering classes, rather than worrying about how to pay for them. I'm thankful for this opportunity because it will allow me to further my career and academic path. I can't thank the Empowering Diversity Scholarship enough for allowing me to achieve what I once thought was a dream and helping me achieve it, while not worrying about incurring debt I can't afford."
Anshika Kedia | Arizona State University | Computer Science
Kedia aspires to go into computer science to create systems using AI to implement in the fields of healthcare and biotechnology. She prioritizes the idea of cultural inclusivity and working with others to create effective programs. Outside of her academics, Kedia likes to participate in arts and sports, including badminton, painting and dancing. She is excited to work with a new network of people for educational support and personal development.
"This scholarship will allow me to gain further education in computer science and biotechnology to create the systems I strive to work on in the future. I make it a point to focus on my education in the classroom, but also give special attention to considering the insights of people around me and further learn about their experiences. This scholarship will give me financial aid in continuing my studies and project me to a higher level of understanding."
Delaney Krieger | Arizona State University | Economics and Finance
Fueled by a deep commitment to her personal growth and volunteerism, Krieger is approaching her final two years as a double major in economics and finance while pursuing a certificate in Leadership in Business. As a basketball and volleyball player, Krieger is creating women's leagues in the Valley to increase more female-led sports organizations and inspire inclusivity. She actively tutors Speech and Debate to high schoolers to serve as a mentor to young students who are the future of our political system.
"I am extremely appreciative for the donations that have afforded this opportunity. I have been independently paying for school and adding a second major, I have been unsure of how I would continue in the upcoming year. I see first-hand the importance and impact that scholarships make, and I hope I can continue the legacy post-graduation for students like myself. This generosity will be paid forward as I am forever appreciative for the opportunities that this gift poses. I look forward to walking through the doors this scholarship has opened for me."
Faith Ladson | Mohave Community College | Business and Entrepreneurship
Ladson graduated high school at the age of 16. She loves to go on adventures with her family and try new things. Her favorite thing to do in her free time is to watch videos of other people creating their own businesses. She loves FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) in which she has traveled the world and competed in competitions that have helped her with debating, budgeting and learning social skills.
"This scholarship opportunity has given me more than I can imagine. This scholarship will help me pursue my business and entrepreneurship goals of having my own business one day and being able to afford my classes and books. This scholarship made me believe that anything is possible if you go for it and believe in it and offered me a new sense of purpose to continue my educational journey. I am beyond grateful to those who created this opportunity to others who need a little boost and assistance."
Sophia Le | University of Arizona | Physiology and Medical Sciences
Le enjoys making meaningful impacts in her community through working with Maricopa County to advocate against youth tobacco abuse and volunteering with the City of Phoenix at local senior centers. As a proud first-generation student, she aspires to further her commitment to knowledge, embody leadership in her academic and extracurricular endeavors and serve her local community throughout the duration of college and her career in healthcare.
"The Empowering Diversity Scholarship and its impact enables me to reach for my dreams without any limitations, echoing my parents' motivation in helping me achieve my aspirations. Along with the invaluable financial support, I know that I can overcome any challenges that may come my way in my educational and personal journey. The motivation and guidance that the Empowering Diversity Scholarship represents will be incredibly influential in helping me flourish as I navigate college serves as a reminder to never give up on pursuing my passions!"
Rosalee Martinez | Arizona State University | Pharmacology and Toxicology
Martinez, a first-generation student, graduated top 20 from her graduating class at Mesa High School and simultaneously attended EVIT for pharmacy tech. Martinez recently graduated with her associate degree in science, with an emphasis in biological sciences from Mesa Community College where she was president of the Student Support Foundation and social media officer of the Pre-Med Club. She strives to stay involved and be a leader at ASU within the Next Generation Service Corps.
"Receiving a scholarship allows me to pay off my college courses which helps me reach my goal of acquiring a bachelor's degree and Pharm D and relieves my worry about putting the financial burden of college on my parent's shoulders. As a first-generation Hispanic female student, I can put my entire focus on my challenging STEM courses and putting more time towards helping my community. Thank you to all the donors that have made receiving this scholarship possible."
Siddharth Mehta | Arizona State University | Economics & Data Science
Mehta is a rising junior at Arizona State University and is passionate about technology, business and education. Mehta is currently the director of education for the Arizona Microcredit Initiative, a student-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers underserved entrepreneurs. In addition, he is an active member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity on campus, the New Venture Group, a strategy consulting group and is working in the corporate venture capital wing of the university.
"Receiving the Empowering Diversity Scholarship will have a tremendous effect on my educational journey at ASU, allowing me to fully engage in my coursework at ASU and dedicate more time to my passions. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to connect with other diverse, like-minded students in the Arizona community, which I see as invaluable. I am extremely grateful to have received this scholarship, and it will significantly enhance my educational experience."
Cynthia Moran | University of Arizona | Law
Many children, like Moran, are first-generation students who strive for a higher education. Moran recently graduated from Xavier College Preparatory and will double major in law and political science with a minor in Mexican-American studies at the University of Arizona. She is passionate about advocating for policies that affect Hispanics in our community, having led discussion panels, teach-ins and meeting with state legislators. She aspires to become an immigration lawyer with the goal of becoming a state legislator herself.
"The Empowering Diversity Scholarship will be an impactful contribution in my pursuit of post-secondary education. Since elementary school, I knew attending college was a priority for me. After my graduation this May, I was given a letter that I wrote to my future self in the sixth grade highlighting my ambition to pursue education. Without the worry of my education being a financial distress on my family who cannot afford to pay those costs, I am able to focus on my studies and my professional career."
Abhijay Murugesan | University of Arizona | Medicine
Murugesan is a first-generation American and a graduate of the University of Arizona Zuckerman College of Public Health and Eller College of Management. For his clinical work and public service, he was presented a Heroism Award from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, Special Congressional Recognition from then-U.S. Senator Martha McSally, and he 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 Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Fiesta Bowl is a mission-driven award that I am incredibly honored to receive. This scholarship will help support my medical education as I pursue a career as an emergency medicine physician. The Empowering Diversity Scholarship is an investment that will enable recipients like myself to serve residents across Arizona in the years to come. We are truly appreciative of your kind generosity and support!"
Alexander Ramirez | University of Arizona | Biology
Ramirez is a first-generation American-born citizen and first-generation college student. His parents come from Mexico, which caused obstacles during his childhood. With his parents having a language barrier, he was not able to get the help he needed with school growing up. Ramirez wants to be a leader who promotes unification and takes down barriers that often exclude people due to disabilities or language barriers. He currently volunteers with Libre Initiative, which focuses on empowering the Hispanic community.
"This scholarship will have a critical role in my educational journey as the cost was something we could not afford without being financially unstable. I am very devoted to my education and this scholarship allowed me to attend my dream school to help me attain that brighter future I always yearned for as a kid. I know with my dedication and resilience I will reach my goal of being a pulmonologist and helping my community with my voluntary hours and by donating money to help my community excel."
Derick Truong | University of Arizona | Masters in Public Health: Health Behavior Health Promotion Concentration
Truong graduated from the University of Arizona W.A. Franke Honors College, where he earned a degree in Health Sciences with a focus on physiology and medical sciences. In addition to his major, he pursued minors in biochemistry, psychology and marketing, providing him with a diverse and comprehensive educational background. As a first-generation Asian American student, Truong is deeply committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others through community service and medicine.
"Receiving this scholarship will alleviate the financial burden of my educational journey, ensuring I have the tools and resources to succeed academically and in life. As a first-generation college student, this scholarship will empower me to pursue my Master's in Public Health and attend medical school for an MD/MBA degree without the worry of financial constraints. This opportunity will help me advance my education and give back to underserved communities through my future nonprofit practice."
Jaime Vergara | Arizona State University | Business (Sports Business)
Vergara graduated from Verrado High School in Buckeye and has always been inclined to be a driving part of his community. During his time at Verrado, Vergara served clubs such as Student Government, Hispanic Honor Society and Fishing Club in leadership positions. Outside of school, he participated and volunteered in his community at the public library over the past summer and was a part of the Buckeye Youth Council.
"Receiving this scholarship allows me to go beyond financial restraints and explore educational pursuits that otherwise would not be attainable. My commitment to completing my education to the best of my ability is unwavering, but having the burden of needing to find ways to pay back educational costs could create roadblocks along the way. Being able to benefit from a scholarship allows me to not have to concern myself over finances and potential debt and instead focus on the quality of my education."
GED
Joseph Benavdiez
Benavdiez is a father of three boys and suffers from Lupus and a clotting disorder. However, he is still dedicated to educate himself and never gives up despite his condition. Being educated will only benefit him and boost his boys on many different levels. His condition presents some challenges in being able to work but he perseveres through hard work and commitment.
"Your generous support is not only a financial blessing, but also a significant encouragement as I pursue my academic and career goals. It will take the extra stress off me of worrying about where I am going to get the next dollar. It will also allow me to focus more on my education emotionally and physically. Being able to focus comfortably allows me to obtain better concentrate on my studies and anything that revolves around school."
Trevon Coleman
Coleman is confident in himself and works hard for everything he wants or thinks he deserves. He dropped out of high school in his junior year to make money and help around the house. Now he is trying his hardest to get back into school – attending college – so he can have a graduation to celebrate with his friends and family. Coleman loves sports and cheer is one of his favorite sports.
"The impact this scholarship will have on me getting my GED would be helping me get into college for business. I want to own my own dealership or company one day, so I want to learn a little more about business. Another reason would be cheer because there are cheer teams in college, whether it's sideline cheer or competitive cheer, and I can try my best to get out there and maybe get eyes on me to climb higher in the ranks."
Tania Correa
Correa is a mother of one and loves to read and learn random facts about anything. She loves the winter and spring in Arizona, including the rainy monsoon seasons and Sedona – particularly activities that are water related. She is excited to help others with their educational journeys and loves teaching others.
"Being selected for the Empowering Diversity Scholarship has been a true blessing and honor. I can now put myself first and not have to worry financially about how I will afford the schooling and fees for the GED. This allows me to be worry-free and feel like I finally have a chance to complete my GED and further my career and education. I will forever be grateful for programs such as these that give me a second chance to do better in life."
Parrys David
David works at a customer service call center and is an entrepreneur who plans to start her own construction team after receiving her appraisal license last year. She recently finished her brand ambassador position from Chanel and is a luxury stylist.
"My scholarship is helping me on my educational journey by allowing me to apply five hours daily for credit for me to work towards necessary licenses after working with a broker. Having a scholarship helps me for a whole year by earning credits and getting my foot in the door."
Jesseca Hindemith
Hindemith is a single mother with seven children she believes are her angels. Overcoming life challenges, Hindemith retained a positive outlook on life with a commitment to being the best version of herself. She plans on continuing her education to become a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse Advanced Practice so she can help others recover from substance use and live a better life.
"This scholarship opportunity has truly been a blessing and an empowering experience. Sharing my story reminded me of my self-worth, and to not allow any circumstance stop me from achieving my goals. Ultimately, this scholarship has encouraged me and given me the confidence to go back to school to achieve my dream in being a leader in providing care without judgment to a part of my community that many have given up on."
Anna Martinez
Martinez is a 27-year-old mother of four children. She is a full-time employee for a recovery day center that works with people who are struggling with substance abuse. For years, she battled her own addiction but she came out of that with the help of people who want to help others. Martinez can now show others that it's never too late to work for what they want.
"This will be a big stepping stone for me and for my children so they can see their mom walk down the stage and earn her diploma. To show my kids that it is never too late, it gives me another chance to reach my education that I never got to finish. It finally gives me hope with things I never thought I would be able to get done. Thank you so much for this opportunity, it's such a blessing."
Aubrianna Martinez
Martinez is 17 years old and a mother of a young daughter. Born and raised in Phoenix, Martinez likes to watch horror movies and binge watch shows like Teen Wolf and All American in her free time. Martinez helps her mom out by babysitting her brother while she works.
"The scholarship will impact me by helping me complete my education. It'll help me by getting a better paying job that'll help me provide for me and my family. Having this scholarship will allow me to continue my education to achieve my future goals in life. It will offer me better opportunities and open me more doors. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to continue my education and become a better version of myself."
Desire Perez
Perez is 28 years old and has three children – a girl and two boys. She moved to Arizona in 2021.
"For so long, I've spent my days regretting not finishing school and not having a career. I never really had time for school. I went straight to working. I really want to change that for myself and for my kids. I want a better future for us and am hoping when I get my GED it will open many doors. For many years, my dream job is to be a phlebotomist. I will be the first in my family to graduate."
Jaquayla Stephans
Stephans has a young child and in her free time, she enjoys going out with her son to enjoy fun activities. She likes to travel, but also focus on school, her job and her continued personal development.
"The impact this will have on my educational journey is tremendous and gives me a step forward on the career path that I want to be. This helps me get my GED, start college, graduate college and really accomplish the future goals I have for myself in selling houses and maybe owning some one day. This will also help me by opening up more opportunities for me and is an investment in my career. This is a huge step for me."
Francisca Vasquez
Vasquez is a single mother of two and a grandmother to a granddaughter. Born and raised in Phoenix, she has worked at Sam's Club as a member specialist for nearly three years. Vasquez enjoys going to the movies when she has some spare time with horror movies being her favorite. She loves spending time with her family whenever they are all able to get together.
"This scholarship will impact me by completing something I always wanted to do in getting my GED or high school diploma. Without having the education I needed, I always felt I couldn't move on to doing something better. Receiving this scholarship will boost my self-confidence, knowing that I took the responsibility of creating a foundation to get me closer to my goals. This scholarship will allow me to pursue the education I need to achieve those goals. Thank you for this opportunity."
Vincent Verrue
Verrue is a single dad, trying to build and have something he can leave for his son. His goal is to open a food truck or a restaurant. He enjoys cooking and his favorite dishes are when he creates something out of nothing. That is the start to eventually have his own brand, expanding to include his own barber shop. His son is a big inspiration for him to push to strive for better in life.
"This scholarship helps me to get set up and to strive for something better in life. I had to give up a lot growing up, having to sacrifice my goals in life to help my mom. She got sick and had open heart surgery as I just started high school, so I had to work to help with the bills. Now I know how important education is and how education can get you far in life."
Ruby Williams
Williams has two children. She loves taking trips and doing things that make her children happy.
"This scholarship will have an impact on my life because it will give me the boost in my career path. I've never had the option to get a scholarship. Having that extra support gives me more motivation to get started in bettering my future and bettering me as a person and as a role model to my community! It's good to know that there's help out there for people like me."
Also receiving the Empowering Diversity Scholarship GED Track: Oscar Avilez Romero
ABOUT FIESTA BOWL
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. Learn more at
www.FiestaBowl.org and
@Fiesta_Bowl on Twitter.
ABOUT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA
Blue Cross ® Blue Shield ® of Arizona (AZ Blue) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a mission to inspire health and make it easy, AZ Blue offers health insurance and related services to more than 2 million customers. AZ Blue, a non-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company and its subsidiaries employ more than 3,200 people in its Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices. To learn more, visit
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