Grants available to Arizona minority students on GED and post-secondary tracks

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – For the fourth consecutive year, the Fiesta Bowl Organization and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona have partnered to present the Empowering Diversity Scholarship in a continued effort to support Arizona minority residents’ educational goals.

As part of the commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion, the Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by Fiesta Bowl and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has awarded 66 Arizonans a total of $259,000 through grants in its first three years for candidates to pursue their GED or post-secondary aspirations.

This year’s application period starts today, March 20, and runs through Monday, April 10 at 11:59 pm MST. The recipients will be announced on Wednesday, June 14. The application, frequently asked questions, opportunities to donate and more information can be found at FiestaBowl.org/DiversityScholarship.

“In partnership with the Fiesta Bowl, we are proud to help Arizona’s minority students reach their educational goals,” said Pam Kehaly, Chief Executive Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “We are committed to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and believe each student’s perspectives and background will create a stronger and more prosperous Arizona.”

Once again, the Empowering Diversity Scholarship will have two tracks for individuals living in Arizona to apply.

The GED (general education development) track is open to applicants who are an Arizona resident, a minority and at least 16 years of age that have not graduated from an accredited high school or received a high school equivalency certificate or diploma and are not currently enrolled in a high school or college. The $500 scholarship will cover fees associated with the GED assessment and additional program support services provided by College Depot.

The post-secondary track is open to minority students living in Arizona who are in their senior year of high school or currently attending an Arizona post-secondary institution. Recipients, who must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, will be awarded a one-time $5,000 scholarship with additional support services provided by Be A Leader Foundation or College Success Arizona for their pursuit of higher education.

“The Empowering Diversity Scholarship has proven to be an effective tool for the advancement of the educational goals of Arizonans across the state,” said Erik Moses, Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO. “Our continued partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona on this initiative is integral in helping underrepresented populations pursue their dreams through the power of educational attainment. Many scholarship recipients would be at risk of having their educational journeys halted prematurely without this scholarship.”

The goal of the Empowering Diversity Scholarship is to continue to help the upward trend of enrollment of historically underrepresented populations, while also aiding students in their pursuit of higher education. 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.

Since its inception, the Empowering Diversity Scholarship has assisted Arizona minority students with their educational goals. Recipients have attended post-secondary institutions across the state of Arizona, including Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, Coconino Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Cochise Community College.

Click here for a list of last year’s recipients, their educational goals and quotes.

ABOUT THE FIESTA BOWL ORGANIZATION
Since 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 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.

ABOUT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA
Blue Cross ® Blue Shield ® of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a mission to inspire health and make it easy, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to more than 1.9 million customers. BCBSAZ, a non-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company and its subsidiaries employ more than 2,700 people in its Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices. To learn more, visit azblue.com or connect with us on social media: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

On the Web: www.FiestaBowl.org, www.AZBlue.com
Social Media: @Fiesta_Bowl, @BCBSAZ
Media Contacts: Scott Leightman (sleightman@fiestabowl.org; 480.517.6291); Stayson Isobe (sisobe@fiestabowl.org; 480.350.0925); Amanda Siedler