Scholarships Awarded to 15 Postsecondary and 10 GED Recipients for 2023-24; Four-year Program Total is $351,500 to Nearly 100 Students

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.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW POSTSECONDARY TRACK RECIPIENTS | CLICK HERE TO VIEW GED TRACK RECIPIENTS