Continuing our commitment to support educational attainment as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, Fiesta Bowl and Blue Cross&reg; Blue Shield&reg; of Arizona (BCBSAZ) have selected 30 recipients for the second annual Empowering Diversity Scholarship.
The Empowering Diversity Scholarship was created to assist Arizona&rsquo;s minority residents as they pursue their educational goals, with a grand total of $93,000 in financial support being awarded to the 30 individuals for 2021. 
This year there are two tracks for Empowering Diversity Scholarship funding. 
The 15 post-secondary recipients received $5,500 each for their pursuit of higher education, while the 15 GED (general education development) recipients received $700 each to cover GED-related fees and additional study resources.&nbsp;
The Empowering Diversity Scholarship is in its second year of operation and has awarded $173,000 to date to Arizona minority students pursuing their educational goals.
Meet a few of the scholarship&nbsp;winners!
Madiana Duarte, Arizona State University, Nursing 
 
<img alt="" src="https://www.netreturns.biz/Client_Files/azblue/CM/System/duarte.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 5px;">Duarte is pursuing her BSN at Arizona State University with the goal of working as a traveling nurse and eventually moving up to become a nurse practitioner. She has been in the medical field for five years as a CNA and enjoys helping people live healthier lives. 
 
"This scholarship allows me to continue chasing my dreams. It is giving me the opportunity to higher my education and become the most successful and hardworking version of myself. Thank you for this amazing opportunity."
Angel Palazuelos, Arizona State University, Biomedical Engineering 
 
<img alt="" src="[BASEDOMAIN]/Client_Files/azblue/CM/System/palazuelos.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 5px;">Palazuelos is attending Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University. He was only five years old when he migrated to the United States with his mother and older brother for a chance at a better life. His mother left everything behind so the boys could grow up in a country where they could follow their dreams. He is studying biomedical engineering and plans to minor in political science, with a goal to attend law school. He hopes to repay his mother and this country for all it has given by following his dream without fear and giving back to his community. 
 
"First of all, I would like to thank Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Fiesta Bowl. For most of my life, I have felt like all possible odds have been against me; I am a first-generation, Dreamer student. Receiving the Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Fiesta Bowl is a true blessing. My dreams of becoming a biomedical engineer are no longer dreams because I know I will achieve them! Thank you for believing in me enough to invest in my future." 
 
Freya Abraham, University of Arizona, Neuroscience and Biochemistry 
 
<img alt="" src="[BASEDOMAIN]/Client_Files/azblue/CM/System/abraham.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 5px;">Abraham is a sophomore at the University of Arizona. She volunteers in health initiatives, works as a teaching assistant, and serves as the recruitment lead for Global Shapers Tucson, a chapter of the international youth leadership initiative backed by the World Economic Forum. Abraham co-launched Give a Book, Grow a Mind, a grant-funded childhood reading initiative. She is also a part of the summer undergraduate research program at Barrow Neurological Institute to study ALS. 
 
"Particularly in the health and science field, so many internships and opportunities are underpaid, or not paid at all. Balancing internships and opportunities with the need to work and save is tough for any student to juggle, especially those planning for graduate school. This scholarship takes some of that weight off, because it allows me to invest in activities that benefit me and my community." 
<a href="http://https://www.fiestabowl.org/sports/2020/7/28/empowering-diversity-scholarship.aspx" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.fiestabowl.org/sports/2020/7/28/empowering-diversity-scholarship.aspx" target="_blank">Read more about all 30 scholarship winners.</a>

Meet the scholarship recipients brightening Arizona’s future