Empowering Diversity Scholarship Fosters Carter Henderson-Cole’s Call to Service

Estela Anahi Jaramillo

Carter Henderson-Cole dreams of one day traveling the world to serve others.

As Henderson-Cole prepares to attend the University of Arizona this fall, he was recently named a recipient of the Empowering Diversity Scholarship.

Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Fiesta Sports Foundation, the Empowering Diversity Scholarship is in its sixth year of supporting Arizona residents from underrepresented groups in achieving their educational goals.

“It isn’t just an investment in me and my future, but also an investment in the lives of all the people I aim to help in the future,” Henderson-Cole said.

For most high school students, navigating four years of academics, extracurricular activities and personal growth can be a challenging task. For Henderson-Cole, his experience at Brophy College Preparatory helped create a journey of cultural adaptation and lifelong commitment to service.

Henderson-Cole grew up in Avondale and later made his way to Brophy. The school not only helped him with his academics, but also inspired his love for serving people. Through Brophy’s service program that requires students to contribute to various communities – from tutoring elementary school students to helping survivors of domestic violence – Henderson-Cole found a calling.

“Every year, service was about others, not yourself,” he said. “That mindset stuck with me.”

A special mantra that Henderson-Cole follows is, "not to be served but to serve.” He said he finds himself falling back on this quote whenever he feels like he might not be doing enough. It allows him to focus on other people, not on himself. When he finds himself in moments of stress or doubt, the mindset to serve rings true.

Raised by a mother who is a teacher, Henderson-Cole thrived academically. Education was always a top priority, and by his sophomore year, his schedule consisted of five honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Outside the classroom, he was just as active, serving as vice president of the Black Student Union, president of the Brophy Culture Project, and an intern at the Brophy Community Foundation, which provides tuition assistance to students from low-income backgrounds, including his own.

At the University of Arizona, Henderson-Cole plans to pursue a degree in nursing, inspired by the connection that nurses bring to compassionate patient care.

“I watched 18 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy during COVID,” Henderson-Cole said. “I fell in love with what nursing represents - being present for someone - not just about healing and leaving.”

His long-term plan is to become a registered nurse and later take on a role as a traveling nurse.

Last summer, Henderson-Cole visited El Salvador and hopes to return to help the communities in South America. During the two-week visit to El Savaldor, he joined 14 other students for an experience that opened his eyes to the realities that the people were experiencing.

“I want to go back down there and serve those people with the organization that ran the immersion trip,” he said. “I feel drawn to service - the kind of service that's not about the money, it's about the people you help.”

With the Empowering Diversity Scholarship, he’s grateful not just for the financial relief, but for the community it offers.

Through the Empowering Diversity Scholarship, Henderson-Cole received a $5,000 award, through the support from Fiesta Sports Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, along with additional support services provided by Be A Leader Foundation or Education Forward Arizona, to support his pursuit of higher education in Tucson.

“It’s not just about the money—it’s about having someone in your corner,” he said. “Especially as a first-year student from Goodyear heading to Tucson, that support means a lot.”

Someday, Henderson-Cole hopes to return the favor for students and anyone who values serving others.

“I would love to donate back or even start a foundation like (Fiesta Sports Foundation) because I know what it means to carry that burden, and what it means to have someone lift it off your shoulders,” he said.