Cantelme Scholars program concludes at the Watts College

As a firefighter, Pat Cantelme dedicated himself to saving lives. For the past five years, a foundation he helped create has enriched the lives of Arizona State University students.

The CDH Charitable Foundation that Cantelme heads has funded several scholarship programs for students at ASU and Arizona’s other public universities over the past decade. One, the Cantelme Scholars program, administered by the Congressman Ed Pastor Center for Politics and Public Service at ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, concluded its benevolent efforts in May.

The Cantelme Scholars’ majors ranged from the hard sciences to business to journalism, and from health and sustainability to nonprofit management. Each student was a member of the Next Generation Service Corps and earned a certificate in cross-sector leadership from the Watts College’s School of Public Affairs. The corps is part of the college’s Public Service Academy.

According to program statistics, since the Cantelme Scholars’ inception in 2020, the CDH Charitable Foundation provided approximately $500,000 in scholarships to 28 students, 58% of whom had very high financial needs.

In addition, 71% represented diverse backgrounds while 33% were first-generation college students. They attained an average cumulative grade point average of 3.69 and posted an 86% graduation rate.

“It’s done everything we had hoped it would. We couldn’t be more pleased,” Cantelme said. “Every time I talk with the students, I get new hope, and I get energized, because I think there is so much divisiveness in this country, it’s pretty depressing. But these students, their goals and enthusiasm give me new energy.”

Cantelme is a Phoenix native who attended ASU. He is a retired Phoenix fire captain and former president of the United Phoenix Fire Fighters’ Association Local 493, where he served for 20 years representing firefighters across multiple Arizona cities. He was hired at age 18 and became the youngest fire captain in Phoenix history at 25.

Throughout his career, he played a key role in advancing emergency medical services, labor-management practices and innovative fire service programs. He helped negotiate the first 10 union contracts with the city of Phoenix and co-chaired the Phoenix Fire Department’s operations committee.

“Many of these students come from high financial need backgrounds and may not have otherwise had access to global learning experiences,” said Cindy Parnell, chief of public service at the Watts College and the Michael M. Crow and Sybil Francis Endowed Director of the Public Service Academy. “What stood out most was their incredible drive, a genuine passion for service, a curiosity about the world and a deep desire to build meaningful connections across cultures.”

In statements they provided to the Next Generation Service Corps, two Cantelme Scholars who graduated in May 2025 expressed their deep gratitude for the program’s profound impact on them.

Yudidt Nonthe Sanchez, who earned a Bachelor of Science in public service and public policy with an emphasis on law and policy, as well as a certificate in cross-sector leadership, said the scholarship helps build a legacy of opportunity and success for future generations, a legacy that she now shares.

“As a first-generation college student from a family where graduating high school was once the highest milestone, this scholarship represents more than financial support — it is an investment in breaking the cycle of poverty for my family,” Sanchez said. “It allowed me to focus on my education, graduate with my bachelor’s degree and now continue my journey by starting my Master of Public Administration at ASU this fall.”

Efren Trejo Pantaleon earned a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in justice studies, with a minor in global studies and a certificate in cross-sector leadership. He said the program enabled him to overcome barriers he never imagined that he could.

“This scholarship has opened the door for me to engage with social issues abroad and has helped me develop valuable skills in cultural competency,” Pantaleon said. “Thanks to the opportunities made possible by the Cantelme Scholarship, I’ve been able to travel across the globe and witness how social impact can take many forms — both locally and globally.”

With support from the Cantelme Scholars program, nearly one-third of the scholars were able to afford to study abroad for at least one semester.

Parnell said all the scholars demonstrated a public service mindset the program was able to broaden, enabling them to have an impact, from their local communities to national and international levels.

“For a lot of these students it was the first time they traveled outside of the U.S.,” Parnell said. “They would never have been able to take the time off work and afford these trips without Pat’s financial support.”

While the Cantelme Scholars program wrapped up its work this academic year, the CDH Charitable Foundation continues to fund scholarships for students at ASU, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, as well as for members of firefighters’ families attending college nationwide.