Arizona Quest for Kids

Arizona Quest For Kids (AQFK) is a mentoring, enrichment and college guidance program for high potential students from low income families to provide support and guidance for college enrollment and graduation. Students begin with AQFK in the fifth grade and continue through college graduation. AQFK addresses the hopes and dreams of youth who may otherwise not be able to attend college by providing them with mentoring services, enrichment opportunities, family support services, and financial support for college.

There are currently over 500 students in the program. This is where you come in! Positively influence the life of a child and become a mentor for Arizona Quest For Kids. We look for caring adults over the age of 18 who can commit a minimum of one year to mentoring a student. Your commitment combined with AQFK programs ensures that our youth are academically, personally and emotionally prepared to not only graduate from high school but to excel in post-secondary education and beyond.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS Arizona Quest for Kids partners with schools to administer the four components of our program.

• Mentoring – Students are matched with a caring adult mentor, who they meet with weekly throughout the school year. In addition to providing support and guidance, mentors work with students on setting and achieving short term and long-term goals. Mentors also participate with their mentees in enrichment activities, community service projects and program events.

• Enrichment – College and career-focused opportunities are the foundation of AQFK’s enrichment program. Students visit college campuses throughout the state and explore a wide range of careers through workshops, field trips, and guest speaker events. Throughout the program, AQFK students also participate in community service activities and attend arts, cultural and recreational field trips.

• College Guidance – Beginning in middle school, AQFK’s college guidance initiative inspires students to begin thinking and planning for college. In the sixth and seventh grades, the focus is mainly on career exploration. Once the student reaches eighth grade, AQFK adds critical college preparatory services, including academic advisement, test preparation and assistance with developing a college portfolio.

• Family Resources – Arizona Quest for Kids partners with families to help their children achieve a college degree. Through a series of parent workshops, we educate families about college, financial aid and the application process. In addition, AQFK provides resource referrals for identified family needs.