As a new academic year gets underway for college students, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation has added 27 new students to the AFFCF Scholarship program. These 27 young men and women begin their higher education journeys in the Fall 2022 semester.
Overcoming Obstacles
Knowing that only 33 percent of youth in foster care graduate high school, only 20 percent enroll in higher education and only three percent will earn a Bachelor’s degree, this large group of awardees speaks volumes for the young people in foster care who want to change the course of their lives through education. These young men and women have overcome many barriers that their peers do not experience. They have worked hard and have tapped into the many resources that are available to them.
Our new scholars are attending a range of different post-secondary institutions:
- Arizona State University
- Brigham Young University
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
- Grand Canyon University
- Maricopa Community Colleges
- Northern Arizona University
- Pima Community College
- University of Arizona
Extra Support
With the addition of these new scholarship recipients, the AFFCF Scholarship program is nearly 80 students strong. Three of the students have also been awarded the Barbara Polk Scholarship, in honor of one of AFFCF’s founders, which is a separate donor-funded scholarship that provides additional support to students pursuing medical studies. Another current member of the AFFCF Scholarship program, who started in the ASU College of Nursing this fall, also received the Barbara Polk Scholarship.
AFFCF looks forward to celebrating students’ accomplishments as the semester continues and will look forward hosting students at start-of-semester dinners in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson next month. Best wishes, scholars, we’re rooting for you!
Fostering Higher Education
When you support the AFFCF scholarship program, you are helping young adults who have aged out of foster care and have had to work twice as hard as their peers to get to where they are. Not only do AFFCF scholars receive financial help for chasing their dreams, but they find a community with other students who have similar experiences to their own. AFFCF is a Qualifying Foster Care Organization, which means your donation may qualify for a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Arizona state taxes, up to $500 for individuals and up to $1,000 for couples. Donate today!