Nine years ago, with the help of local Tucson, Arizona, Rotary Club members, then University of Arizona President Peter Likens made a promise to 101 third graders in a local, underprivileged elementary school. The promise was simple. Under the guidance and mentorship of the Rotary Club members, if the children graduated high school and met minimum requirements, their tuition at the University of Arizona would be waived. Next summer, when school begins, 60 or more out of the 101 students will be enrolling in community college or The University of Arizona, far greater than what the demographics predicted, according to a recent article in the Arizona Daily Star.

This helps prove a very important point. Give kids the opportunity and hope for success, and the majority will grab it and run with it. Or as President Emeritus Likens puts it, “The fulfillment of the promise is proof that financially disadvantaged students aren’t any less successful, provided they have a message that higher education is attainable for them.” And while giving free education to every disadvantaged child isn’t possible in today’s world, there are enough resources out there to reach every child. First, as in this story, there is mentoring. It only costs time, and I encourage everyone to get involved, through their local school, library, church, club, work, etc., as many in the Learning A–Z office already do. Second, give a kid, any kid, the tools to succeed, and that is what they will most likely do. I like to think the Learning A–Z family of websites can help here. We have high quality, low-cost, and easily accessible products such as Reading A–Z, which can put books in the hands of children. There are also Reading-Tutors, which can guide mentors and tutors when they are volunteering, and Raz-Kids is a great tool for modeled fluency.

I would like to wish all the children entering college good luck, and a big “thank you,” to all the Rotary Club volunteers, President Emeritus Likens, the University of Arizona, and all the teachers who helped get the children into college. This is a very encouraging story, and one that needs to be told.