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Senior to Senior

Bridging Generations Through Connection and Service 

“Senior to Senior program logo featuring two stylized figures in navy and red standing side by side, symbolizing intergenerational connection and mentorship.”

The Agua Fria High School District’s Senior to Senior program is a signature initiative that connects graduating high school seniors with senior adult mentors from the West Valley community. Established in Fall 2022, the program brings together students from all five AFUHSD high schools and community retirees through meaningful monthly engagement, leadership development, and service.

What began as a pilot program has grown into a districtwide effort involving more than 80 participants annually, with strong partnerships through the Goodyear PebbleCreek Rotary, Verrado Rotary, and other community leaders. Senior to Senior is rooted in one powerful belief: when generations come together, everyone grows.

A large group of adults and teenagers pose together outdoors in front of a beige building with arched walkways and a red-tiled roof. The group, dressed mostly in matching navy blue shirts with name tags and small red stickers, is arranged in several rows, smiling at the camera. Some people are standing while others kneel in the front row. The photo appears to be taken in bright daylight on a paved courtyard area.

What the Program Does

Through a structured “Family” model, students and adult mentors build authentic relationships while participating in monthly themed experiences, including:

  • Community service projects such as bed building with Sleep in Heavenly Peace

  • Read Across America Day with local elementary students

  • Career and Technical Education showcases

  • Friendsgiving and relationship-building events

  • VIP access to district athletic, arts, and graduation celebrations

Each event is designed to strengthen empathy, leadership, communication, and civic responsibility while welcoming community members into our schools in meaningful ways.

The Impact

Senior to Senior has demonstrated measurable success:

  • 5 AFHSD high schools represented
  • 80+ annual participants
  • 90%+ attendance rate
  • 4 years of continued growth
  • Multiple Rotary and community partnerships

Students gain mentorship, workplace readiness practice, and exposure to life experiences beyond their own. Adult participants report renewed purpose, connection, and fulfillment through guiding the next generation.

A Living Model of Community

Senior to Senior reflects our District’s commitment to creating choice, crafting character, and cultivating community. It is more than a program. It is a bridge between generations, a model for intergenerational engagement, and a growing legacy within the West Valley. As the program continues to grow, Senior to Senior stands as a powerful example of what happens when schools and community unite with purpose, creating meaningful impact for students, mentors, and the Southwest Valley community.

Interested in getting involved?         

Two Senior to Senior program participants standing together and smiling, representing community mentorship and partnership.

Contact:
Melinda Marchese
Director of Communications & Community Initiatives
mmarchese@aguafria.org
(623) 932-7033

Community Lead:
Mary Kay Utecht
Goodyear Pebble Creek Rotary 

A group of high school students and older adults sit and stand together on bright red outdoor steps, posing with matching hand signs. Most are wearing white shirts and name badges, and two women in red dresses stand in the back row. The group smiles at the camera, suggesting a school spirit or intergenerational program event on campus.
A large group of high school students and a few adults pose together on an indoor staircase with red walls and a curved ceiling featuring circular skylights. Many are wearing red shirts and school lanyards, and several hold up peace signs while smiling at the camera. Two adults stand at the front of the group, and the students are arranged in rows up the stairs, creating a lively, school-spirited scene.
Alt text: A group of adults and teenagers pose indoors in front of a large purple-and-black wildcat logo on a light-colored wall. Several people are holding up purple pom-poms and smiling, while two people in the front crouch and make playful claw gestures toward the camera. Most are wearing navy blue shirts with name tags, and one woman near the center wears a bright purple top. Stacked chairs are visible along the wall to the right, and the group appears energetic and celebratory.
A group of adults wearing matching navy shirts sit at long tables in a conference room, facing a presenter at the front. A slide projected on the wall reads “How AI Gets Information,” with sections describing static memory, live lookup, and document retrieval. Laptops, notebooks, and boxed meals are on the tables. Two presenters stand near the screen, and the audience appears attentive during the training session.
Three women stand together smiling on a grassy area outside a school building on a sunny day. One woman holds a stack of brown paper grocery bags. An American flag and a state flag fly on a pole behind them, and a leafless tree and light-colored school buildings are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
Four adults stand indoors beside a vertical banner for the Agua Fria High School District that reads “Senior to Senior – Building Multi-Generational Relationships! #BetterTogether.” The banner features district logos and a graphic of two figures. The group smiles at the camera in a space with wood flooring, stone columns, and tables and chairs in the background, suggesting a community or partnership event.
A group of teenagers and older adults stand together outdoors against a tan wall, smiling at the camera. Most are wearing matching navy blue shirts with name tags, while one man on the end wears a blue “JAGS” hoodie. The group is arranged in a single row on a paved walkway, suggesting a school or community partnership event.
A group of high school students and older adults pose together inside a classroom or meeting room. Several older women are seated in the front row, while students and additional adults stand behind them. Many of the students wear matching navy shirts with name tags, suggesting a school or mentoring program. A clock and a wooden door are visible on the wall behind them, and everyone is smiling at the camera.
Alt text: Six people—three older adults and three high school students wearing matching navy program shirts—sit around a table in a school library. The table is decorated with small pumpkins and fall-themed accents. the group smiles at the camera, suggesting a mentoring or intergenerational program meeting.
High school students and older adults wearing matching navy Agua Fria High School District shirts sit together at round tables in a school library, writing notes on cards. The tables are decorated with small pumpkins and fall-themed centerpieces. A sign reading “Canyon View” stands at one table, and bookshelves are visible in the background. The group appears engaged in a collaborative, intergenerational activity.
A teacher kneels beside two young students in an elementary classroom, smiling at the camera. The children hold handmade posters decorated with drawings and messages encouraging reading, including “Read 20 minutes a day to your child.” One poster features colorful hearts, and another shows a drawing of dinosaurs. A book titled “Rainbow Fish to the Rescue!” sits on the table, and a classroom whiteboard with phonics and daily objectives is visible in the background.
A group of elementary school students sit and kneel together on a colorful classroom rug, smiling and holding up handmade posters. The posters feature drawings and messages such as “Read 20 minutes a day to your child,” with illustrations of dinosaurs, hearts, Minecraft, The Rainbow Fish, and other favorite themes. Classroom walls behind them display shape charts, a calendar, writing prompts, and a “Parent Praise” bulletin board, creating a bright and supportive learning environment.

Learn More, View the full Senior to Senior program overview and supporting materials here:

“Comprehensive PDF describing Agua Fria High School District’s Senior to Senior program, a districtwide initiative connecting high school seniors with community retirees through monthly events, mentorship, and service projects. Includes program overview, structure, annual calendar, impact data, leadership team, and supporting materials.”