Former Students Return to Quest Charter Academy to Give Back

Quest Charter Academy recently welcomed back some special visitors—former students ready to give back to their school community. Lauren Underwood, a seventh- and-eighth-grade social studies teacher at Quest, shared that many alumni return to their alma mater to earn service hours required for high school graduation.

But according to Underwood, these visits go beyond just fulfilling a requirement. Many students return to reconnect with their former teachers and reflect on their time at Quest. “It’s great to see them come back,” Underwood shared. “I think just coming back, they appreciate their time spent here a little more. One of the girls even told me, ‘I actually just came to apologize,’ after reflecting on how she had treated one of her teachers in the past.”



These visits aren’t just strolls down memory lane. Many high schools in the area, like Taylor Preparatory Academy, require service hours for graduation. Former Quest students see their return as a chance to both meet that requirement and give back to their former school.



Underwood described how these alumni support younger students and teachers, helping with tasks like cutting out materials, tutoring, or just lending an extra hand in the classroom. “Two of the girls were helping in a kindergarten classroom with tutoring for math,” Underwood noted. “They both said they really enjoyed helping the little ones and felt they made a difference. It’s a great way for them to see how their efforts matter, especially when they help students better understand something.”



For the alumni, these experiences leave a lasting impression. “I think it's good that the schools have them volunteer because it's important to instill that in them while they're still young,” Underwood shared. “They see how volunteering their time and helping others is a good quality.”



It’s always great to see alumni in the halls of Quest, making a difference and setting an example. Keep up the good work!
About Quest Charter Academy
Quest Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Taylor, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA^®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.

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