For three years, high school junior Mays Alqasemy has thrived at ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix. By May 2025, she will graduate ahead of schedule, completing two years of college coursework while still in high school. Adding to her impressive accomplishments, Mays serves as a Chief Science Officer delegate for the Arizona Leadership Council and has been invited to attend the prestigious STEM Fest in Washington, D.C.
Discovering community at ASU Prep
Mays first heard about ASU Prep during the COVID pandemic. “I was catching up on a few assignments and came across an ad on YouTube,” she recalled. “The ad spoke about ASU Prep in general and I was so surprised when I saw it! I had never heard of the school before and felt so lucky that I came across it during the time I was starting to search for high schools.”
After seeing the ad, Mays researched ASU Prep further and was immediately drawn to the downtown campus. She loved its ideal size, engaging extracurricular activities and, most importantly, the opportunity to take tuition-free college courses—a rare and invaluable benefit for students.
“What I love most about being an ASU Prep Phoenix student is the community!” Mays said. “The teachers, staff and students here all are amazing! Each teacher has a special way of teaching concepts while applying it to a real world setting. Each staff member is always building positive relationships with students and each student supports their fellow peers to build a more positive and growing academic mindset! On top of that, being within a walking distance from a college campus and taking tuition-free university courses directly from ASU is such an amazing and unique opportunity that you can rarely find at a high school.”
Advocating for the future of ASU Prep
The current lease situation at the downtown ASU Prep campus has caused concern for its students and families, but Mays penned a letter to the Phoenix Elementary School District asking them to reconsider canceling Prep’s lease. In her letter, she proved how much she cares about her school community and its impact on her. She wrote:
Dear Phoenix Elementary School District Board,
I’m a student at ASU Preparatory Academy Downtown Phoenix and I’m writing to express how much this campus means to me and the hundreds of others who call it home. As a member of the student council, I can say that ASU Prep is more than just a place to learn—it’s a community that fosters lifelong memories and personal growth.
Since joining ASU Prep, I’ve had opportunities to develop leadership skills through student government, become a Chief Science Officer and even represent Arizona at the STEM Fest in Washington, DC. As a first-generation college student, I’m set to graduate as a junior with 60 college credits. These experiences go beyond academics—they help build the bonds of friendship, leadership and teamwork that define our campus.
But now, this future is at risk. Without the continuation of our lease, future generations won’t be able to experience the same sense of belonging and personal growth we’ve had here. The walls of this building represent more than shelter; they are the foundation of our story and community.
We ask that you consider extending the lease so future students, families and staff can continue to make this place their second home. We deeply appreciate your time and hope you will consider the many voices of this community in your decision.
Respectfully,
Mays A.
Mays said, “The school’s situation with the lease is definitely heartbreaking. It would be very disappointing knowing that after the class of 2026, ASU Prep downtown won’t be the same anymore. As a soon-to-be first-generation college student, ASU Prep opened up many doors for me, with the biggest being graduating my junior year of high school and having 60 college credits completed by the time I’m done!”
Learning leadership, STEM and sustainability
Midway through her sophomore year, Mays learned that ASU Prep Phoenix had decided to partner with the Chief Science Officer (CSO) program and selected a few students to represent the branch at her school.
“I, along with several other students, was fortunate enough to be one of the first CSOs on campus,” Mays said. “Now, as a second-year CSO and a first-year member of the Arizona Leadership Council, I continue to grow through new experiences.”
In early January of this year, Mays received an exciting invitation from the CSO AZ program manager to attend the 2025 STEM Fest in Washington, D.C. This opportunity not only allows Mays to represent the Arizona chapter but also to meet with representatives from other states.
“During our first year as CSOs our Action Plan, which is a way for students to advocate for STEM and STEAM education in their communities, was to form an anatomy club,” Mays shared. “Many students signed up and each meeting included a presentation followed by interactive projects and worksheets about the different body systems. We even wrapped up the school year with a frog lab dissection.”
This year, however, the group is taking a different approach for their Action Plan. The CSOs are organizing “STEM-onstrations” for elementary school students, sparking their interest in STEM through hands-on demonstrations. Additionally, as a Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE) Ambassador, Mays is required to have a sustainability related Action Plan as well. As part of this, they are launching a campus-wide recycling program to benefit all ASU Prep Phoenix students and the community.
Mays noted, “While this project will require significant effort—educating students on proper recycling practices and ensuring there are enough recycling bins—we have a dedicated group of students committed to making it happen!”
Mays’ experiences as a leader and advocate for STEM reflect the broader vision of ASU Prep. The dedication to STEM education extends far beyond individual programs like CSO. Recognized for its efforts in advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics, ASU Prep recently received top honors in the Arizona STEM Acceleration Project (ASAP). This accomplishment underscores the school’s commitment to fostering innovation, science-driven learning and opportunities for all its students.
Creating a path worthy of inspiring
Outside of school, Mays enjoys sketching, drawing and photography but her favorite hobby is hiking. She shared, “I love the creativity involved in the artistic side of things, as it’s a calm and soothing way to get my mind working without focusing on anything too academically heavy. Hiking, on the other hand, is by far the best way to stay active while also connecting with nature in a calm and peaceful way.”
As an early graduate, Mays has had to overcome many challenges in her education journey, most notably the pandemic. She was in middle school when the world shut down and when it reopened she not only had to transition back to being in school–she was also making the transition from middle school to high school. But Mays persevered.
“Everyone has these unique setbacks that I like to see as a learning experience,” she shared. “I not only improved my public speaking skills but also worked and communicated with so many people I would never think I would ever work with.”
Part of that dedication to self-improvement may have been older sister syndrome. Mays has a younger sister and two younger brothers who look up to her. “Every day I do the best I can to make sure that all my actions and work are not only benefiting me but them too!”
Mays added, “This also reminds me of a recent six-word memoir assignment. The one I had written says: ‘Creating a path worthy of inspiring’ and with that I don’t just mean my siblings but also my friends and everyone else around me in my community! It makes me very proud knowing that one simple action I did helped make a positive impact on someone else’s life.”
Looking toward the future
Thanks to ASU Prep’s concurrent enrollment offerings where high school students can take college classes from Arizona State University at no cost to them or their families, after graduation Mays will only need two more years at ASU to complete her bachelors in Medical Studies. “My goal is to attend medical school,” she said. The ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering is expected to open in the fall of 2026–just in time for Mays.
“I have always been interested in pursuing a career as a pediatric gastroenterologist,” she shared. “Despite gastroenterology being a specialty of its own, it still is such a diverse field that has so many subspecialties that are so different, yet related, all at the same time! What excites me most about this is the fact that I will be able to make a lasting impact on the lives of many children and their families.”
Recognizing supportive staff and teachers
As she prepares to graduate as a high school junior who will start next year as a college junior, Mays is reminiscing about her time and appreciation for the people of Prep.
“There are a few teachers and staff members that I would definitely like to give a huge shout out to for being amazing,” Mays remarked, acknowledging her teachers, Mrs. Baskerville, Mr. Talarico and Mrs. Johnson. “They really do show how much they care about the school and students in all their actions and inspire many students, including myself, to always set higher goals and standards and encourage us to think innovatively too!”
Mays also complimented Mr. Melendez as “someone who truly pushes students to achieve higher than their standards. Everyone who ever took his class can indeed confirm that the high expectations he has, structures students to be bright minded and disciplined individuals.”
Mays continued, “A few staff members that I greatly appreciate include Ms. Serina (high school academic counselor), Ms. Munoz (assistant principal) and Ms. Higginbotham (principal). These staff members have always gone above and beyond to make sure school isn’t just books and reading but that it’s more engaging and hands-on, where you learn the same content a book will teach you but in a more interactive and mind challenging way.”
Mays also greatly appreciates Officer Mariscal, the school resource officer, noting, “He not only ensures that we have a safe learning environment but is always friendly, approachable and builds strong relationships with students, creating a welcoming atmosphere.”
Thankful for the memories
Looking back on her time at Prep, Mays has made countless memories during her time at ASU Prep and each one of them is very meaningful in its own way.
“When our campus found out we were potentially losing this very building, junior and senior students along with staff and families united to put together a peaceful demonstration,” she explained. “We each had a different unique poster that represents our thoughts, feelings and roles here as ASU Prep students. It was a learning experience for many of us and alongside that we were young leaders advocating for our voices to be heard.”
Mays also looks back positively at her time in Student Government, noting she never realized she and her STUGO peers would capture so many meaningful memories. She’s proud of STUGO for putting together not only spirit-filled events, but meaningful lessons too. Mays enjoys knowing that the pep rallies and spirit days they created brought long-lasting memories to students throughout campus and that the other informative assemblies they put together interactively prepared students for the real world.
“Other than the academic side of things, my friends are what made high school such a memorable journey,” she remarked. “The countless assignments we worked together on, the conversations we had during lunch and the after-school activities that we’ve done–all were productive but filled with laughter.”
Leading the Way
Mays Alqasemy’s journey at ASU Prep Phoenix showcases the transformative power of a supportive and innovative educational environment.
Unlike traditional high school dual enrollment opportunities or advanced placement programs, ASU Prep offers learners the unique chance to take concurrent university courses at ASU while earning their high school diploma. This model has a proven track record of success, with the Class of 2024 achieving an astounding 5,872 total college credits.
This forward-thinking approach not only accelerates students’ paths to a college degree but also saves time and money, making higher education more accessible.
Attend an information session to learn how ASU Prep empowers students through advanced coursework and college-level courses, giving them a head start toward a brighter, more successful future.
