ASU Prep is proud to present Family Choice Day, a flexible, hybrid scheduling option available to students enrolled at our Phoenix, South Phoenix, Pilgrim Rest, and Polytechnic campuses in Arizona. This innovative program allows families to choose how and where their children learn on Fridays, creating a more dynamic and relevant educational experience. Families can adjust their enrollment choices quarterly, ensuring the program aligns with their evolving needs.
Flexible learning options
In-person learning
Students have the option to attend half-day in-person classes at an ASU Prep campus or engage in special in-person programming at an ASU campus. On-campus offerings include academic intervention, enrichment programs, special field trips, and on-site internships, all designed to provide hands-on, enriching experiences that support learners’ growth.
At-home learning
For those who prefer a home-based learning environment, students can complete a “Friday Playlist” that includes both online learning and offline learning opportunities. Options include family field trips, out-of-school enrichment programs, internships at approved sites, digital electives, coursework “must-dos,” as well “may-do” suggestions, such as journaling.
The background of Family Choice Day
The concept of a flexible fifth day originated at our ASU Prep Casa Grande campus, where a four-day school week has been in place for many years. The hybrid program allowed an extra day for students to engage in jobs, internships, and academic support activities. The success of this model was mirrored at the South Phoenix high school campus last year, leading to the decision to expand the program across more campuses.
Surveys of families and teachers highlighted a strong preference for a flexible Friday, enabling the program to align with family needs while maintaining academic rigor. This flexibility has proved beneficial, reducing burnout and increasing student engagement and success.
The benefits of Family Choice Day
Megan Hanley, Executive Director of School Design, notes, “Family Choice Day gives families the choice and flexibility for what works best for them.” This could mean offering students a chance to recharge and engage in activities that spark their interests, providing valuable family time, or enabling them to pursue work opportunities and explore new passions.
The hybrid learning model of Family Choice Day offers numerous advantages, including:
Family flexibility: Families can tailor their student’s learning experience to best suit their needs, whether it’s a day of fun learning at school or a relaxed learning day at home.
Student engagement: By providing a break from the traditional school week, students remain excited and engaged, both academically and in non-academic activities.
Personal growth: Students are encouraged to explore interests outside the standard curriculum, fostering creativity and personal development.
Staff collaboration: Teachers have the opportunity to lead classes in areas they are passionate about, enhancing the educational experience for both students and educators.
Real-world preparation: Students become familiar with blended learning environments found in college classes and modern workplaces.
Unique offerings across campuses
“It’s going so well,” shares Hanley. “Each school site is offering such a unique program. Classes are being led by all kinds of staff members, including our School Resource Officer at Downtown Phoenix, as well as great community partners.”
Some of the unique programs and activities offered at each campus:
ASU Prep Polytechnic STEM Academy: Drones, robotics, piñata-making and other crafts.
ASU Prep Polytechnic High School: Collaborations with ASU on robotics, cooking classes and more.
ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest: Fashion program collaborations and leadership coding initiatives.
ASU Prep South Phoenix: Virtual reality coding, soccer skills development and aquarium projects.
A community effort
“We are so appreciative of our entire staff throughout the Network,” says Hanley. “Working through all of the processes and changes is only possible if our staff see the possibilities, understand the goal, and exhibit perseverance through change. We are also so grateful to our families who have handled the change so well and are excited about the possibilities both at home and at school.”
Family Choice Day is more than just a schedule change—it’s a gateway to unlimited possibilities in learning and personal growth. We are thrilled to see our students thrive in this flexible, innovative environment.
Welcome to an exciting new chapter at ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest, where we’re thrilled to introduce our Transformational Teacher Leader (TTL). This innovative program is designed to elevate education by empowering teachers to take on leadership roles while continuing to engage directly with students. Our mission is to harness the talents of our finest educators, allowing them to influence both the classroom and the broader school community through guidance, mentorship, and innovative practices.
What is a Transformational Teacher Leader?
A Transformational Teacher Leader is a unique role that blends teaching excellence with leadership prowess. These individuals are not only exceptional educators but also visionary leaders who spearhead collaboration, innovation and data-driven decision-making.
By remaining actively involved in classroom teaching, TTLs ensure that their leadership is grounded in the realities of daily educational experiences. This dual role allows teachers who are passionate about instructing to also take on responsibilities that traditionally fall outside the classroom, providing them with a pathway to greater impact without leaving behind the joy of teaching.
Introducing our Transformational Teacher Leader
Adrienne Henderson-Cole
With extensive experience in early childhood education, Adrienne Henderson-Cole has dedicated her career to fostering a nurturing and dynamic learning environment. Her academic journey includes an undergraduate and master’s degree from Bowie State University, followed by a doctorate from Grand Canyon University. Her proudest professional moment was achieving National Board Certification, a testament to her commitment to excellence in education.
Henderson-Cole is driven by her passion for witnessing the joy of discovery in a child’s eyes. She believes in empowering her fellow educators to achieve their best, ensuring that students receive the highest quality education. Her teaching philosophy is encapsulated in the powerful words of Rita Pierson: “Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”
Henderson-Cole’s superpowers include her expertise in small group instruction across K–8, creating a vibrant classroom culture, utilizing data to inform instruction and her proficiency in phonics instruction based on the Science of Reading (SOR).
Leading with purpose
At ASU Prep, our Transformational Teacher Leaders are the embodiment of our mission and core values. By fostering a culture of collaboration, they inspire and uplift the entire school community. These leaders not only teach but transform, ensuring that ASU Prep remains at the forefront of educational excellence.
US News & World Report honor the latest in No. 1 rankings for university
For the 10th year in a row, Arizona State University is No. 1 in innovation in the newly released annual “Best Colleges” 2025 rankings by U.S. News & World Report — just one of many top rankings earned by the university.
ASU has placed first in the peer-nominated category every year since the “most innovative” category was created by U.S. News & World Report magazine, and the university has ranked ahead of MIT and Stanford University each time.
“Receiving the top innovation ranking from our peers for a decade is significant, as it affirms that our enterprise-wide innovation mindset is deeply tied to our institutional identity,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow.
“ASU works hard to find and act on every opportunity at every level of teaching, discovery and operations to collaborate and manifest better solutions. We are proud of the variety and scope of impact we are making.”
The latest accolade joins a series of repeated No. 1 rankings in recent years for high-impact areas including innovation, sustainability and impact.
In the just-released STARS Sustainable Campus Index from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, ASU ranked No. 1 in the United States and No. 2 in the world for its sustainability practices, ahead of Stanford, Cornell and Colorado State University. The index also put ASU in the top 10 worldwide for six “impact areas” of the assessment: No. 1 in air and climate, No. 2 in transportation, No. 3 in investment and finance, No. 7 in research, No. 9 in curriculum and No. 10 in public engagement.
For the fifth consecutive year, Times Higher Education ranked ASU No. 1 this summer in the U.S. for its work through education, research and practice in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For the overall ranking, ASU came in ahead of Michigan State University, Penn State University and MIT.
For the third consecutive year, ASU was the No. 1 public university for hosting international students by the 2023 Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report, ahead of the University of Illinois, Purdue and the University of Michigan.
Other No. 1 rankings over the past several years include:
No. 1 in research expenditures for anthropology, by the National Science Foundation (2023), ahead of the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Stanford University and the University of Arizona.
No. 1 in transdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and other sciences, by the National Science Foundation (2023), ahead of Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pittsburgh and Ohio State University.
No. 1 journalism school in top overall awards for news, by the Broadcast Education Association (2022–24), ahead of Syracuse, the University of Florida and the University of Southern California.
No. 1 in the world for international trade, by the QS International Trade Rankings (2023–24), ahead of the University of Michigan, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania domestically, and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, University of Toronto in Canada and IMD in Switzerland, internationally.
In the past year, ASU has made a huge impact in several areas:
Microelectronics
Earlier this month, five projects in the ASU-led Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub won nearly $30 million in federal funding to launch projects that will boost national security by enhancing U.S. microchip-making capability. In the spring, ASU entered into a partnership with DECA Technologies to collaborate on North America’s first Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging research and development capability.
Space
Last October, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifted the Psyche spacecraft into the sky, the first NASA deep-space mission led by ASU and the culmination of a 12-year undertaking led by Lindy Elkins-Tanton, Foundation and Regents Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration, vice president of the ASU Interplanetary Initiative and the principal investigator of the Psyche mission. The spacecraft is traveling to the Psyche asteroid, which scientists believe could be part of a metal-rich interior of a planetesimal, a building block of a rocky planet.
It’s a mission that reaches far beyond the science team: ASU has involvedstudents and the community in the Psyche mission through art and education.
Heat mitigation
Arizona passed a law in the spring that guarantees mobile-home owners’ right to install cooling measures, thanks in large part to the work of the Knowledge Exchange for Resilience at ASU, an interdisciplinary team that worked for more than five years on the problem of extreme heat and mobile homes in the Valley.
Big grants
ASU won two big grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development: $80 million to create new learning opportunities and resources that support the success of young people in Africa, and $35 million to lead a large, interdisciplinary initiative to help reduce gender-based violence in El Salvador, with the goal of stemming the flow of irregular migration to the U.S.
In addition, the U.S. National Science Foundation chose ASU to lead a $15 million multi-institutional enterprise to confront climate challenges in the Southwest and spur economic development in the region.
Learn more about grants for solutions-oriented research on ASU News.
Artificial intelligence
In early 2024, ASU announced that it was the first higher education institution to collaborate with OpenAI, the AI research and deployment company behind ChatGPT. That led to the AI Innovation Challenge, in which more than 500 proposals for AI projects were submitted across the university. More than 200 of those projects are underway, including a bot to improve health care workers’ interviewing skills and the use of ChatGPT to enhance writing skills.
Top awards
Several of ASU’s community of faculty and administrators have won prestigious awards over the past year. Water expert Amber Wutich, President’s Professor and director of the Center for Global Health in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, won a “genius grant” from the MacArthur Foundation, only the third ASU faculty member to do so.
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, executive director of ASU Gammage and vice president for cultural affairs at ASU, won a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theater.
Regents Professor Michelene “Micki” Chi won the Yidan Prize for Education Research, the biggest award in education and an international honor that recognized her innovative approaches that help learners reach their full potential.
More from latest US News & World Report rankings
The “most innovative” ranking by U.S. News & World Report is based on peer voting. Institutions were nominated by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans across the country, and schools were chosen based on who is making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology and facilities.
ASU also was tied for No. 7 nationwide for undergraduate teaching — ahead of Yale, Stanford and Harvard universities — and No. 3 among public universities for the first-year college experience, ahead of the University of Michigan, Purdue University and Ohio State University.
In addition, ASU ranked highly in areas that are important for careers. The university was in the top 20 — along with Stanford, Cornell and Purdue universities — for service learning, in which students can apply what they learn in class in community activities. In the category of co-ops and internships for undergraduates, ASU ranked in the top 15 nationwide along with MIT, Duke and Harvard, and fifth among public universities, along with Georgia Tech, Purdue and Clemson — all part of continued, successful results in boosting the employability of ASU graduates.
Several ASU undergraduate degree programs ranked in the top 20 nationwide in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges for 2025:
No. 9 (tied) for business management information systems, W. P. Carey School; ahead of New York University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan.
No. 9 for production/operations management, W. P. Carey School; ahead of the University of Indiana; the University of California, Berkeley; and NYU.
No. 10 for analytics, W. P. Carey School; ahead of Indiana University, Cornell and the University of Texas at Dallas.
No. 12 for business management, W. P. Carey School; ahead of the University of Southern California, Cornell and Pennsylvania State University.
No. 13 for accounting, W. P. Carey School; ahead of UC Berkeley, the University of Washington and Michigan State University.
No. 13 for environmental/environment health engineering, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering; ahead of Princeton, Yale and Rice universities.
No. 16 for civil engineering, Fulton Schools; ahead of UCLA, the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin.
No. 17 (tied) for industrial manufacturing, Fulton Schools; along with USC, Ohio State University and the University of Pittsburgh.
No. 18 (tied) for cybersecurity computer science, Fulton Schools; ahead of Duke University and the Rochester Institute of Technology.
No. 19 (tied) for electrical/electronic communications engineering, Fulton Schools; ahead of Harvard, Columbia and the University of Wisconsin.
No. 19 for artificial intelligence computer science, Fulton Schools; ahead of Duke, Purdue and Yale.
No. 19 (tied) for finance, W. P. Carey School; ahead of Georgetown University, USC and Emory University.
Additionally, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s undergraduate nursing program rose to No. 39 (tied) from No. 52, ahead of Florida State University, Purdue and George Mason University. ASU’s undergraduate psychology programs rose to No. 42 (tied) from No. 51, ahead of Stony Brook University, the University of Iowa and Temple University. The Fulton Schools’ overall undergraduate engineering program was tied for No. 35, ahead of Michigan State University, Iowa State University and the University of Arizona.
In an era where technology is revolutionizing education, ASU Preparatory Academy Pilgrim Rest is raising the bar. Building on their existing partnership with Jamf, a global leader in device management, they recently hosted a hands-on workshop that let elementary students experience fun and cutting-edge tech. This exciting collaboration is a game-changer, unlocking new possibilities for student success through innovative learning.
ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest and Jamf share spirit of innovation
Jamf specializes in supporting educational institutions with seamless integration of Apple devices, boasting partnerships with over 43,000 schools worldwide. Their expertise lies in facilitating the large-scale rollout of these devices, making it easier for students and teachers to use technology for enhanced learning experiences. Dr. Suraj Mohandas, Jamf Vice President of Education Strategy, describes the company’s role as “the wizard behind the curtain,” allowing teachers to focus on instruction rather than device management.
Mohandas highlights the transformative potential of technology-enabled active learning (TEAL), saying, “This approach shifts the classroom focus from teacher-centered lectures to student-centric activities. It enables teachers to act as facilitators, helping students engage actively with technology tools across various subjects like math, coding, and geometry.”
The spirit of TEAL perfectly aligns with the goals of ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest, which is dedicated to personalized, student-centered learning experiences. This partnership particularly emphasizes the importance of STEM literacy from an early age. By fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, this “kinder to career initiative,” as Mohandas calls it, prepares students for the future.
Hands-on learning with Sphero workshop
A recent workshop led by Dr. Dave Saltmarsh, Senior Director of Community Education Initiatives at Jamf, exemplified the power of TEAL in action. The event featured 28 third and fourth graders who were given iPads to control a Sphero, a durable, plastic robotic ball. Rather than providing direct instructions, Saltmarsh encouraged students to figure out how to pair the Sphero with the iPad, control it, and even code it to perform specific tasks.
Lily Grijalva, Assistant Principal at ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest, praised the process: “You’d think it would be chaos, but the students were engaged the entire time! The kids had to figure out how to connect the Sphero robot ball and teach each other. They learned to make the Sphero bounce, change colors, and navigate specific paths—all through inquiry-based learning.”
Another component that impressed Grijalva were the teacher-enabled pop-up messages that would provide all of the students with the next bit of instruction or guidance. Mohandas describes this as “just one of the simple things we can do to streamline instruction time.”
Learning through productive struggle
The concept of “productive struggle” emerged as a cornerstone of the workshop. This approach encourages students to grapple with challenges, fostering resilience and deeper understanding, as evidenced in their interactions with the Sphero.
“Productive struggle is crucial in STEM spaces,” emphasized Rachna Mathur, Senior STEM Strategist at ASU Prep. “It’s okay to have a productive struggle, and we don’t have to be the experts in the room. That was also important to understand as a teacher, you’re acting as a facilitator and not necessarily as an expert.”
Grijalva echoes this sentiment, highlighting that the workshop was a valuable learning experience for both students and educators.
ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest: A center for STEM literacy
Mathur describes ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest as an “innovative center within the community,” offering various programs to promote STEM literacy. Their annual summer camp, sponsored by STEMology Club, invites K–8 students to learn fundamental coding concepts using Scratch and Osmo, with no prior experience needed.
ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest also sets itself apart as the first and only K–8 school in the nation to offer a Dreamscape Learn Pod, an immersive learning and entertainment platform with cutting-edge virtual reality technology. This gamified curriculum allows students to visit virtual locations from Ancient Egypt to the surface of the moon.
The partnership with Jamf furthers ASU Prep’s mission by showcasing how technology-enabled learning encourages students to explore STEM, not only enhancing their immediate educational experiences but also preparing them for future success in technology-related fields.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest has ordered a classroom set of Sphero robots to continue these hands-on learning experiences. The future of the partnership with Jamf involves engaging local Jamf employees with students through mentoring and volunteer opportunities at ASU Prep’s Pilgrim Rest and Downtown Phoenix campuses. Additionally, Jamf is collaborating with ASU Prep Digital to develop CTE engineering pathways and offer Jamf certifications.
Learn more about ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest’s commitment to helping students pursue their passions, achieve their goals, and build a lifelong love of learning.
Learning, innovation, and fun propelled STEAM Ahead! Spring into Dreamscape, an ASU Prep neighborhood event hosted at the Pilgrim Rest campus. A vibrant celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM), this event invited families to immerse themselves in a world of interactive learning.
The special occasion marked the unveiling of the new Dreamscape Learn Pod, positioning ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest as the first K–8 school in the nation to incorporate such advanced virtual reality technology into its curriculum.
Attendees were treated to a variety of hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and enthusiasm for STEAM subjects. From engaging coding games to creative arts and crafts, the event provided a plethora of activities including building with Legos, crafting slime, and gardening projects. It was an invitation for the community to explore the limitless possibilities of learning through play and discovery.
Principal Marissa Schneckloth highlighted the essence of the event, stating that it showcased “Everything that STEAM represents, that we represent here, and implement in our classrooms every day.”
The enthusiasm was palpable, particularly from Grace, a student who described her experience as “super amazing,” noting it was one of the best she has had, “kind of out of this world, literally.” No doubt Grace was referring to a unique opportunity offered by the Dreamscape Pod, allowing students to virtually traverse the moon.
Dreamscape Learning Pod aligns with ASU Prep’s commitment to innovative, personalized, and project-based learning and will be implemented into the ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest curriculum beginning this spring. This unique learning experience will continue to evolve during summer school and throughout the 2024-25 school year, as ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest expands its current enrollment to encompass seventh and eighth graders, as well.
“Having the Dreamscape Pod gives our students an opportunity that no one else in the nation has,” shared Schneckloth. This pioneering approach aims to dismantle barriers to education, enabling students to pursue their passions, achieve their aspirations, and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Beyond the festivities, the event served as an open house for potential new families interested in the educational opportunities at ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest. Guests were invited to meet staff, tour the facilities, and engage with the educational initiatives that inspire students to excel academically.
To learn more about ASU Prep, visit our website, check out our upcoming events and become part of a community dedicated to empowering the next generation of learners and leaders. We can’t wait to see where this STEAM-powered journey takes us next!
Black History Month is an annual celebration of the profound contributions that African Americans have made to all facets of society. Throughout this month, we come together to honor the legacies and ongoing achievements of Black individuals. Here is a sampling of Black History Month events hosted by our ASU community:
George Floyd Global Memorial to present ‘Twin Flames’ exhibit
This arts experience is a unique partnership between the ASU Art Museum, the ASU Center for Work and Democracy, and the George Floyd Global Memorial. Enjoy an insightful guided walkthrough in addition to a food truck with delicious bites, mocktail bar, and entertainment.
This entirely student-led cabaret helps provide an opportunity for composers, lyricists, librettists, and performers of color, formed through personal connections, friends, and colleagues from all over ASU, to share their creativity.
February 3, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. and February 4, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Black Liberation Through the Marketplace with Rachel Ferguson
Join author Rachel Ferguson as she discusses Black Liberation Through the Marketplace, and come away with a better understanding of Black history and creative ideas for how to make this nation truly one with liberty and justice for all.
International Jazz Day AZ Foundation’s co-presents JADE
Jade Johnson has performed beloved renditions of the National Anthem at Suns, Mercury, Diamondbacks, Clippers and Lakers games, and landed acting roles on TV’s “Blackish” and in theater Off Broadway. From jazz and pop to R&B, hear a focused singer-songwriter hitting her stride.
Step into a world brimming with entertainment and education. This all-ages extravaganza includes food trucks, music, games, vendors, speakers – and good vibes. Brace yourself for thought-provoking panel discussions and workshops focusing on vital community empowerment topics such as finance, home-buying, and more.
ASU Prep Academy is hosting several Kinder Round-Up information sessions at our four elementary locations in the metro Phoenix area.
At the event, families will have an opportunity to meet our teachers, tour our campuses, and learn more about our Kindergarten program, which features:
Tuition-free full-day options
One-to-one technology devices
Individualized learning plans
Gifted program options in Spring semester
After-school programming
To learn about Kindergarten eligibility and VIP on-site enrollment, click here.
On December 8, the ASU Preparatory Academy Pilgrim Rest campus was buzzing with excitement, color, and creativity. The occasion? The inaugural Creative Fusion Festival – a vibrant celebration of global cultures, creativity, and community engagement.
Just as the school focuses on a unique blend of arts and STEM, so did the festival. Visitors were treated to free food and entertainment with an array of arts and crafts tables, hands-on STEM activities, grade-level musical performances, and a student art project showcase. There was also face painting, a photo booth, and even a raffle with the chance to win an iPad among other cool prizes.
For student Valerie, the festival was a lot of fun. “There’s activities, a lot of food, pictures, and there’s also a lot of games,” she said. Teacher Adrienne Henderson-Cole was happy families were able to support the student performers, whom she described as “super cute and super excited.”
Beyond the fun and festivities, the Creative Fusion Festival served a deeper purpose. It was about bringing together community partners, showcasing student talent, and “welcoming our community into our school,” as Principal Marissa Schneckloth explained.
Principal Schneckloth saw the event as an opportunity for parents and guardians to experience the school’s unique blend of academics and arts. “Having the music element and the arts and the STEM, all come together in one, really gives parents and guardians the opportunity to see who we are and what we can bring to their children,” she expressed.
Families were thrilled with the festival and the school’s efforts to engage them in their children’s educational journey. Joseph Taylor, a parent, shared, “I’ve never seen the involvement of the parents as they are here and the willingness to partner with the parents. Being able to partner is awesome. That makes being a parent here just a wonderful experience.”
Principal Schneckloth agreed, and emphasized the importance of community partnerships. “They can bring in their resources and expertise and experience and expose our students to things outside of their dreaming and just really motivate them to learn,” she said.
The inaugural Creative Fusion Festival at ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest was both a celebration of creativity and community involvement. It was a fun evening filled with joy, learning, and inspiration, leaving participants eagerly anticipating next year’s festival.
At ASU Prep, we believe that a strong and vibrant community is fundamental to the success of our students! Our community, composed of dedicated educators, motivated students, and supportive families, forms the backbone of our learning environment.
We encourage active community participation to foster a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. This community spirit extends to our free, family-friendly neighborhood events. We hope you’ll join us!
ASU Prep Phoenix Downtown is hosting the second annual Let it Snow event Friday, December 15, 4-7 p.m. It will be the coolest event of the year with festive fun for the whole family, including bounce houses, winter-themed arts and crafts, and giveaways! RSVP today.
Recently, ASU Preparatory Academy South Phoenix transformed into a vibrant fiesta of colors and sounds, paying homage to the rich tradition of Día de los Muertos. The community gathered for a night bursting with entertainment.
On November 4, the campus filled with families, their faces painted in vivid designs and many had heads adorned with floral crowns, eager to participate in the festive activities offered throughout the night. Guests danced alongside the lively mariachi, watched the twirling baile folklórico dancers and marveled at a daring aerialist performance.
There was authentic cuisine and craft stations to create sugar skulls and paper flowers, but the heart of the celebration was the breathtaking Cihuapactli Collective Altar, where guests paid tribute to loved ones.
The event was a chance for attendees to soak in the spirit of the ASU Prep community as the South Phoenix campus buzzed with excitement. Student Nataly Garcia shared what makes the school special, and therefore, the event: “It’s a small school and everyone here knows each other. The teachers and staff support each kid individually.” Alejandro Bonfil added how fun it was to hang out with friends and classmates at the celebration.
About the festivities, student Zain Gehrig said, “I would totally recommend this. It’s so much fun being here. I’m having the time of my life.” The pictures and memories of this year’s event will linger on, and are already fueling anticipation for next year’s celebration. As Garcia puts it, “You want to make sure you come next year because you don’t want to miss this fun, amazing party that ASU Prep South Phoenix has offered to everyone!”
No need to wait until next year to join in the fun. ASU Prep is hosting more free community events, including the upcoming Creative Fusion Fest at ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest and Let it Snow at ASU Prep Phoenix Downtown. Find out more about upcoming events here.
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