The Smoking Motors VEX Robotics team is the second Madison Highland Prep team to qualify for the Arizona State Championship, scheduled for March 6-7 (submitted photo).
Robotics program hits new milestone
Madison Highland Prep’s VEX Robotics team, MHP Smoking Motors (Team 8373M), has officially qualified for the Arizona State Championship after a dominant performance at their recent tournament, the school said.
The team secured their advancement by winning the prestigious Robot Skills Champion award, marking them as one of the top performing programs in the region. MHP Smoking Motors is the second Madison Highland Prep team to qualify for the 2026 Arizona VEX Robotics State Championship, following a successful advancement earlier in the season by MHP Loose Screws (Team 8373P).
The success of MHP Smoking Motors is built on a foundation of specialized roles tailored to each member’s strengths. The team features Michael Syntax (driver, coder, builder), Eshan Syed (driving coach, builder, coder), Moises Borralles (driving coach, builder), Andrew Reese (coder, notetaker) and Ozill Correa (notetaker). This well-coordinated partnership allows the members to communicate effectively and adapt quickly to the fast-paced challenges.
As they prepare for the state championship on March 6-7, the team remains focused on the high level of competition ahead.
“Arizona is a competitive robotics state, so we know it will take a lot of preparation and practice to get our bot where its needs to be, but we are very excited.” Syntax added. With two powerhouse teams now heading to the state level, Madison Highland Prep continues to establish itself as a leader in STEM and competitive robotics.
Learn more about MPH’s robotics program at www.madisonhighlandprep.com.
Montessori open house event scheduled
Area families are invited to the Phoenix mountainside campus of Montessori Day Schools, 9215 N. 14th St., Friday, Feb. 6, 4 to 6 p.m., to learn about the advantages of individualized instruction in a nurturing a community environment.
During the event, attendees can talk to current and former students and parents about the difference Montessori Day Schools have made in their lives, as well as meet the school’s teachers.
Serving Arizona children since 1981, the school offers private preschool and charter kindergarten through eighth-grade learning opportunities. For additional information, call 602-943-7672 or visit www.montessoridayschools.org.
In January, juniors at Arizona School for the Arts explored presentation topics through exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum (photo courtesy of ASA).
Students dive into research
In January, 10th and 11th graders from Arizona School for the Arts (ASA) spent the day diving into research for their Third Quarter Presentation (3QP).
During the ASA’s Upper School years, students apply their research and performance skills during the annual 3QP that, depending on grade level, integrates content from areas such as science and social science, delves into applied science, and contemporary world issues.
Sophomores worked alongside ASU librarians at the Arizona State University Downtown Library to gather resources, while juniors explored their presentation topics through exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum.
High school donates to Maggie’s Place
This past Christmas season, students at Valley Lutheran High School collected 2,893 essential items to support mothers and babies served by Maggie’s Place, a Phoenix based nonprofit providing safe housing and a nurturing community for homeless pregnant women, empowering them to thrive throughout their lifetime (www.maggiesplace.org).
As part of the school’s annual Christmas drive, students donated 2,494 diapers, 136 packages of baby wipes, 172 toothbrush and toothpaste sets, and 74 baby blankets, clothing items and books, along with many other necessities.
The school says that the drive reflects Valley Lutheran’s commitment to service and compassion, encouraging students to put faith into action through meaningful acts of generosity.
Donations were delivered to Maggie’s Place just before Christmas to support families during the holiday season.
Raffle opens for fashion show event
Raffle tickets and special sales items for the 42nd Annual Brophy Fashion Show are now live, and residents are invited to a chance to grab exclusive Brophy keepsakes and exciting raffle prizes, all while supporting the event.
The Grand Raffle Prize: the Ultimate VIP Graduation Package featuring reserved seats at the event, a graduation dinner celebration, a grad photo session and more. Grand Raffle tickets are $100 for a ticket or $250 for three tickets.
General raffle prizes include a Steak 44 dinner for 8, a reserved Brophy parking spot, $5,000 cash, a designer handbag, a piece from Schmitt Jewelers and a comprehensive Wellness Package. General raffle tickets are $25 for one ticket, or $100 for five tickets (all five tickets must be for the same item). Special sale items are also available. Find information and links to donate or purchase raffle tickets online at https://trellis.org/brophy-fashion-show-bound-in-brotherhood.
This year’s event, “Bound in Brotherhood,” will be held Friday, March 27, at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn, 5402 E. Lincoln Drive, beginning at 11 a.m. The event co-chairs are Andrea Tumialan and Ashley Staples. This annual event is a celebration of the senior class, and all proceeds benefit the Brophy Fund, supporting programs, people and places that allow every student to flourish. Reservations open Feb. 9. Visit www.brophyprep.org/giving/fashion-show to learn more.
MHP receives Platinum AP honors
Madison Highland Prep (MHP) has earned a place on the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll for the 2024-25 school year, achieving the prestigious Platinum distinction. As the highest level of recognition awarded by the College Board, the Platinum status distinguishes Madison Highland Prep for its commitment to broadening student access to college-level coursework and fostering a culture of academic excellence. This milestone reflects the institution’s ongoing success in delivering high-level results through its Advanced Placement program and effectively preparing its graduates for the rigors of higher education.
The school reached the Platinum threshold by meeting rigorous performance criteria in three specific categories: College Culture, College Credit, and College Optimization. Madison Highland Prep achieved a 91 percent participation rate, with most students in the graduating class taking at least one AP exam during high school. In addition, 64 percent of graduates earned college credit by scoring a “3” or higher on an AP exam, and 29 percent optimized their academic pathways by completing five or more AP exams, including at least one taken during their freshman or sophomore year.
Xavier junior Maddie Kaiser recently participated in the Future Sustainability Innovators Program in Geneva, Switzerland (photo courtesy of the Kaiser family).
Junior selected for sustainability program
Xavier College Preparatory junior Maddie Kaiser was selected to participate in the Future Sustainability Innovators Program, part of Learning With Leaders, a highly competitive international program held in December 2025 in Geneva.
Out of several thousand applicants worldwide, only 15 students were selected. Just three students from the United States were accepted, with the remaining participants representing countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Kaiser applied at the encouragement of her computer science teacher, Leon Tynes, despite having only a few days to write two required essays before advancing to a video interview. She joined a small, diverse cohort of students ages 13-18 from around the globe.
During the immersive program – largely hosted at the University of Geneva – students explored global sustainability challenges through site visits to major international organizations, including the United Nations, CERN, World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization.
The program culminated in a 12-hour hackathon, where students worked in small teams to design solutions aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kaiser’s team focused on global youth mental health, tackling the challenge of how to reach one million young people ages 10-22 within two years. They conducted research, created a full project proposal, designed outreach strategies using social media and presented their solution to parents, educators and program partners, including Learning With Leaders and Addict Lab.
With guidance from Interdevelopment At Work, the group proposed scalable virtual group-therapy sessions held twice monthly to improve access to mental health support worldwide.
In addition to the academic work, Kaiser participated in glacier research in Chamonix, France, where students observed active glacial melting firsthand – an experience that reinforced the urgency of climate action.
“I went into the program wanting to make a difference, but I came out understanding how connected the world really is,” Kaiser said. “Meeting students from Romania, Saudi Arabia, France, Tanzania – so many different cultures – made me realize how similar we all are in how we think and care about the future.”
Kaiser plans to major in biology with a minor in computer science, attend medical school, and pursue a career as a physician assistant in emergency medicine. She credits Xavier’s required computer science curriculum, and Tynes’ encouragement, with helping her see technology as both a tool for impact and a critical skill set for the future.
Reflecting on the experience, Kaiser said the program changed her perspective.
“The UN talks about 193 countries and two observing states. Even if we’re not all officially part of everything, we still need to work together. I feel called to be part of that work in some way.”
