Meet the alumni of awakening seed school

Aaron Smith

Age: 31 | Location: Tempe, AZ

Currently I tutor mathematics and I am the chief technical officer of a start-up, Sidereal Technologies. I graduated from Arizona State University in 2012 with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics. Before that I graduated from Corona Del Sol High School.

The one thing above all others that makes me happy is learning something new. This led me to study mathematics, programing, physics, astronomy, and car repair. My goal in life is to become a polymath, or a person who is learned in multiple subjects. This was one of the many things the Seed instilled in me but the most important thing I was taught at the Seed was empathy, the ability to take another person’s point of view into consideration when making decisions. That, however, is a dry description of empathy. A much better description of it is the drive to perfect oneself by understanding others and trying to minimize the harm one does through one’s actions. If empathy were more highly valued, and practiced more, as it is at the Seed, then the world would have fewer ills. Indeed, the only ills that would exist are those that come from nature and not from man. That is the ultimate lesson about empathy I learned from the Awakening Seed.

Andrea Richard

Age: 26 | Location: Phoenix, AZ
After having left the Seed, I went on to graduate from Xavier College Preparatory in 2007. From there I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2010. Currently I am working on my master’s in business administration with a focus in marketing. I hold a full-time position at Gannett and a part-time position at Ann Taylor, where I get to enhance the wardrobes of my clients as a stylist (I get paid to dress up!). I consider myself to be a constant work in progress, but I cherish most, my family, and I always strive to make those around me happy. The Seed taught me before anything else to appreciate the heart of a person, to look past the makeup and apparel at their heart.

Andrew (Miranda) Maison

Andrew Miller

Age: 19 | Location: Fairfax County, VA
I’m a university student at George Mason University, studying government. I went to high school at Arizona School for the Arts and McClintock High School. I love seeing my friends when I return home from school. There is nothing to keep you going more than knowing you are coming home. I also love to travel to new places and meet new people. Believe it or not, most of my closest and best friends are from the Seed. We have kept in touch and followed each other to different schools throughout our youth. The Seed really helped me find out that my talents are in people skills and helped me exercise those talents.

Andrew Tornow

Age: 24 | Location:  Tempe, AZ

I went to high school at McClintock High School in Tempe, played varsity basketball and volleyball, and graduated with a 3.8 GPA. I found an interest in design and architecture through elective classes in high school and decided to pursue a degree in a similar field. Following my parents’ footsteps, I attended Arizona State University and was accepted into the School of Design for the Visual Communications program. While attending ASU, I worked 30-35 hours a week at Harkins Theatres as a manager, saved up my money, and bought my first property, a condo near the ASU campus. After graduating from The Design School with a Bachelor’s of Science in Visual Communications, I began my career as a graphic designer at G/O Digital, a local digital marketing company in downtown Phoenix. I sold my condo and upgraded to a single family home in Tempe. I then took a designer position at Defero, a local agency in Scottsdale, where I am currently the senior designer, and now work alongside fellow Awakening Seed graduate, Tinsley Andrews.

In my free time I like hanging with my family and friends, trying new restaurants, and watching local Arizona sports teams. Aside from the basics like math, writing, reading, and science, The Seed helped pave a path in my life by letting me find myself and figure out what my passions were. I quickly grew fond of sports and art with all of the structured activities within our class. The Seed also showed me how to interact with people, be courteous, and problem solve in real life situations. At the time it may not have seemed like I was learning those interpersonal skills, but that is what I take away from growing up at the Seed the most. Speaking, acting respectfully, and learning how to problem solve in and out of a book has helped me immensely in moving up the chain at Harkins Theatres through high school and college, and now furthering my career in the design field.  I still stay in contact with fellow Seed graduates and have great memories of my time there. I couldn’t have picked a better school to grow up in.

Ann Thayer

Age: 33 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ
My name is Ann and I am a proud former Seed. I moved back to Arizona after living in Seattle, Washington, Brooklyn, New York, and Paris, France. I studied theater and worked professionally in theater throughout my 20s. I am now pursuing a master’s degree in counseling at NAU and raising my two beautiful children with my husband. I most value human connection, mindfulness, creativity, kindness, education and spirit. My family makes me happy every day. Most of my favorite childhood memories were created at the Awakening Seed. I loved the Halloween carnival, the plays that we would put on, and the special community that I was a part of. The Seed inspired in me a love of healthy food, the performing arts and education.

Art Smith

Age: 34 | Location: Phoenix, AZ
I began attending the Awakening Seed School in kindergarten and, to this day, I view my time there as the foundation for my ability to think independently and critically. I am a graduate of Dartmouth College with a degree in sociology and I have a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy. I currently work as a policy analyst on higher education and historical preservation issues with the Arizona State Legislature. I am also a part-owner of a startup business with my two younger brothers who are also graduates of the Awakening Seed. I am happiest spending time with friends and family, as I have kept in close contact with many of my Seed classmates over the years.