AHS Grad Recognized in ASU Article

Anahuac High School alumnus Bethany Hawthorne was recently featured in Arizona State University’s magazine, ASU News.

She made news as a 40-year-old first-generation college graduate, earning the highest GPA among all graduating students in ASU’s School of Geographical Science and Urban Planning. She is graduating Dec. 16 with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning.

Having witnessed the devastation caused by wildfires while hiking in Idaho a few years ago, the aftermath sparked a decision to return to college in her 30s and build a career around her values of climate resilience and sustainable communities.

Balancing a full-time career with online courses, Hawthorne was very successful in her studies, named ASU’s fall 2025 Dean’s Medalist.

She also distinguished herself beyond the classroom as a LEED Green Associate, an active member of the American Planning Association and a professional working in the renewable energy sector.

“We often feel like we exist in our own bubbles, but everything we do connects us to someone else — from the clothing stitched by hands across the world to the collective impact we have on the climate,” said Hawthorne.

“There’s something deeply reassuring in our shared humanity.”

Hawthorne resides in Tucson, Arizona. She is a 2003 AHS graduate and the daughter of Sue and the late Ed Hawthorne of Anahuac.