A Path Forward: How ASU SupportLA Was Sparked Through Connection and Community Response

When disaster disrupted the lives of thousands of LA students, Studios helped catalyze a response that put college back within reach.

In early 2025, wildfires devastated communities across Los Angeles, displacing families and shuttering schools. For many high school students, the road to college suddenly felt uncertain.

But within days, ASU responded—with customized support for students and their families whose educational and life's journeys were disrupted. ​ The Studios team was there at the center — beginning with a discussion with fire victim Sean Knierim, quickly followed by a series of conversations with the Studios and University's leadership, which resulted in ASU connecting partners and creating/amplifying innovative solutions for those most in needs.

The result was asu.edu/SupportLA, a university-wide initiative offering:

• Guaranteed pathways to admission for affected students
• One-on-one college guidance for applications, financial aid, and deadlines
• Access to ASU Prep Digital, Universal Learner Courses, and no-cost learning resources through ASU for You

This rapid response wouldn’t have been possible without deep and ongoing partnerships across Los Angeles. Thanks to Studios’ work convening education leaders across LAUSD, LACOE, CAIS, Pasadena Unified, and other networks, ASU was already embedded in the region—ready to listen, mobilize, and act.

What started as an urgent call for help has become a model for educational partnership in crisis: proactive, people-centered, and scalable.

As recovery continues, ASU Learning Transformation Studios remains committed to:

• Amplifying student needs and family voices
• Advancing access to higher education and digital learning tools
• Partnering with schools and systems to build more resilient pathways to the future

For more information - see the news story here.