MAS Class of 2026 Senior Spotlight: Luke Stroud

Our next senior to step into the spotlight enrolled at Mission Achievement and Success Charter School in the fall of 2018 as a 5th grader, making him one of the longest-tenured students to participate in last week’s graduation ceremonies. 

By that time, Luke Stroud had completed 34 college credits through our dual credit program, the most in the Class of 2026, and he says the experience helped him understand how college courses work before enrolling in a four-year university.

“The dual credit classes, which gave me the opportunity to experience college-level courses that many high school students don’t have access to, are what I liked best at attending MAS. This allowed me to learn how the process works and gave me a head start before officially starting college.” 

Luke also says the friendships he built at MAS mattered to him, and he appreciates the people he met along the way.

On campus, Luke stayed active through soccer, and he also worked as a student aide in the cafeteria. In that role, he helped during the before-school program, including breakfast time. He made sure students in assigned classrooms had breakfast and helped the day start smoothly. He also supported classroom readiness before teachers arrived. Luke says the role taught him responsibility and teamwork, and he also learned to manage his time.

Luke’s advice to incoming freshmen focuses on habits and priorities. He encourages students to put effort into grades and manage time spent with friends. He also says coursework gets harder as students move through high school, so staying focused matters.

High school also shaped how Luke thinks about independence. 

“I’ve learned not to be overly reliant on others, because doing so can take away from your own initiative. Developing independence allows you to understand your strengths, recognize your limitations, and grow as a person.”

After high school, Luke will attend The University of New Mexico, where he will study nuclear engineering. Ten years from now, he plans to have a stable career where his nuclear engineering studies will help him take on meaningful responsibilities. He also plans to own a home and start a family. Travel also fits into his long-term plans.

Outside of school, Luke spends time at the gym and plays basketball. He also enjoys video games, and he says these activities help him relax and manage time. He also says they help him learn more about himself, develop self-discipline, and support his overall health.

When he grabs a meal in town, Luke heads to Golden Pride BBQ, Chicken, and Ribs, which has four locations in Albuquerque. He says their breakfast burritos are really good.

Luke says the person he admires most is his brother. “His guidance and encouragement have made a meaningful impact on who I am today," he said

As graduation approached, Luke told us he’d finish high school with an excellent GPA and plans to stay in touch with all the friends he made at MAS. 

“I want to thank my teachers for their unwavering support throughout my journey, which has helped me stay motivated and positive. Thanks to them, I was “always up, never down.””

Luke Stroud leaves MAS Charter School with college credits completed and clear plans for what comes next. Our entire community looks forward to seeing him take the next step at UNM and pursue the career he has mapped out.