A warm Sun Devil Welcome 2019
Nearly 14,000 students began their ASU careers with a bang on Aug. 20, 2019, during the annual Sun Devil Welcome event at Wells Fargo Arena.
These incoming Sun Devils joined the ASU family for the first time in a packed stadium of gold shirts, devil horns, glow sticks, banners, streamers and foam fingers.
They listened to student speeches, watched dance performances, and the crowd went crazy when Sparky made a surprise appearance, propelling down from the rafters.
Alexandre Shappell, a first-year student majoring in business entrepreneurship, was sitting with the W. P. Carey School of Business students, who filled sections from the floor of Wells Fargo all the way up to the balcony. He said the ceremony was an energetic way to kick off the semester.
“I would say my favorite part of the Welcome ceremony had to be the energy. Especially when we were all in unison, that’s an energy that I don’t get to experience very often. But we’re 14,000 strong. It really makes things loud, it really makes things powerful, makes it pop, and that just gets me fired up.”
Students heard from ASU President Michael Crow about how to ask for help and carve your own path to success and from the Council of Presidents about the importance of civic engagement. The class of 2023 met first-year varsity athletes while learning the ASU Fight Song and how to make the famous “forks up” pitchfork with your hands.
After the Welcome event, the crowd walked over to Sun Devil Stadium for CultureFest.
There students enjoyed dance performances, games, food and an introduction to dozens of fraternities, sororities, clubs and organizations that highlight the wide variety of cultures, clubs and service opportunities on campus.
Mason Mccoy, a first-year student studying applied biological sciences at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, said he attended the Sparky’s Yard Games event at ASU’s Poly campus earlier in the week and was looking forward to starting his Sun Devil journey.
“I’m excited to be an individual but still be a part of a community,” he said.
Brooke Kreuser, a forensics psychology major at ASU’s West campus, cooled off with a free popsicle while laughing with friends at CultureFest. She said the Welcome events were a good way to build community.
“I think they made it really easy to make new friends,” she said.
Sun Devil Welcome and CultureFest offered an incredibly spirited day for the class of 2023 as they took the first steps into their lives as Arizona State University students. Have a great year, Sun Devils!