A night on the maroon carpet: Pitchfork Awards celebrate Sun Devil stars

The eighth annual Pitchfork Awards brought a taste of Hollywood to the Arizona State University Tempe Campus April 17 as students, organizations and events were recognized for making an impact at ASU.

Dozens of Sun Devils were nominated in 25 different categories, including Outstanding Emerging Student Leader, Most Promising New Student Organization and Intramural Team of the Year.

Four performers also competed for the title of Favorite Live Performance at the 2019 Pitchfork Awards. The performers were the ASU Hip Hop Coalition, singer Olivia Trentadue, rapper Royland Robinson and 25 Degree Dance Crew, who won the category.

Ali Ahmed, a junior at ASU studying industrial engineering, hosted the show. Ahmed said he auditioned because he’s proud to attend ASU.

“I’m just so tradition-based, and this event is going to be amazing,” he said before the show.

Ahmed said it meant a lot to him when he found out that he got the part.

“I would say that’s probably the highlight of my ASU career so far. I was sort of shocked when I first found out, too, but then I started preparing for it, and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.

Jessica Breeden, a sophomore studying psychology, was at the Pitchfork Awards representing the Programming and Activities Board.

PAB was nominated for the Student Organization Sun Devil Spirit Award. Breeden said it was important to the group to be nominated because they put a lot of work into putting on events for the students.

“It really enhances the student life, and that’s what our goal is,” she said. “To be recognized for that is really cool to us.”

Emma Bennett was nominated for Outstanding Greek Leader of the Year. Bennett, who is a junior studying communication, is part of the Delta Gamma sorority.

Bennett said it was exciting to be nominated.

Outstanding Emerging Student Leader Consuelo Arroyo

“I was always a very shy, introverted person, so to be able to have the honor to be nominated is really exciting and really special,” she said.

Osman Chaudhry won the Individual Sun Devil Spirit Award. Chaudhry is a senior studying business law who has left his mark at ASU in several ways during his six years as an undergraduate student.

Chaudhry said for him, winning was a culmination of his time at ASU and the people who have helped him along the way.

“I’m a few weeks away from graduation, and it feels like the perfect cherry on top,” he said.

While you might not recognize him as such, for four years Chaudhry was the face behind ASU’s mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil. Chaudhry is also currently a member of the Sun Devil Marching Band and a former member of the Sun Devil Spirit Squad.

“I’ve had a lot of great chances to be very active in the ASU community,” said Chaudhry. “Not just on the spirit and engagement side but also in mentorship, leadership and a lot of others.”

Chaudhry also has not missed a single home football game in the past six years.

“I feel like I’ve been able to take a lot of the ASU spirit and develop the tribal knowledge and tribal spirit and instill it into others,” he said.

Congratulations to all the Pitchfork Award winners!

Sun Devil Spirit Award — Individual: Osman Chaudhry

Outstanding Emerging Student Leader: Consuelo Arroyo

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader: Vanesa Contreras Rodriguez

Outstanding Graduate Student Leader: Aashay Arora

Outstanding Advisor of the Year: Souad Ali

Outstanding Greek Leader of the Year: Jacqueline Palmer

Intramural Athlete of the Year: Jenna Fitzgerald

Most Promising New Student Organization: Cookies 4 Change

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Organization: Hillel Jewish Student Center

Outstanding Graduate Student Organization: Graduate Women’s Association

Changemaker Award for Group Service: RISE

Changemaker Entrepreneurship Team of the Year: EpiFinder

Sun Devil Sport Club of the Year: Women’s Gymnastics

Sun Devil Spirit Award — Student Organization: Student Alumni Association

Changemaker Award for Social Change and Global Impact Project/Program: Little Dreamers

Outstanding Wellness Project/Program: Mental Health Conference

Outstanding Sustainable Project/Program: Composting at Vista del Sol

Outstanding Entertainment Program (over 500 attendees): Paint the ‘A’

Outstanding Entertainment program (under 500 attendees): MU After Dark

Outstanding Educational Program: University Sustainability Practices: Sustainability Certification Program

Outstanding Career Preparedness or Professional Development Program: Hassayampa East Presents Business Networking Fair

Outstanding Recurring Program: Paint the ‘A’

Outstanding Cultural, Diversity and Inclusion Program: Ignite by Changemaker Central

Outstanding Cultural, Diversity and Inclusion Celebration Program: International Night

Outstanding Collaborative Program: International Night