Shining a light on ASU traditions


The A on A Mountain is outlined with lights held by students during the Lantern Walk
|

Quick: What do Sparky and a certain famous mouse have in common? Is the "A" on A Mountain always gold? What is grown on campus, besides young minds?*

Being a Sun Devil is about far more than simply flashing the pitchfork — though that's pretty fun. Learn about the traditions that make up the heritage of Arizona State University, stretching into the past and out into the future as today's students carry them forward.

The first video shares a summary of ASU traditions; scroll down for individual videos to learn more about them in-depth.


Whitewashing the 'A'


West campus' Paley Gates


Lantern Walk

Also pictured at the top of this story.

Sustainable orange harvest


Symphonic Carillon


Protecting the 'A' against UofA


A new era for a long tradition: The replanting of Palm Walk

For more about the rejuvenation of Palm Walk, click here. For a history of the iconic walk, including photo sliders comparing current and future looks, click here.


Painting the 'A' gold


Super fan Dan Turbyfill talks tradition and football

*Answers: Sparky was designed by a Disney artist. The "A" is whitewashed by the freshmen the first Saturday of the semester and painted gold again before the first home football game. Oranges are grown on the Tempe campus and harvested for use in the dining halls.

More Sun Devil community

 

Large group of ASU students pose together in front of a scenic view

Barrett program unlocks study abroad for first-year honors students

Twenty first-year students from Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University are spending their second semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy.Traveling in a tight-knit honors community…

Woman sits against a wall with painted pitchforks on it

A champion's gift: Donation from former Sun Devil helps renovate softball stadium

Jackie Vasquez-Lapan can hear the words today as clearly as she did 17 years ago.In 2008, Vasquez-Lapan was an outfielder on Arizona State University’s national championship-winning softball team,…

Palo Verde Blooms

Student-led business organization celebrates community, Indigenous heritage

ASU has seen significant growth in Native American student enrollment in recent years. And yet, Native American students make up less than 2% of the student population.A member of the Navajo Nation,…