Sparky, ASU crew roll out the fun to welcome new Sun Devils


College Signing Day at ASU Prep
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A sea of maroon and gold is a normal sight at Arizona State University — on Thursday, that sea spread to high school campuses across the Phoenix metro area as the ASU bus rolled out to welcome future Sun Devils to the ASU family.

“Being the only university in the Phoenix metropolitan area, we want to be embedded in our community and we want to celebrate all these young people starting their future at ASU,” said Brad Baertsch, director of freshman recruitment and admission.

Baertsch was one of the many ASU staff members and faculty along for the ride, congratulating students on their new adventure. For a second year in a row, ASU celebrated College Signing Day by visiting Valley high schools. The Future Sun Devil team will stop at six high schools over the course of Thursday and Friday. Combined, approximately 600 students from these high schools have been admitted to ASU.

Other students can see their friends celebrating going to college and see it as a possible path for them after high school, Baertsch added.

Student support specialist Rebecca Folk from Barrett, The Honors College at the Polytechnic campus said that being part of the event was really meaningful.

“This is the end of their high school career, but it’s also a starting point for the rest of their lives. It really means a lot for me to actually put faces to the names and welcome them to the next chapter,” she said.

The university will continue to celebrate Future Sun Devil Day through May 1. Admitted students can go online, sign the pledge and show their Future Sun Devil pride on social media.

ASU Now was along for the ride as Sparky and the team surprised high school seniors getting ready to become college freshmen.

Top photo: Graduating seniors pose for a photo with Sparky during College Signing Day at ASU Prep in Phoenix on Thursday. These future Sun Devils have committed to attending Arizona State University in the fall of 2017. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now

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