Peak performance: Gymnast makes her path at ASU, earns Pac-12 top academic honors

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles for spring 2019 commencement.

Anne Kuhm, who was recently named Pac-12 Women’s Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year, makes her final appearance in Wells Fargo Arena next week when she steps off of the gym mat and onto the stage to be recognized during the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts Convocation.

For Kuhm, who is from Brumath, France, a visit to the desert made all the difference — not only for her studies (she’s graduating with a GPA above 4.0) but for the athletic possibilities.

“As soon as I landed in Phoenix and visited the campus, I knew I wanted to come study and practice here in Arizona,” said Kuhm, who began college in France but transferred to ASU as a junior to compete in the elite Pac-12 Conference. “I just fell in love with the beautiful campus and Arizona in general. Every person I met during my visit made me feel comfortable. I also knew that ASU had a lot of international students and that it would be a good place for me to improve my English skills. I just knew ASU was a good place for me — it felt like home since day one.”

At ASU, Kuhm found that the degree in liberal studies was the best fit for transferring in the range of coursework she had already completed in France, in business, management, economics and social sciences.

“But once I started this major I really enjoyed it, because it allowed me to take a lot of classes from different areas of studies as well as learn how to consider different perspectives when we think in today’s world,” she said.  

With a busy athletic training and school schedule, Kuhm found that being open-minded and stepping out of her comfort zone were important lessons that she learned — and that she’d advise those still in school to follow.

“Use the resources available and ask for help when needed,” she added.

“College can be hard at first, but everyone wants you to feel comfortable and wants you to have a good experience,” Kuhm said. “ASU has a lot of resources available for students to help them to be successful, not only while in college but also in life in general.”  

She recently shared with ASU Now some of the highlights of her ASU experience and dreams for the future.

Question: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

Answer: My favorite place on campus was the Carson Student-Athlete Center. I have spent a lot of time in this building the past two years. This place is amazing and has everything student-athletes need in order to succeed. It is a great place to study, get treatment, do conditioning and to meet friends. I have also met wonderful people at ICA (Inter-Collegiate Athletics) who are always there for athletes to offer help and support. I am really grateful for that.

Q: What are your plans after graduation? 

A: After graduation, I am going back to France to get a master’s in international hospitality management. In the future, I want to come back and work in a hotel in Arizona. 

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: One cause that is important to me is to limit global warming. Educating the world population about the alarming effects of human activities on our planet is an essential first step in limiting negative impacts on the environment. Small daily actions from each of us such as recycling, the limitation of waste, the use of public transportation would help limit negative impacts and thus protect our planet. Forty-million dollars would not solve this problem completely, but it would serve to educate people, develop alternatives to limit the damage on our planet and transmit a healthy planet to future generations.