ASU Alumni Association recognizes 70 students with Legacy Scholarships

Group of ASU students gathered on the steps of the Old Main building on the Tempe campus.

The ASU Alumni Association presented 70 outstanding Sun Devils with Legacy Scholarships. Photo by Marion Rhoades

By Griffin Fabits |
August 17, 2023

Inside the Carson Ballroom at Old Main, Arizona State University's past, present and future gathered recently to grant 70 Sun Devils with Legacy Scholarships.

Legacy Scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding incoming and current students who continue the family tradition of pursuing a Sun Devil education. Awarded by the ASU Alumni Association and made possible by the generosity of donors, these scholarships have grown substantially over the years.

When the Legacy Scholarship started, just three students were selected as recipients. Now, 13 years later, Christine Wilkinson, president and CEO of the ASU Alumni Association, addressed a room of over 100 people who beamed with Sun Devil pride.

“I want to thank you for knowing that your degree meant a great deal to you and you now want your family member to be a part of ASU in the next generation,” Wilkinson said. “Cherish the traditions, but embrace the new ones. … Enjoy having another Sun Devil in the family. Go Devils!”

Among this year’s honorees, four students received the Alissa Serignese Legacy Scholarship, endowed after Serignese’s passing in January 2022. The former vice president of the ASU Alumni Association, Serignese worked passionately to champion ASU pride, spirit and traditions for future generations of Sun Devils.

Samuel Arenson, Isabella Titus, Elena Titus and Angelina Woodall are this year’s Serignese Scholars.

Maxwell Weidinger, a first-year student from Chandler, Arizona, who was named a Legacy Scholar, relishes the Sun Devil connection he now shares with family.

“I’ve had a lot of family members who have attended ASU, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps because they’ve gone on to do really amazing things, like working for NASA, being a civil engineer (which is what I’ve chosen my major to be), studying in other countries and just being great, fantastic people in society,” he said.

Trish Thiele-Keating, the vice president of the Alumni Association, shared parting thoughts and advice for the current students.

“Whether you’re just entering your first year at ASU or you’ve already spent some time on campus, I hope you feel the impact and significance that legacy and tradition have on this place. It makes it more than just a physical place.

“You’re all here at this place because of those who came before you; your family and friends who attended ASU, making memories and developing connections with their classmates, helped to establish the connection to Arizona State University that has been instrumental in bringing you here today.”

The ASU Alumni Association offers its congratulations to the 2023 class of Legacy Scholarship honorees. If you would like to take part in the tradition of giving, visit the following pages to donate: