Sun Devil Welcome gets first-year students hyped for their ASU journey
First-year W. P. Carey School of Business students cheer during Fall Welcome at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 18. Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
Story highlights
- Thousands of first-year students attended the annual Sun Devil Welcome pep rally
- The new Sun Devils learned ASU traditions like throwing the pitchfork
Thousands of Arizona State University first-year students poured into Mountain America Stadium on Tuesday night to celebrate themselves at Sun Devil Welcome.
Clad in gold T-shirts for the annual pep rally, the new Sun Devils came from the Tempe, Polytechnic, Downtown and West campuses to learn about ASU traditions such as the fight song and throwing the pitchfork.
The high-energy event combined the Sun Devil Marching Band with the iconic “Stomp the Bus” video and a roll call of each college. And, of course, Sparky.
Molly Miller, the women’s head basketball coach, and Kenny Dillingham, head football coach, led the students in some football cheers.
“I used to sit here for football games when I was a student here, right in the same seats you’re in,” Dillingham said.
“But here's the trick. We don't just need you all here. We need you all to cheer correctly.
“You’ve got to keep yelling. We want you guys to scream when it's their downs and they have the ball. And we want you to have fun.”
The rally showcased the range of talent on campus, with music and dance performances and a stadium-wide magic trick performed by Geno Ploeger, an ASU student who is on the current season of “America’s Got Talent.”
The newcomers were exhorted to attend this week’s welcome events.
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The ASU Spirit Squad performs during Fall Welcome at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 18.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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The ASU Marching Band performs during Fall Welcome.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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Sparky and the ASU Spirit Squad perform during Fall Welcome.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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From left: Elementary education student Taylor Perry, elementary education student Grace Vullo and secondary education student Gloria Boudouin cheer during Fall Welcome at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 18.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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ASU women’s head basketball coach Molly Miller hypes up incoming students during Fall Welcome.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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ASU head football coach Kenny Dillingham speaks to incoming students about when fans need to be loud versus quiet at football games.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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Thousands of first-year ASU students poured into Mountain America Stadium on Tuesday night to celebrate themselves at Sun Devil Welcome.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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ASU acting and marketing student Geno Ploeger watches the Inferno Fest performance during Fall Welcome. Ploeger, who is on the current season of “America’s Got Talent,” performed a stadium-wide magic trick for his fellow students at Fall Welcome.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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Inferno Fest gets started at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 18.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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Grammy-nominated American rapper Big Sean performs during Inferno Fest.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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From left: ASU mechanical engineering student Keeane Koh, business law student Maria Sebzvari Ferd and psychology student Jaedene Cruz hold up their phone lights during Infernofest. (The effect was achieved in-camera using a bokeh filter, turning lights into ASU logos.)
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
Sophia Gutierrez, a student emcee for the event and a secondary education mathematics major, said: “Your first semester is also an opportunity to make a difference as a first-year student.
“Whether you're participating in National Voter Registration Day, joining a Changemaker service activation, or giving back through service opportunities, you'll find countless ways to leave your mark.
“Being a Sun Devil means stepping into a community built on possibility, and your career journey begins from day one. Every connection you make helps you build your career for the future you want to create.”
The crowd saw a video message from President Michael Crow, who said that ASU is dedicated to creating a pathway for every kind of student.
“We can accommodate people that want to major in three, four, five subjects, to people that want to become masters of one subject, to people that want to dabble in a few subjects, to people that want to start businesses, want to start enterprises, want to start public service campaigns,” he said.
He urged the students to ask for help.
“The second you start feeling stresses that are extraordinary, you need to raise your hand, you need to talk to people, you need to get advice, you need to get help. Just make sure that you understand that we're here for all of you — we're here for your learning, we're here for your personal development, we're here to help support your health and well-being, all of these things,” he said.
After Sun Devil Welcome, Grammy-nominated American rapper Big Sean performed at the annual InfernoFest concert for all students.
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