Founders' Day Awards Dinner honors distinguished service
The ASU Alumni Association honored faculty members and alumni at its annual Founders’ Day Awards Dinner, Feb. 24. A special highlight of the ceremony this year was ASU President Michael M. Crow’s acceptance of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America. This award honors men who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at least 25 years prior to receiving the award for providing outstanding service to others.
More than 700 people attended the award dinner at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The award ceremony has been a signature event for the university for decades.
T. Denny Sanford accepted the Philanthropist of the Year Award. The breadth and reach of Sanford’s philanthropic endeavors are profound, and his contributions to ASU are tremendous. In 2010, Sanford initiated a five-year, $18.85-million investment at Arizona State University to facilitate a partnership between the Teach For America (TFA) organization and ASU to bring major substantive changes to the way the university recruits, selects, and prepares future K-12 teachers.
Sanford takes advantage of a photo opportunity with Sparky and his guest.
Honored for his contributions to business innovation as a corporate executive, as well as his service to the university, Brian Swette (Class of 1976) accepted the Alumni Achievement Award – one of the most prestigious awards given by the Alumni Association.
ASU President Michael Crow (left middle row) and Christine Wilkinson (right middle), president of the Alumni Association, stand with this year's awardees. The honorees pictured from top to bottom, left to right, are: Brian Swette, Alumni Achievement Award; Karen L. Adams, Faculty Achievement Service Award; Robin Okun Hengl; Staff Achievement Award; Amanda Borden-Cochran, Young Alumni Achievement Award; James Eder, Faculty Achievement Award; T. Denny Sanford, Philanthropist of the Year Award; and Milton Sommerfeld, Faculty Achievement Research Award.
President of the ASU Alumni Association, Christine Wilkinson presented at the dinner.
One of ASU's founders Frank Kush, former head ASU football coach, poses for a picture with guests.
A unique photo opportunity takes place at the award dinner – one that captures all the Eagle Scouts in attendance, including ASU President Michael Crow, who accepted the award that night.
The Armstrongs were in attendance at the event and were honored for their instrumental role in supporting the founding of the university. Armstrong Hall on the Tempe campus is named for John S. Armstrong.