Need for speed lures ASU freshman from Lone Star State

Editor's note: This story is part of our back-to-school spotlight on notable incoming students. The series will run during the first two weeks of the fall semester. Read our other profiles here.

The need for speed has lured Devyn Carter from his home state of Texas to Arizona State University as part of this fall’s incoming freshmen class.

He will study aerospace engineering through the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering while living at Barrett, The Honors College.

“I’d like to be an aerodynamicist — they work on the aerodynamics of cars to make them go faster,” said Carter, who comes from Copperas Cove, Texas.

With both parents in the Air Force, Carter grew up around aircraft, which fueled his interest in creating speed.

Eventually, he would like to make Formula 1 racing cars go very fast, hopefully for the Ferrari team.

He can get started on that at ASU.

Carter is eager to join the Society of Automotive Engineers, made up of students who design and fabricate a Formula 1-style race car. Last year, the club designed a computer program to acquire and display engine data to the driver.

Working on the car was only one benefit that led Carter to choose ASU over universities in Texas.

“I think the exposure to people from all over the world will be the main thing I’m looking forward to, and the ability to do a lot of research,” he said.

Carter’s introduction to ASU began years ago, when his main goal was to play baseball.

“They kept in touch with me and were really involved all through high school,” he said.

Carter won’t be playing in a Sun Devil uniform but decided that ASU is still the best fit for him.

“They have really good sports teams and academics and social life, so it has everything that I was looking for.”